Skip to content

Population in Bulgaria compared to the United Arab Emirates: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 11,513,149 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 11,885,001 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The United Arab Emirates' population is 1.86 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while the United Arab Emirates is the 84th.
  • The countries together account for 0.22% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.14% for the United Arab Emirates.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.9M (137.3% growth).

Bulgaria vs United Arab Emirates: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria UAE
2100 3,384,288 26,706,595
2099 3,408,821 26,465,166
2098 3,433,149 26,225,773
2097 3,457,549 25,988,828
2096 3,482,057 25,753,753
2095 3,506,060 25,520,511
2094 3,530,278 25,288,801
2093 3,554,432 25,058,430
2092 3,578,667 24,829,182
2091 3,602,907 24,600,702
2090 3,627,300 24,372,725
2089 3,652,188 24,144,467
2088 3,677,416 23,916,513
2087 3,703,460 23,688,452
2086 3,730,284 23,460,422
2085 3,757,953 23,232,061
2084 3,786,496 23,002,795
2083 3,815,548 22,772,229
2082 3,845,662 22,540,771
2081 3,876,344 22,308,390
2080 3,908,874 22,075,331
2079 3,942,344 21,841,417
2078 3,976,345 21,606,907
2077 4,011,440 21,371,631
2076 4,047,182 21,136,110
2075 4,083,977 20,900,601
2074 4,122,447 20,665,468
2073 4,161,511 20,430,105
2072 4,201,158 20,196,342
2071 4,241,639 19,963,477
2070 4,283,145 19,732,649
2069 4,325,083 19,503,294
2068 4,367,606 19,276,535
2067 4,411,116 19,052,348
2066 4,455,358 18,831,237
2065 4,500,141 18,612,821
2064 4,545,243 18,397,315
2063 4,590,439 18,185,402
2062 4,635,634 17,977,010
2061 4,681,315 17,772,656
2060 4,727,089 17,571,910
2059 4,772,667 17,373,047
2058 4,817,532 17,176,551
2057 4,862,597 16,982,730
2056 4,907,646 16,791,613
2055 4,953,105 16,602,585
2054 4,998,650 16,414,963
2053 5,044,397 16,230,105
2052 5,089,817 16,047,360
2051 5,135,505 15,866,073
2050 5,181,635 15,685,433
2049 5,228,058 15,505,176
2048 5,274,692 15,326,671
2047 5,322,212 15,149,859
2046 5,369,645 14,977,516
2045 5,417,381 14,808,230
2044 5,465,818 14,639,661
2043 5,514,902 14,472,097
2042 5,564,573 14,305,483
2041 5,615,489 14,139,883
2040 5,667,076 13,975,444
2039 5,719,506 13,812,227
2038 5,771,452 13,650,128
2037 5,824,628 13,489,998
2036 5,877,980 13,331,723
2035 5,930,517 13,175,838
2034 5,983,205 13,022,467
2033 6,036,049 12,872,359
2032 6,088,107 12,725,892
2031 6,140,619 12,583,470
2030 6,193,318 12,445,626
2029 6,244,785 12,304,314
2028 6,294,981 12,153,292
2027 6,343,732 11,982,666
2026 6,390,149 11,781,850
2025 6,433,302 11,513,149
2024 6,441,421 10,986,400
2023 6,446,596 10,483,751
2022 6,465,097 10,074,977
2021 6,507,301 9,575,152
2020 6,550,696 9,401,038
2019 6,616,726 9,445,785
2018 6,710,798 9,346,701
2017 6,803,468 9,223,225
2016 6,894,139 8,935,095
2015 6,984,225 8,505,237
2014 7,073,572 8,059,440
2013 7,160,005 7,693,031
2012 7,305,888 7,391,448
2011 7,348,328 7,104,538
2010 7,395,599 6,869,838
2009 7,444,443 6,707,058
2008 7,492,561 6,302,664
2007 7,545,338 5,624,635
2006 7,601,022 5,009,100
2005 7,658,972 4,664,790
2004 7,716,860 4,428,967
2003 7,775,327 4,192,457
2002 7,837,161 3,956,826
2001 8,009,142 3,723,590
2000 8,170,172 3,493,575
1999 8,210,624 3,266,009
1998 8,256,786 3,040,421
1997 8,312,068 2,817,410
1996 8,362,826 2,597,564
1995 8,406,067 2,434,662
1994 8,443,591 2,328,188
1993 8,472,313 2,222,093
1992 8,540,164 2,114,730
1991 8,632,367 2,006,626
1990 8,718,289 1,898,220
1989 8,876,972 1,789,851
1988 8,981,446 1,681,788
1987 8,971,359 1,574,244
1986 8,958,171 1,467,383
1985 8,960,547 1,377,911
1984 8,960,679 1,305,996
1983 8,939,738 1,235,305
1982 8,917,457 1,166,370
1981 8,891,117 1,099,855
1980 8,861,535 1,015,700
1979 8,825,940 912,010
1978 8,814,032 809,274
1977 8,804,183 710,209
1976 8,758,599 615,866
1975 8,720,742 542,856
1974 8,678,745 489,087
1973 8,620,967 436,399
1972 8,576,200 385,014
1971 8,536,395 335,027
1970 8,489,574 286,536
1969 8,434,172 239,660
1968 8,369,603 199,416
1967 8,310,226 179,700
1966 8,258,057 173,976
1965 8,204,168 167,103
1964 8,144,340 159,692
1963 8,078,145 152,211
1962 8,012,946 144,946
1961 7,943,118 137,989
1960 7,867,374 131,334

