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Population in Bulgaria compared to Sweden: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 10,596,620 people in Sweden in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 10,665,077 in Sweden.

Population statistics:

  • Sweden's population is 1.67 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Sweden is the 93rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.21% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.13% for Sweden.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +0.81% in Sweden.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Sweden has grown from 9.08M to 10.7M (17.5% growth).

Bulgaria vs Sweden: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Sweden
2100 3,384,288 11,330,987
2099 3,408,821 11,334,835
2098 3,433,149 11,339,107
2097 3,457,549 11,340,268
2096 3,482,057 11,341,947
2095 3,506,060 11,344,893
2094 3,530,278 11,347,531
2093 3,554,432 11,349,412
2092 3,578,667 11,351,452
2091 3,602,907 11,352,899
2090 3,627,300 11,354,820
2089 3,652,188 11,357,746
2088 3,677,416 11,360,405
2087 3,703,460 11,364,197
2086 3,730,284 11,371,529
2085 3,757,953 11,376,573
2084 3,786,496 11,381,332
2083 3,815,548 11,384,862
2082 3,845,662 11,390,058
2081 3,876,344 11,391,696
2080 3,908,874 11,393,882
2079 3,942,344 11,393,412
2078 3,976,345 11,391,291
2077 4,011,440 11,389,212
2076 4,047,182 11,385,385
2075 4,083,977 11,381,261
2074 4,122,447 11,377,973
2073 4,161,511 11,375,051
2072 4,201,158 11,371,362
2071 4,241,639 11,366,451
2070 4,283,145 11,362,742
2069 4,325,083 11,358,895
2068 4,367,606 11,357,504
2067 4,411,116 11,356,672
2066 4,455,358 11,356,676
2065 4,500,141 11,355,953
2064 4,545,243 11,354,988
2063 4,590,439 11,354,834
2062 4,635,634 11,355,452
2061 4,681,315 11,353,198
2060 4,727,089 11,352,013
2059 4,772,667 11,349,674
2058 4,817,532 11,345,893
2057 4,862,597 11,340,487
2056 4,907,646 11,335,234
2055 4,953,105 11,328,291
2054 4,998,650 11,320,768
2053 5,044,397 11,310,127
2052 5,089,817 11,296,358
2051 5,135,505 11,280,503
2050 5,181,635 11,261,537
2049 5,228,058 11,242,070
2048 5,274,692 11,221,274
2047 5,322,212 11,199,365
2046 5,369,645 11,176,512
2045 5,417,381 11,152,739
2044 5,465,818 11,127,765
2043 5,514,902 11,102,354
2042 5,564,573 11,076,504
2041 5,615,489 11,052,951
2040 5,667,076 11,028,609
2039 5,719,506 11,005,487
2038 5,771,452 10,983,160
2037 5,824,628 10,961,591
2036 5,877,980 10,938,759
2035 5,930,517 10,916,327
2034 5,983,205 10,893,717
2033 6,036,049 10,869,588
2032 6,088,107 10,844,339
2031 6,140,619 10,819,037
2030 6,193,318 10,790,557
2029 6,244,785 10,759,017
2028 6,294,981 10,724,017
2027 6,343,732 10,685,143
2026 6,390,149 10,643,884
2025 6,433,302 10,596,620
2024 6,441,421 10,569,709
2023 6,446,596 10,536,632
2022 6,465,097 10,486,941
2021 6,507,301 10,415,811
2020 6,550,696 10,353,442
2019 6,616,726 10,278,887
2018 6,710,798 10,175,214
2017 6,803,468 10,057,698
2016 6,894,139 9,923,085
2015 6,984,225 9,799,186
2014 7,073,572 9,696,110
2013 7,160,005 9,600,379
2012 7,305,888 9,519,374
2011 7,348,328 9,449,213
2010 7,395,599 9,378,126
2009 7,444,443 9,298,515
2008 7,492,561 9,219,637
2007 7,545,338 9,148,092
2006 7,601,022 9,080,505
2005 7,658,972 9,029,572
2004 7,716,860 8,993,531
2003 7,775,327 8,958,229
2002 7,837,161 8,924,958
2001 8,009,142 8,895,960
2000 8,170,172 8,872,109
1999 8,210,624 8,857,874
1998 8,256,786 8,850,974
1997 8,312,068 8,846,062
1996 8,362,826 8,840,998
1995 8,406,067 8,826,939
1994 8,443,591 8,780,745
1993 8,472,313 8,718,561
1992 8,540,164 8,668,067
1991 8,632,367 8,617,375
1990 8,718,289 8,558,835
1989 8,876,972 8,492,964
1988 8,981,446 8,436,489
1987 8,971,359 8,397,804
1986 8,958,171 8,369,829
1985 8,960,547 8,350,386
1984 8,960,679 8,336,605
1983 8,939,738 8,329,033
1982 8,917,457 8,325,263
1981 8,891,117 8,320,503
1980 8,861,535 8,310,531
1979 8,825,940 8,293,678
1978 8,814,032 8,275,599
1977 8,804,183 8,251,540
1976 8,758,599 8,222,286
1975 8,720,742 8,192,437
1974 8,678,745 8,159,955
1973 8,620,967 8,136,312
1972 8,576,200 8,122,300
1971 8,536,395 8,098,334
1970 8,489,574 8,042,801
1969 8,434,172 7,968,072
1968 8,369,603 7,912,273
1967 8,310,226 7,867,931
1966 8,258,057 7,807,797
1965 8,204,168 7,733,853
1964 8,144,340 7,661,354
1963 8,078,145 7,604,328
1962 8,012,946 7,561,588
1961 7,943,118 7,519,998
1960 7,867,374 7,484,656

