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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 24,672,760 people in Syria in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 26,829,400 in Syria.

Population statistics:

  • Syria's population is 4.22 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Syria is the 56th.
  • The countries together account for 0.4% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.32% for Syria.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +1.25% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 26.8M (36.6% growth).

Bulgaria vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Syria
2100 3,368,029 44,620,090
2099 3,392,444 44,690,260
2098 3,416,655 44,750,249
2097 3,440,938 44,813,148
2096 3,465,328 44,867,740
2095 3,489,216 44,895,489
2094 3,513,318 44,945,231
2093 3,537,356 44,974,311
2092 3,561,475 45,003,795
2091 3,585,597 45,016,478
2090 3,609,873 45,048,083
2089 3,634,642 45,047,102
2088 3,659,749 45,041,864
2087 3,685,668 45,049,516
2086 3,712,363 45,068,928
2085 3,739,898 45,034,847
2084 3,768,305 44,999,929
2083 3,797,217 44,971,600
2082 3,827,186 44,910,859
2081 3,857,721 44,843,908
2080 3,890,095 44,744,718
2079 3,923,403 44,687,371
2078 3,957,241 44,649,760
2077 3,992,168 44,604,175
2076 4,027,738 44,520,132
2075 4,064,356 44,426,423
2074 4,102,642 44,328,795
2073 4,141,518 44,221,016
2072 4,180,975 44,084,262
2071 4,221,261 43,939,848
2070 4,262,568 43,795,999
2069 4,304,304 43,648,130
2068 4,346,623 43,465,442
2067 4,389,924 43,271,173
2066 4,433,953 43,060,752
2065 4,478,521 42,810,442
2064 4,523,406 42,559,554
2063 4,568,385 42,311,907
2062 4,613,363 42,062,193
2061 4,658,825 41,808,082
2060 4,704,379 41,522,274
2059 4,749,738 41,208,825
2058 4,794,388 40,925,728
2057 4,839,236 40,643,453
2056 4,884,068 40,332,578
2055 4,929,309 40,026,632
2054 4,974,635 39,691,425
2053 5,020,162 39,348,020
2052 5,065,364 39,045,268
2051 5,110,833 38,733,827
2050 5,156,741 38,410,423
2049 5,202,941 38,089,455
2048 5,249,351 37,784,449
2047 5,296,642 37,492,636
2046 5,343,848 37,181,526
2045 5,391,354 36,843,579
2044 5,439,559 36,526,509
2043 5,488,407 36,188,225
2042 5,537,839 35,825,419
2041 5,588,510 35,447,414
2040 5,639,850 35,042,107
2039 5,692,028 34,626,945
2038 5,743,725 34,183,740
2037 5,796,645 33,703,682
2036 5,849,741 33,223,843
2035 5,902,025 32,696,648
2034 5,954,460 32,148,814
2033 6,007,050 31,562,427
2032 6,058,858 30,967,322
2031 6,111,118 30,329,874
2030 6,163,564 29,672,629
2029 6,214,784 28,949,535
2028 6,264,738 28,217,748
2027 6,313,255 27,428,807
2026 6,359,449 26,607,148
2025 6,402,394 25,689,551
2024 6,441,421 24,672,760
2023 6,446,596 23,594,623
2022 6,465,097 22,462,173
2021 6,507,301 21,628,839
2020 6,550,696 21,049,429
2019 6,616,726 20,353,534
2018 6,710,798 19,577,845
2017 6,803,468 19,224,668
2016 6,894,139 19,193,834
2015 6,984,225 19,424,618
2014 7,073,572 20,273,659
2013 7,160,005 21,666,917
2012 7,305,888 22,759,763
2011 7,348,328 22,878,098
2010 7,395,599 22,482,421
2009 7,444,443 21,976,969
2008 7,492,561 21,636,564
2007 7,545,338 20,884,125
2006 7,601,022 19,637,022
2005 7,658,972 18,814,091
2004 7,716,860 18,336,875
2003 7,775,327 17,889,296
2002 7,837,161 17,468,332
2001 8,009,142 17,051,338
2000 8,170,172 16,637,888
1999 8,210,624 16,228,061
1998 8,256,786 15,820,413
1997 8,312,068 15,417,542
1996 8,362,826 15,018,104
1995 8,406,067 14,616,801
1994 8,443,591 14,208,583
1993 8,472,313 13,795,686
1992 8,540,164 13,385,571
1991 8,632,367 12,980,821
1990 8,718,289 12,579,208
1989 8,876,972 12,179,060
1988 8,981,446 11,782,264
1987 8,971,359 11,388,923
1986 8,958,171 11,002,844
1985 8,960,547 10,625,672
1984 8,960,679 10,258,398
1983 8,939,738 9,904,809
1982 8,917,457 9,572,511
1981 8,891,117 9,260,189
1980 8,861,535 8,957,663
1979 8,825,940 8,661,909
1978 8,814,032 8,372,759
1977 8,804,183 8,090,501
1976 8,758,599 7,817,320
1975 8,720,742 7,554,364
1974 8,678,745 7,302,160
1973 8,620,967 7,060,321
1972 8,576,200 6,826,024
1971 8,536,395 6,598,094
1970 8,489,574 6,380,609
1969 8,434,172 6,175,166
1968 8,369,603 5,978,742
1967 8,310,226 5,790,198
1966 8,258,057 5,609,047
1965 8,204,168 5,435,267
1964 8,144,340 5,269,087
1963 8,078,145 5,110,467
1962 8,012,946 4,959,340
1961 7,943,118 4,815,466
1960 7,867,374 4,673,500