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while the United Arab Emirates gained 3,925,995 people (a 78.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,949,906 people (a 33% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. The United Arab Emirates was ranked 114th in 2006 and ranked 84th 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 the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32% to 15,685,433 people and rank change from 84th to 82nd.

The United Arab Emirates is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 26.7M 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
United Arab Emirates
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria UAE
2100 -0.72% 0.91%
2099 -0.71% 0.91%
2098 -0.71% 0.91%
2097 -0.7% 0.91%
2096 -0.68% 0.91%
2095 -0.69% 0.92%
2094 -0.68% 0.92%
2093 -0.68% 0.92%
2092 -0.67% 0.93%
2091 -0.67% 0.94%
2090 -0.68% 0.95%
2089 -0.69% 0.95%
2088 -0.7% 0.96%
2087 -0.72% 0.97%
2086 -0.74% 0.98%
2085 -0.75% 1%
2084 -0.76% 1.01%
2083 -0.78% 1.03%
2082 -0.79% 1.04%
2081 -0.83% 1.06%
2080 -0.85% 1.07%
2079 -0.86% 1.09%
2078 -0.87% 1.1%
2077 -0.88% 1.11%
2076 -0.9% 1.13%
2075 -0.93% 1.14%
2074 -0.94% 1.15%
2073 -0.94% 1.16%
2072 -0.95% 1.17%
2071 -0.97% 1.17%
2070 -0.97% 1.18%
2069 -0.97% 1.18%
2068 -0.99% 1.18%
2067 -0.99% 1.17%
2066 -1% 1.17%
2065 -0.99% 1.17%
2064 -0.98% 1.17%
2063 -0.97% 1.16%
2062 -0.98% 1.15%
2061 -0.97% 1.14%
2060 -0.95% 1.14%
2059 -0.93% 1.14%
2058 -0.93% 1.14%
2057 -0.92% 1.14%
2056 -0.92% 1.14%
2055 -0.91% 1.14%
2054 -0.91% 1.14%
2053 -0.89% 1.14%
2052 -0.89% 1.14%
2051 -0.89% 1.15%
2050 -0.89% 1.16%
2049 -0.88% 1.16%
2048 -0.89% 1.17%
2047 -0.88% 1.15%
2046 -0.88% 1.14%
2045 -0.89% 1.15%
2044 -0.89% 1.16%
2043 -0.89% 1.16%
2042 -0.91% 1.17%
2041 -0.91% 1.18%
2040 -0.92% 1.18%
2039 -0.9% 1.19%
2038 -0.91% 1.19%
2037 -0.91% 1.19%
2036 -0.89% 1.18%
2035 -0.88% 1.18%
2034 -0.88% 1.17%
2033 -0.86% 1.15%
2032 -0.86% 1.13%
2031 -0.85% 1.11%
2030 -0.82% 1.15%
2029 -0.8% 1.24%
2028 -0.77% 1.42%
2027 -0.73% 1.7%
2026 -0.67% 2.33%
2025 -0.13% 4.79%
2024 -0.08% 4.79%
2023 -0.29% 4.06%
2022 -0.65% 5.22%
2021 -0.66% 1.85%
2020 -1% -0.47%
2019 -1.4% 1.06%
2018 -1.36% 1.34%
2017 -1.32% 3.22%
2016 -1.29% 5.05%
2015 -1.26% 5.53%
2014 -1.21% 4.76%
2013 -2% 4.08%
2012 -0.58% 4.04%
2011 -0.64% 3.42%
2010 -0.66% 2.43%
2009 -0.64% 6.42%
2008 -0.7% 12.1%
2007 -0.73% 12.3%
2006 -0.76% 7.38%
2005 -0.75% 5.32%
2004 -0.75% 5.64%
2003 -0.79% 5.96%
2002 -2.15% 6.26%
2001 -1.97% 6.58%
2000 -0.49% 6.97%
1999 -0.56% 7.42%
1998 -0.67% 7.92%
1997 -0.61% 8.46%
1996 -0.51% 6.69%
1995 -0.44% 4.57%
1994 -0.34% 4.77%
1993 -0.79% 5.08%
1992 -1.07% 5.39%
1991 -0.99% 5.71%
1990 -1.79% 6.05%
1989 -1.16% 6.43%
1988 0.11% 6.83%
1987 0.15% 7.28%
1986 -0.03% 6.49%
1985 -0.001% 5.51%
1984 0.23% 5.72%
1983 0.25% 5.91%
1982 0.3% 6.05%
1981 0.33% 8.29%
1980 0.4% 11.4%
1979 0.14% 12.7%
1978 0.11% 13.9%
1977 0.52% 15.3%
1976 0.43% 13.4%
1975 0.48% 11%
1974 0.67% 12.1%
1973 0.52% 13.3%
1972 0.47% 14.9%
1971 0.55% 16.9%
1970 0.66% 19.6%
1969 0.77% 20.2%
1968 0.71% 11%
1967 0.63% 3.29%
1966 0.66% 4.11%
1965 0.73% 4.64%
1964 0.82% 4.91%
1963 0.81% 5.01%
1962 0.88% 5.04%
1961 0.96% 5.07%