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/sweden | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Sweden gained 842,580 people (a 9.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Sweden's population increased by 741,992 people (a 7.48% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Sweden was ranked 88th in 2006 and ranked 93rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Bulgaria's population will shrink by 18.9% to 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Sweden will increase by 5.59% to 11,261,537 people and will still be ranked 93rd.

Sweden is projected to reach its peak in 2080 at 11.4M people, while Bulgaria's population already peaked in 1988 at 8.98M people and is projected to decrease to 3.38M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Sweden
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Sweden
2100 -0.72% -0.03%
2099 -0.71% -0.04%
2098 -0.71% -0.01%
2097 -0.7% -0.01%
2096 -0.68% -0.03%
2095 -0.69% -0.02%
2094 -0.68% -0.02%
2093 -0.68% -0.02%
2092 -0.67% -0.01%
2091 -0.67% -0.02%
2090 -0.68% -0.03%
2089 -0.69% -0.02%
2088 -0.7% -0.03%
2087 -0.72% -0.06%
2086 -0.74% -0.04%
2085 -0.75% -0.04%
2084 -0.76% -0.03%
2083 -0.78% -0.05%
2082 -0.79% -0.01%
2081 -0.83% -0.02%
2080 -0.85% 0.004%
2079 -0.86% 0.02%
2078 -0.87% 0.02%
2077 -0.88% 0.03%
2076 -0.9% 0.04%
2075 -0.93% 0.03%
2074 -0.94% 0.03%
2073 -0.94% 0.03%
2072 -0.95% 0.04%
2071 -0.97% 0.03%
2070 -0.97% 0.03%
2069 -0.97% 0.01%
2068 -0.99% 0.007%
2067 -0.99% -0%
2066 -1% 0.006%
2065 -0.99% 0.009%
2064 -0.98% 0.001%
2063 -0.97% -0.005%
2062 -0.98% 0.02%
2061 -0.97% 0.01%
2060 -0.95% 0.02%
2059 -0.93% 0.03%
2058 -0.93% 0.05%
2057 -0.92% 0.05%
2056 -0.92% 0.06%
2055 -0.91% 0.07%
2054 -0.91% 0.09%
2053 -0.89% 0.12%
2052 -0.89% 0.14%
2051 -0.89% 0.17%
2050 -0.89% 0.17%
2049 -0.88% 0.19%
2048 -0.89% 0.2%
2047 -0.88% 0.2%
2046 -0.88% 0.21%
2045 -0.89% 0.22%
2044 -0.89% 0.23%
2043 -0.89% 0.23%
2042 -0.91% 0.21%
2041 -0.91% 0.22%
2040 -0.92% 0.21%
2039 -0.9% 0.2%
2038 -0.91% 0.2%
2037 -0.91% 0.21%
2036 -0.89% 0.21%
2035 -0.88% 0.21%
2034 -0.88% 0.22%
2033 -0.86% 0.23%
2032 -0.86% 0.23%
2031 -0.85% 0.26%
2030 -0.82% 0.29%
2029 -0.8% 0.33%
2028 -0.77% 0.36%
2027 -0.73% 0.39%
2026 -0.67% 0.45%
2025 -0.13% 0.25%
2024 -0.08% 0.31%
2023 -0.29% 0.47%
2022 -0.65% 0.68%
2021 -0.66% 0.6%
2020 -1% 0.73%
2019 -1.4% 1.02%
2018 -1.36% 1.17%
2017 -1.32% 1.36%
2016 -1.29% 1.26%
2015 -1.26% 1.06%
2014 -1.21% 1%
2013 -2% 0.85%
2012 -0.58% 0.74%
2011 -0.64% 0.76%
2010 -0.66% 0.86%
2009 -0.64% 0.86%
2008 -0.7% 0.78%
2007 -0.73% 0.74%
2006 -0.76% 0.56%
2005 -0.75% 0.4%
2004 -0.75% 0.39%
2003 -0.79% 0.37%
2002 -2.15% 0.33%
2001 -1.97% 0.27%
2000 -0.49% 0.16%
1999 -0.56% 0.08%
1998 -0.67% 0.06%
1997 -0.61% 0.06%
1996 -0.51% 0.16%
1995 -0.44% 0.53%
1994 -0.34% 0.71%
1993 -0.79% 0.58%
1992 -1.07% 0.59%
1991 -0.99% 0.68%
1990 -1.79% 0.78%
1989 -1.16% 0.67%
1988 0.11% 0.46%
1987 0.15% 0.33%
1986 -0.03% 0.23%
1985 -0.001% 0.17%
1984 0.23% 0.09%
1983 0.25% 0.05%
1982 0.3% 0.06%
1981 0.33% 0.12%
1980 0.4% 0.2%
1979 0.14% 0.22%
1978 0.11% 0.29%
1977 0.52% 0.36%
1976 0.43% 0.36%
1975 0.48% 0.4%
1974 0.67% 0.29%
1973 0.52% 0.17%
1972 0.47% 0.3%
1971 0.55% 0.69%
1970 0.66% 0.94%
1969 0.77% 0.71%
1968 0.71% 0.56%
1967 0.63% 0.77%
1966 0.66% 0.96%
1965 0.73% 0.95%
1964 0.82% 0.75%
1963 0.81% 0.57%
1962 0.88% 0.55%
1961 0.96% 0.47%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/sweden | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Sweden's population grew by 0.25%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Sweden
Current population
6390149
10665077
Population rank 112/197 93/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.13%
One net population change
1.08 hours
19.6 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
5.35 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
