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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 25,620,427 people in Syria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 26,956,472 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 -0.86% per year vs +2.19% in Syria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while Syria has grown from 19.6M to 27M (37.3% growth).

Bulgaria vs Syria: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Syria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Syria
2100 3,384,288 44,500,028
2099 3,408,821 44,570,009
2098 3,433,149 44,629,837
2097 3,457,549 44,692,566
2096 3,482,057 44,747,012
2095 3,506,060 44,774,686
2094 3,530,278 44,824,294
2093 3,554,432 44,853,295
2092 3,578,667 44,882,700
2091 3,602,907 44,895,349
2090 3,627,300 44,926,869
2089 3,652,188 44,925,891
2088 3,677,416 44,920,667
2087 3,703,460 44,928,298
2086 3,730,284 44,947,658
2085 3,757,953 44,913,669
2084 3,786,496 44,878,845
2083 3,815,548 44,850,592
2082 3,845,662 44,790,014
2081 3,876,344 44,723,244
2080 3,908,874 44,624,321
2079 3,942,344 44,567,127
2078 3,976,345 44,529,618
2077 4,011,440 44,484,155
2076 4,047,182 44,400,339
2075 4,083,977 44,306,882
2074 4,122,447 44,209,517
2073 4,161,511 44,102,028
2072 4,201,158 43,965,642
2071 4,241,639 43,821,617
2070 4,283,145 43,678,154
2069 4,325,083 43,530,683
2068 4,367,606 43,348,487
2067 4,411,116 43,154,741
2066 4,455,358 42,944,885
2065 4,500,141 42,695,249
2064 4,545,243 42,445,036
2063 4,590,439 42,198,056
2062 4,635,634 41,949,014
2061 4,681,315 41,695,586
2060 4,727,089 41,410,547
2059 4,772,667 41,097,942
2058 4,817,532 40,815,606
2057 4,862,597 40,534,091
2056 4,907,646 40,224,053
2055 4,953,105 39,918,930
2054 4,998,650 39,584,624
2053 5,044,397 39,242,144
2052 5,089,817 38,940,206
2051 5,135,505 38,629,604
2050 5,181,635 38,307,069
2049 5,228,058 37,986,965
2048 5,274,692 37,682,780
2047 5,322,212 37,391,752
2046 5,369,645 37,081,479
2045 5,417,381 36,744,441
2044 5,465,818 36,428,225
2043 5,514,902 36,090,851
2042 5,564,573 35,729,021
2041 5,615,489 35,352,033
2040 5,667,076 34,947,817
2039 5,719,506 34,533,772
2038 5,771,452 34,091,760
2037 5,824,628 33,612,993
2036 5,877,980 33,134,445
2035 5,930,517 32,608,669
2034 5,983,205 32,062,309
2033 6,036,049 31,477,500
2032 6,088,107 30,883,996
2031 6,140,619 30,248,264
2030 6,193,318 29,592,787
2029 6,244,785 28,871,638
2028 6,294,981 28,141,821
2027 6,343,732 27,355,002
2026 6,390,149 26,535,554
2025 6,433,302 25,620,427
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while Syria's population increased by 7,762,638 people (a 40.4% 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 5,181,635 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Syria will increase by 42.1% to 38,307,069 people and rank change from 56th to 53rd.

Syria is projected to reach its peak in 2086 at 44.9M 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
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 -0.13% 3.84%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while Syria's population grew by 3.84%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Syria
Current population
6390149
26956472
Population rank 112/197 56/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.32%
One net population change
1.08 hours
33.4 seconds
One birth every
9.83 minutes
55.2 seconds
One death every
5.23 minutes
4.32 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +2,596
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +947,667
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +3.84%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 5/197
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 -47,023 524 449,784 546,494
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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/syria | 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 Syria 58% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,164,289 people) and 42% is from migration (a gain of 2,295,242 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 334K
Varna 323K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 120K
Pleven 88.1K
Sliven 77.8K
Dobrich 68.6K
Shumen 66.4K
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 (1960–2025, 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/syria | 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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