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria UAE
Current population
6390149
11885001
Population rank 112/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.14%
One net population change
1.08 hours
1 minute
One birth every
9.83 minutes
4.87 minutes
One death every
5.23 minutes
49.2 minutes
Daily growth/decline -22 +1,443
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +526,749
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 1/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
3.32 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +158,634
Net migration rank 106/196 8/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 8,157,000
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 8/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 74%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 2/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
United Arab Emirates
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria UAE
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 158,634
2024 -47,023 524 97,197 278,439
2023 -43,837 5,173 92,698 300,004
2022 -62,065 26,498 81,758 322,773
2021 -90,452 11,756 76,802 421,663
2020 -65,507 30,167 87,871 92,541
2019 -46,317 -2,156 86,296 -125,186
2018 -46,304 -3,873 86,840 14,611
2017 -45,583 -6,109 89,382 34,155
2016 -42,744 -9,482 87,028 195,317
2015 -44,699 -4,227 85,044 342,468
2014 -41,027 -2,180 84,277 360,174
2013 -37,948 -1,324 82,977 279,269
2012 -40,183 -26,334 78,682 225,921
2011 -37,477 -23,360 73,496 215,183
2010 -34,759 -21,668 69,907 161,842
2009 -26,800 -19,060 66,521 163,643
2008 -32,967 -17,595 55,426 523,207
2007 -37,727 -16,366 55,048 722,380
2006 -39,526 -15,184 54,338 399,306
2005 -42,124 -14,435 60,046 174,926
2004 -40,128 -13,604 60,344 176,319
2003 -44,319 -13,183 59,118 177,237
2002 -46,240 -12,735 55,922 178,988
2001 -44,050 -30,726 52,789 178,779
2000 -41,668 -26,211 49,993 178,469
1999 -39,411 -23,846 46,198 180,469
1998 -52,844 -23,262 41,176 183,329
1997 -58,185 -22,963 38,207 183,310
1996 -45,159 -21,520 37,886 180,296
1995 -42,030 -22,020 38,685 68,938
1994 -32,086 -20,984 42,976 62,352
1993 -24,569 -19,973 41,324 65,545
1992 -18,789 -120,552 42,119 65,739
1991 -14,675 -119,356 41,409 66,943
1990 -3,487 -116,817 41,339 67,118
1989 5,326 -114,705 40,148 68,132
1988 9,879 215 38,861 68,991
1987 8,971 357 37,741 69,493
1986 16,125 1,104 36,829 69,655
1985 11,649 -19,230 34,855 37,605
1984 20,610 -1,032 33,250 38,124
1983 21,455 -1,872 31,480 38,536
1982 24,077 -1,860 29,585 38,276
1981 29,341 -1,830 27,560 37,600
1980 30,129 -2,045 25,005 78,148
1979 40,599 -872 21,987 82,238
1978 44,070 -62,769 18,879 82,359
1977 47,543 -11,955 15,787 81,111
1976 56,055 -2,522 12,876 78,903
1975 54,941 -38,071 11,859 42,380
1974 64,223 -1,402 10,835 42,474
1973 57,760 -5,409 9,822 42,243
1972 47,169 -11,296 8,818 41,888
1971 52,925 -7,654 7,839 41,425
1970 61,125 -11,315 6,922 40,792
1969 63,256 -3,204 6,138 39,902
1968 69,468 -132 5,588 28,866
1967 49,861 -420 5,264 -283
1966 54,504 -144 4,955 1,516
1965 58,249 -1,406 4,675 2,598
1964 66,783 505 4,410 3,126
1963 66,241 500 4,157 3,264
1962 64,104 499 3,901 3,212
1961 75,460 378 3,657 3,141
1960 76,314 -1,112 3,418 3,102

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 31.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 870,916 people) and 68.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,876,785 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 8,157,000 people or 74% in the United Arab Emirates.

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
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Fujairah 119K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Umm al-Quwain 44.4K
Madinat Zayed 29.1K

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/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

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)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.