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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 7,494,498 people in Turkmenistan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 7,776,557 in Turkmenistan.

Population statistics:

  • Turkmenistan's population is 1.22 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Turkmenistan is the 104th.
  • The countries together account for 0.17% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.09% for Turkmenistan.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +2.14% in Turkmenistan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Turkmenistan has grown from 5.15M to 7.78M (51.1% growth).

Bulgaria vs Turkmenistan: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Turkmenistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Turkmenistan
2100 3,368,029 10,046,945
2099 3,392,444 10,075,740
2098 3,416,655 10,103,319
2097 3,440,938 10,129,577
2096 3,465,328 10,154,338
2095 3,489,216 10,178,163
2094 3,513,318 10,200,371
2093 3,537,356 10,221,349
2092 3,561,475 10,240,959
2091 3,585,597 10,259,026
2090 3,609,873 10,276,261
2089 3,634,642 10,291,819
2088 3,659,749 10,306,303
2087 3,685,668 10,319,501
2086 3,712,363 10,331,090
2085 3,739,898 10,341,183
2084 3,768,305 10,349,710
2083 3,797,217 10,356,602
2082 3,827,186 10,362,422
2081 3,857,721 10,366,587
2080 3,890,095 10,369,293
2079 3,923,403 10,370,130
2078 3,957,241 10,369,013
2077 3,992,168 10,366,366
2076 4,027,738 10,361,975
2075 4,064,356 10,355,755
2074 4,102,642 10,348,384
2073 4,141,518 10,339,415
2072 4,180,975 10,328,653
2071 4,221,261 10,316,618
2070 4,262,568 10,303,565
2069 4,304,304 10,289,578
2068 4,346,623 10,274,625
2067 4,389,924 10,258,518
2066 4,433,953 10,241,362
2065 4,478,521 10,223,420
2064 4,523,406 10,204,034
2063 4,568,385 10,183,241
2062 4,613,363 10,160,903
2061 4,658,825 10,136,928
2060 4,704,379 10,111,369
2059 4,749,738 10,083,631
2058 4,794,388 10,052,905
2057 4,839,236 10,019,547
2056 4,884,068 9,983,379
2055 4,929,309 9,943,931
2054 4,974,635 9,901,473
2053 5,020,162 9,854,931
2052 5,065,364 9,804,909
2051 5,110,833 9,751,221
2050 5,156,741 9,693,713
2049 5,202,941 9,632,600
2048 5,249,351 9,567,946
2047 5,296,642 9,500,139
2046 5,343,848 9,429,355
2045 5,391,354 9,356,194
2044 5,439,559 9,280,988
2043 5,488,407 9,204,466
2042 5,537,839 9,126,898
2041 5,588,510 9,048,356
2040 5,639,850 8,969,478
2039 5,692,028 8,890,225
2038 5,743,725 8,810,850
2037 5,796,645 8,731,367
2036 5,849,741 8,651,719
2035 5,902,025 8,572,231
2034 5,954,460 8,492,483
2033 6,007,050 8,412,113
2032 6,058,858 8,330,912
2031 6,111,118 8,248,129
2030 6,163,564 8,163,024
2029 6,214,784 8,070,023
2028 6,264,738 7,969,080
2027 6,313,255 7,860,774
2026 6,359,449 7,745,331
2025 6,402,394 7,623,184
2024 6,441,421 7,494,498
2023 6,446,596 7,364,438
2022 6,465,097 7,230,193
2021 6,507,301 7,092,043
2020 6,550,696 6,949,912
2019 6,616,726 6,803,944
2018 6,710,798 6,655,524
2017 6,803,468 6,507,061
2016 6,894,139 6,360,041
2015 6,984,225 6,215,770
2014 7,073,572 6,075,283
2013 7,160,005 5,939,341
2012 7,305,888 5,808,546
2011 7,348,328 5,683,417
2010 7,395,599 5,564,356
2009 7,444,443 5,451,592
2008 7,492,561 5,345,029
2007 7,545,338 5,244,046
2006 7,601,022 5,147,105
2005 7,658,972 5,052,257
2004 7,716,860 4,958,093
2003 7,775,327 4,863,865
2002 7,837,161 4,769,465
2001 8,009,142 4,675,409
2000 8,170,172 4,582,677
1999 8,210,624 4,492,170
1998 8,256,786 4,410,507
1997 8,312,068 4,336,730
1996 8,362,826 4,263,819
1995 8,406,067 4,191,203
1994 8,443,591 4,116,662
1993 8,472,313 4,032,407
1992 8,540,164 3,944,689
1991 8,632,367 3,855,894
1990 8,718,289 3,760,562
1989 8,876,972 3,662,459
1988 8,981,446 3,559,363
1987 8,971,359 3,452,731
1986 8,958,171 3,347,809
1985 8,960,547 3,247,534
1984 8,960,679 3,154,079
1983 8,939,738 3,067,534
1982 8,917,457 2,985,557
1981 8,891,117 2,907,187
1980 8,861,535 2,832,203
1979 8,825,940 2,760,358
1978 8,814,032 2,691,088
1977 8,804,183 2,623,948
1976 8,758,599 2,558,521
1975 8,720,742 2,494,570
1974 8,678,745 2,432,028
1973 8,620,967 2,370,919
1972 8,576,200 2,311,430
1971 8,536,395 2,253,119
1970 8,489,574 2,195,616
1969 8,434,172 2,139,024
1968 8,369,603 2,083,069
1967 8,310,226 2,027,403
1966 8,258,057 1,971,737
1965 8,204,168 1,915,916
1964 8,144,340 1,859,997
1963 8,078,145 1,804,272
1962 8,012,946 1,749,214
1961 7,943,118 1,695,400
1960 7,867,374 1,643,457