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Syria lost 443,188 people (a 2.26% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Syria's population increased by 7,635,566 people (a 39.8% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Syria was ranked 58th in 2006 and ranked 56th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Bulgaria's population will shrink by 18.9% to 5,156,741 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Syria will increase by 43.2% to 38,410,423 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Syria is projected to reach its peak in 2086 at 45.1M people, while Bulgaria's population already peaked in 1988 at 8.98M people and is projected to decrease to 3.37M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Syria
2100 -0.72% -0.16%
2099 -0.71% -0.13%
2098 -0.71% -0.14%
2097 -0.7% -0.12%
2096 -0.68% -0.06%
2095 -0.69% -0.11%
2094 -0.68% -0.06%
2093 -0.68% -0.07%
2092 -0.67% -0.03%
2091 -0.67% -0.07%
2090 -0.68% 0.002%
2089 -0.69% 0.01%
2088 -0.7% -0.02%
2087 -0.72% -0.04%
2086 -0.74% 0.08%
2085 -0.75% 0.08%
2084 -0.76% 0.06%
2083 -0.78% 0.14%
2082 -0.79% 0.15%
2081 -0.83% 0.22%
2080 -0.85% 0.13%
2079 -0.86% 0.08%
2078 -0.87% 0.1%
2077 -0.88% 0.19%
2076 -0.9% 0.21%
2075 -0.93% 0.22%
2074 -0.94% 0.24%
2073 -0.94% 0.31%
2072 -0.95% 0.33%
2071 -0.97% 0.33%
2070 -0.97% 0.34%
2069 -0.97% 0.42%
2068 -0.99% 0.45%
2067 -0.99% 0.49%
2066 -1% 0.58%
2065 -0.99% 0.59%
2064 -0.98% 0.59%
2063 -0.97% 0.59%
2062 -0.98% 0.61%
2061 -0.97% 0.69%
2060 -0.95% 0.76%
2059 -0.93% 0.69%
2058 -0.93% 0.69%
2057 -0.92% 0.77%
2056 -0.92% 0.76%
2055 -0.91% 0.84%
2054 -0.91% 0.87%
2053 -0.89% 0.78%
2052 -0.89% 0.8%
2051 -0.89% 0.84%
2050 -0.89% 0.84%
2049 -0.88% 0.81%
2048 -0.89% 0.78%
2047 -0.88% 0.84%
2046 -0.88% 0.92%
2045 -0.89% 0.87%
2044 -0.89% 0.93%
2043 -0.89% 1.01%
2042 -0.91% 1.07%
2041 -0.91% 1.16%
2040 -0.92% 1.2%
2039 -0.9% 1.3%
2038 -0.91% 1.42%
2037 -0.91% 1.44%
2036 -0.89% 1.61%
2035 -0.88% 1.7%
2034 -0.88% 1.86%
2033 -0.86% 1.92%
2032 -0.86% 2.1%
2031 -0.85% 2.21%
2030 -0.82% 2.5%
2029 -0.8% 2.59%
2028 -0.77% 2.88%
2027 -0.73% 3.09%
2026 -0.67% 3.57%
2025 -0.61% 4.12%
2024 -0.08% 4.57%
2023 -0.29% 5.04%
2022 -0.65% 3.85%
2021 -0.66% 2.75%
2020 -1% 3.42%
2019 -1.4% 3.96%
2018 -1.36% 1.84%
2017 -1.32% 0.16%
2016 -1.29% -1.19%
2015 -1.26% -4.19%
2014 -1.21% -6.43%
2013 -2% -4.8%
2012 -0.58% -0.52%
2011 -0.64% 1.76%
2010 -0.66% 2.3%
2009 -0.64% 1.57%
2008 -0.7% 3.6%
2007 -0.73% 6.35%
2006 -0.76% 4.37%
2005 -0.75% 2.6%
2004 -0.75% 2.5%
2003 -0.79% 2.41%
2002 -2.15% 2.45%
2001 -1.97% 2.48%
2000 -0.49% 2.53%
1999 -0.56% 2.58%
1998 -0.67% 2.61%
1997 -0.61% 2.66%
1996 -0.51% 2.75%
1995 -0.44% 2.87%
1994 -0.34% 2.99%
1993 -0.79% 3.06%
1992 -1.07% 3.12%
1991 -0.99% 3.19%
1990 -1.79% 3.29%
1989 -1.16% 3.37%
1988 0.11% 3.45%
1987 0.15% 3.51%
1986 -0.03% 3.55%
1985 -0.001% 3.58%
1984 0.23% 3.57%
1983 0.25% 3.47%
1982 0.3% 3.37%
1981 0.33% 3.38%
1980 0.4% 3.41%
1979 0.14% 3.45%
1978 0.11% 3.49%
1977 0.52% 3.49%
1976 0.43% 3.48%
1975 0.48% 3.45%
1974 0.67% 3.43%
1973 0.52% 3.43%
1972 0.47% 3.45%
1971 0.55% 3.41%
1970 0.66% 3.33%
1969 0.77% 3.29%
1968 0.71% 3.26%
1967 0.63% 3.23%
1966 0.66% 3.2%
1965 0.73% 3.15%
1964 0.82% 3.1%
1963 0.81% 3.05%
1962 0.88% 2.99%
1961 0.96% 3.04%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Syria's population grew by 4.57%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Syria
Current population
6359449
26829400
Population rank 112/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.32%
One net population change
1.69 hours
29.3 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
1.01 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
4.42 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +2,954