5.78 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +74
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +26,911
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +0.25%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 148/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
11.2 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +47,079
Net migration rank 106/196 22/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 2,272,158
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 34/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 21.4%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 28/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Sweden
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Sweden
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 47,079
2024 -47,023 524 7,399 50,115
2023 -43,837 5,173 5,269 55,209
2022 -62,065 26,498 10,487 58,955
2021 -90,452 11,756 22,914 51,947
2020 -65,507 30,167 14,495 37,302
2019 -46,317 -2,156 25,697 72,619
2018 -46,304 -3,873 23,403 87,517
2017 -45,583 -6,109 24,138 102,671
2016 -42,744 -9,482 25,800 119,234
2015 -44,699 -4,227 23,518 80,534
2014 -41,027 -2,180 26,179 77,654
2013 -37,948 -1,324 23,041 66,760
2012 -40,183 -26,334 20,943 52,879
2011 -37,477 -23,360 21,733 46,049
2010 -34,759 -21,668 25,320 51,175
2009 -26,800 -19,060 21,387 63,638
2008 -32,967 -17,595 18,439 56,452
2007 -37,727 -16,366 15,552 54,907
2006 -39,526 -15,184 15,436 51,675
2005 -42,124 -14,435 9,030 27,030
2004 -40,128 -13,604 9,893 25,842
2003 -44,319 -13,183 6,271 29,161
2002 -46,240 -12,735 893 31,364
2001 -44,050 -30,726 -1,779 28,856
2000 -41,668 -26,211 -2,662 24,900
1999 -39,411 -23,846 -6,201 13,940
1998 -52,844 -23,262 -3,541 11,325
1997 -58,185 -22,963 -3,539 6,047
1996 -45,159 -21,520 1,768 5,773
1995 -42,030 -22,020 9,710 11,621
1994 -32,086 -20,984 20,196 51,545
1993 -24,569 -19,973 20,924 32,725
1992 -18,789 -120,552 28,605 20,507
1991 -14,675 -119,356 29,299 25,314
1990 -3,487 -116,817 29,100 35,668
1989 5,326 -114,705 24,629 44,565
1988 9,879 215 15,186 30,064
1987 8,971 357 11,757 21,335
1986 16,125 1,104 9,206 15,211
1985 11,649 -19,230 4,175 11,464
1984 20,610 -1,032 3,335 8,668
1983 21,455 -1,872 833 2,105
1982 24,077 -1,860 1,665 2,524
1981 29,341 -1,830 1,664 3,209
1980 30,129 -2,045 5,818 10,040
1979 40,599 -872 4,976 13,895
1978 44,070 -62,769 4,138 13,807
1977 47,543 -11,955 7,426 23,528
1976 56,055 -2,522 8,222 20,324
1975 54,941 -38,071 14,746 16,564
1974 64,223 -1,402 23,664 9,217
1973 57,760 -5,409 24,409 -9,551
1972 47,169 -11,296 28,428 -13,519
1971 52,925 -7,654 31,583 2,334
1970 61,125 -11,315 30,563 47,242
1969 63,256 -3,204 23,904 48,824
1968 69,468 -132 30,858 8,545
1967 49,861 -420 41,700 11,075
1966 54,504 -144 45,286 24,920
1965 58,249 -1,406 44,857 32,444
1964 66,783 505 45,968 23,581
1963 66,241 500 35,741 11,009
1962 64,104 499 30,246 9,627
1961 75,460 378 30,832 14,401
1960 76,314 -1,112 27,693 1,080

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/sweden | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 91.7% of the population change in Bulgaria is from natural causes (a loss of 534,531 people) and 8.28% is from migration (a gain of 48,271 people). In Sweden 20.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 183,120 people) and 79.6% is from migration (a gain of 716,103 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 2,272,158 people or 21.4% in Sweden.

Biggest cities by population

Bulgaria
City Population
Sofia 1.21M
Plovdiv 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
Sweden
City Population
Stockholm 985K
Gothenburg 675K
Malmo 339K
Uppsala 175K
Vasteras 132K
Orebro 129K
Linkoping 117K
Helsingborg 116K
Jonkoping 103K
Lund 98.3K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/sweden | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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