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/turkmenistan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Turkmenistan gained 1,212,936 people (a 23.6% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Turkmenistan's population increased by 1,416,516 people (a 22.3% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Turkmenistan was ranked 113th in 2006 and ranked 104th 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 Turkmenistan will increase by 24.7% to 9,693,713 people and rank change from 104th to 101st.

Turkmenistan is projected to reach its peak in 2079 at 10.4M 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
Turkmenistan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Turkmenistan
2100 -0.72% -0.29%
2099 -0.71% -0.27%
2098 -0.71% -0.26%
2097 -0.7% -0.24%
2096 -0.68% -0.23%
2095 -0.69% -0.22%
2094 -0.68% -0.21%
2093 -0.68% -0.19%
2092 -0.67% -0.18%
2091 -0.67% -0.17%
2090 -0.68% -0.15%
2089 -0.69% -0.14%
2088 -0.7% -0.13%
2087 -0.72% -0.11%
2086 -0.74% -0.1%
2085 -0.75% -0.08%
2084 -0.76% -0.07%
2083 -0.78% -0.06%
2082 -0.79% -0.04%
2081 -0.83% -0.03%
2080 -0.85% -0.008%
2079 -0.86% 0.01%
2078 -0.87% 0.03%
2077 -0.88% 0.04%
2076 -0.9% 0.06%
2075 -0.93% 0.07%
2074 -0.94% 0.09%
2073 -0.94% 0.1%
2072 -0.95% 0.12%
2071 -0.97% 0.13%
2070 -0.97% 0.14%
2069 -0.97% 0.15%
2068 -0.99% 0.16%
2067 -0.99% 0.17%
2066 -1% 0.18%
2065 -0.99% 0.19%
2064 -0.98% 0.2%
2063 -0.97% 0.22%
2062 -0.98% 0.24%
2061 -0.97% 0.25%
2060 -0.95% 0.28%
2059 -0.93% 0.31%
2058 -0.93% 0.33%
2057 -0.92% 0.36%
2056 -0.92% 0.4%
2055 -0.91% 0.43%
2054 -0.91% 0.47%
2053 -0.89% 0.51%
2052 -0.89% 0.55%
2051 -0.89% 0.59%
2050 -0.89% 0.63%
2049 -0.88% 0.68%
2048 -0.89% 0.71%
2047 -0.88% 0.75%
2046 -0.88% 0.78%
2045 -0.89% 0.81%
2044 -0.89% 0.83%
2043 -0.89% 0.85%
2042 -0.91% 0.87%
2041 -0.91% 0.88%
2040 -0.92% 0.89%
2039 -0.9% 0.9%
2038 -0.91% 0.91%
2037 -0.91% 0.92%
2036 -0.89% 0.93%
2035 -0.88% 0.94%
2034 -0.88% 0.96%
2033 -0.86% 0.97%
2032 -0.86% 1%
2031 -0.85% 1.04%
2030 -0.82% 1.15%
2029 -0.8% 1.27%
2028 -0.77% 1.38%
2027 -0.73% 1.49%
2026 -0.67% 1.6%
2025 -0.61% 1.72%
2024 -0.08% 1.77%
2023 -0.29% 1.86%
2022 -0.65% 1.95%
2021 -0.66% 2.05%
2020 -1% 2.15%
2019 -1.4% 2.23%
2018 -1.36% 2.28%
2017 -1.32% 2.31%
2016 -1.29% 2.32%
2015 -1.26% 2.31%
2014 -1.21% 2.29%
2013 -2% 2.25%
2012 -0.58% 2.2%
2011 -0.64% 2.14%
2010 -0.66% 2.07%
2009 -0.64% 1.99%
2008 -0.7% 1.93%
2007 -0.73% 1.88%
2006 -0.76% 1.88%
2005 -0.75% 1.9%
2004 -0.75% 1.94%
2003 -0.79% 1.98%
2002 -2.15% 2.01%
2001 -1.97% 2.02%
2000 -0.49% 2.01%
1999 -0.56% 1.85%
1998 -0.67% 1.7%
1997 -0.61% 1.71%
1996 -0.51% 1.73%
1995 -0.44% 1.81%
1994 -0.34% 2.09%
1993 -0.79% 2.22%
1992 -1.07% 2.3%
1991 -0.99% 2.54%
1990 -1.79% 2.68%
1989 -1.16% 2.9%
1988 0.11% 3.09%
1987 0.15% 3.13%
1986 -0.03% 3.09%
1985 -0.001% 2.96%
1984 0.23% 2.82%
1983 0.25% 2.75%
1982 0.3% 2.7%
1981 0.33% 2.65%
1980 0.4% 2.6%
1979 0.14% 2.57%
1978 0.11% 2.56%
1977 0.52% 2.56%
1976 0.43% 2.56%
1975 0.48% 2.57%
1974 0.67% 2.58%
1973 0.52% 2.57%
1972 0.47% 2.59%
1971 0.55% 2.62%
1970 0.66% 2.65%
1969 0.77% 2.69%
1968 0.71% 2.75%
1967 0.63% 2.82%
1966 0.66% 2.91%
1965 0.73% 3.01%
1964 0.82% 3.09%
1963 0.81% 3.15%
1962 0.88% 3.17%
1961 0.96% 3.16%