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +1,078,137
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +4.57%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 6/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
1.25 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +421,693
Net migration rank 106/196 3/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 896,042
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 64/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 110/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Syria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Syria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 421,693
2024 - 524 - 546,494
2023 -43,837 5,173 402,713 757,309
2022 -62,065 26,498 369,750 735,142
2021 -90,452 11,756 350,560 211,220
2020 -65,507 30,167 327,992 269,050
2019 -46,317 -2,156 293,762 500,985
2018 -46,304 -3,873 242,530 514,102
2017 -45,583 -6,109 237,214 -287,501
2016 -42,744 -9,482 236,007 -124,063
2015 -44,699 -4,227 253,977 -827,496
2014 -41,027 -2,180 333,116 -1,457,679
2013 -37,948 -1,324 419,341 -2,081,303
2012 -40,183 -26,334 475,520 -999,267
2011 -37,477 -23,360 543,950 -256,888
2010 -34,759 -21,668 558,666 -54,359
2009 -26,800 -19,060 559,314 -52,703
2008 -32,967 -17,595 576,593 -402,393
2007 -37,727 -16,366 529,162 801,514
2006 -39,526 -15,184 480,616 682,911
2005 -42,124 -14,435 468,960 13,382
2004 -40,128 -13,604 461,209 10,881
2003 -44,319 -13,183 457,000 -33,920
2002 -46,240 -12,735 453,967 -35,096
2001 -44,050 -30,726 451,503 -36,383
2000 -41,668 -26,211 446,211 -34,425
1999 -39,411 -23,846 439,261 -31,394
1998 -52,844 -23,262 433,447 -26,025
1997 -58,185 -22,963 429,887 -31,571
1996 -45,159 -21,520 430,765 -30,197
1995 -42,030 -22,020 430,172 -28,122
1994 -32,086 -20,984 426,996 -12,630
1993 -24,569 -19,973 420,244 -8,828
1992 -18,789 -120,552 412,878 -4,063
1991 -14,675 -119,356 410,830 -10,154
1990 -3,487 -116,817 409,177 -6,620
1989 5,326 -114,705 406,111 -8,379
1988 9,879 215 404,285 -8,426
1987 8,971 357 399,159 -8,335
1986 16,125 1,104 390,821 -9,485
1985 11,649 -19,230 379,231 -6,221
1984 20,610 -1,032 366,768 -5,245
1983 21,455 -1,872 355,375 -9,729
1982 24,077 -1,860 319,664 -721
1981 29,341 -1,830 330,237 -24,536
1980 30,129 -2,045 332,464 -33,114
1979 40,599 -872 324,943 -32,793
1978 44,070 -62,769 316,724 -30,567
1977 47,543 -11,955 306,630 -28,275
1976 56,055 -2,522 294,267 -26,268
1975 54,941 -38,071 282,299 -24,389
1974 64,223 -1,402 270,735 -24,242
1973 57,760 -5,409 254,687 -17,502
1972 47,169 -11,296 249,027 -17,610
1971 52,925 -7,654 239,610 -15,167
1970 61,125 -11,315 230,117 -19,594
1969 63,256 -3,204 219,114 -18,749
1968 69,468 -132 209,454 -16,968
1967 49,861 -420 199,223 -14,618
1966 54,504 -144 191,122 -13,434
1965 58,249 -1,406 182,560 -12,704
1964 66,783 505 174,549 -12,044
1963 66,241 500 166,555 -11,817
1962 64,104 499 159,155 -11,641
1961 75,460 378 151,485 -11,237
1960 76,314 -1,112 143,687 0

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 92.1% of the population change in Bulgaria is from natural causes (a loss of 528,535 people) and 7.94% is from migration (a gain of 45,567 people). In Syria 91.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,047,621 people) and 8.72% is from migration (a gain of 291,069 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 896,042 people or 3.6% in Syria.

Biggest cities by population

Bulgaria
City Population
Sofia 1.21M
Plovdiv 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
Syria
City Population
Damascus 2.69M
Aleppo 2M
Homs 775K
Latakia 709K
Hama 697K
Raqqa 300K
Deir ez-Zor 272K
Al-Hasakah 188K
Qamishli 184K
Idlib 165K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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