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/turkmenistan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Turkmenistan's population grew by 1.77%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Turkmenistan
Current population
6359449
7776557
Population rank 112/197 104/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.09%
One net population change
1.69 hours
4.04 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
3.28 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
12.3 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +356
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +130,060
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +1.77%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 61/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
39.7 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +13,268
Net migration rank 106/196 39/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 193,763
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 115/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 125/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Turkmenistan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Turkmenistan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 13,268
2024 - 524 - 14,646
2023 -43,837 5,173 117,529 15,005
2022 -62,065 26,498 121,814 14,141
2021 -90,452 11,756 122,721 17,617
2020 -65,507 30,167 124,014 19,913
2019 -46,317 -2,156 128,275 19,735
2018 -46,304 -3,873 129,537 19,293
2017 -45,583 -6,109 131,417 16,678
2016 -42,744 -9,482 132,581 13,365
2015 -44,699 -4,227 132,663 9,936
2014 -41,027 -2,180 129,677 8,696
2013 -37,948 -1,324 126,217 7,287
2012 -40,183 -26,334 120,957 7,125
2011 -37,477 -23,360 115,197 6,992
2010 -34,759 -21,668 109,318 6,621
2009 -26,800 -19,060 102,931 6,656
2008 -32,967 -17,595 96,815 6,734
2007 -37,727 -16,366 92,038 6,388
2006 -39,526 -15,184 87,840 7,613
2005 -42,124 -14,435 83,968 10,263
2004 -40,128 -13,604 79,850 14,242
2003 -44,319 -13,183 76,737 17,625
2002 -46,240 -12,735 75,639 18,803
2001 -44,050 -30,726 76,682 16,982
2000 -41,668 -26,211 76,875 14,925
1999 -39,411 -23,846 76,362 12,859
1998 -52,844 -23,262 77,342 -3,239
1997 -58,185 -22,963 79,045 -5,600
1996 -45,159 -21,520 80,996 -8,627
1995 -42,030 -22,020 86,289 -13,423
1994 -32,086 -20,984 89,319 -13,094
1993 -24,569 -19,973 92,596 -312
1992 -18,789 -120,552 96,668 -13,517
1991 -14,675 -119,356 99,297 -4,864
1990 -3,487 -116,817 101,099 -4,864
1989 5,326 -114,705 103,553 -3,576
1988 9,879 215 104,802 1,408
1987 8,971 357 103,885 3,161
1986 16,125 1,104 100,930 1,878
1985 11,649 -19,230 95,890 1,861
1984 20,610 -1,032 90,591 -1,427
1983 21,455 -1,872 85,183 -1,264
1982 24,077 -1,860 80,989 -961
1981 29,341 -1,830 77,829 -1,102
1980 30,129 -2,045 74,394 -1,152
1979 40,599 -872 71,135 -677
1978 44,070 -62,769 68,437 -350
1977 47,543 -11,955 66,318 -132
1976 56,055 -2,522 64,513 160
1975 54,941 -38,071 62,681 550
1974 64,223 -1,402 60,925 924
1973 57,760 -5,409 59,169 1,194
1972 47,169 -11,296 57,326 1,293
1971 52,925 -7,654 56,666 1,348
1970 61,125 -11,315 55,617 1,376
1969 63,256 -3,204 54,791 1,397
1968 69,468 -132 54,324 1,401
1967 49,861 -420 54,209 1,397
1966 54,504 -144 54,353 1,377
1965 58,249 -1,406 54,558 1,366
1964 66,783 505 54,574 1,340
1963 66,241 500 54,203 1,332
1962 64,104 499 53,248 1,337
1961 75,460 378 51,659 1,372
1960 76,314 -1,112 49,436 1,421

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/turkmenistan | 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 Turkmenistan 89.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,270,228 people) and 10.8% is from migration (a gain of 154,379 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 193,763 people or 2.6% in Turkmenistan.

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
Turkmenistan
City Population
Ashgabat 1.03M
Turkmenabat 231K
Dasoguz 227K
Mary 126K
Anau 29.6K
Baherden 24.7K

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/turkmenistan | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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