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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 10,986,400 people in the United Arab Emirates in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 11,686,438 in the United Arab Emirates.

Population statistics:

  • The United Arab Emirates' population is 1.84 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 -0.96% per year vs +3.31% in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while the United Arab Emirates has grown from 5.01M to 11.7M (133.3% 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 3,368,029 26,368,750
2099 3,392,444 26,130,374
2098 3,416,655 25,894,010
2097 3,440,938 25,660,062
2096 3,465,328 25,427,961
2095 3,489,216 25,197,670
2094 3,513,318 24,968,891
2093 3,537,356 24,741,434
2092 3,561,475 24,515,086
2091 3,585,597 24,289,496
2090 3,609,873 24,064,404
2089 3,634,642 23,839,033
2088 3,659,749 23,613,963
2087 3,685,668 23,388,786
2086 3,712,363 23,163,641
2085 3,739,898 22,938,169
2084 3,768,305 22,711,804
2083 3,797,217 22,484,154
2082 3,827,186 22,255,625
2081 3,857,721 22,026,183
2080 3,890,095 21,796,073
2079 3,923,403 21,565,118
2078 3,957,241 21,333,574
2077 3,992,168 21,101,274
2076 4,027,738 20,868,733
2075 4,064,356 20,636,203
2074 4,102,642 20,404,044
2073 4,141,518 20,171,659
2072 4,180,975 19,940,853
2071 4,221,261 19,710,934
2070 4,262,568 19,483,026
2069 4,304,304 19,256,572
2068 4,346,623 19,032,681
2067 4,389,924 18,811,331
2066 4,433,953 18,593,017
2065 4,478,521 18,377,364
2064 4,523,406 18,164,584
2063 4,568,385 17,955,352
2062 4,613,363 17,749,596
2061 4,658,825 17,547,827
2060 4,704,379 17,349,620
2059 4,749,738 17,153,273
2058 4,794,388 16,959,263
2057 4,839,236 16,767,893
2056 4,884,068 16,579,195
2055 4,929,309 16,392,558
2054 4,974,635 16,207,309
2053 5,020,162 16,024,789
2052 5,065,364 15,844,357
2051 5,110,833 15,665,362
2050 5,156,741 15,487,008
2049 5,202,941 15,309,031
2048 5,249,351 15,132,784
2047 5,296,642 14,958,209
2046 5,343,848 14,788,046
2045 5,391,354 14,620,902
2044 5,439,559 14,454,466
2043 5,488,407 14,289,021
2042 5,537,839 14,124,515
2041 5,588,510 13,961,010
2040 5,639,850 13,798,651
2039 5,692,028 13,637,499
2038 5,743,725 13,477,450
2037 5,796,645 13,319,346
2036 5,849,741 13,163,073
2035 5,902,025 13,009,160
2034 5,954,460 12,857,729
2033 6,007,050 12,709,520
2032 6,058,858 12,564,906
2031 6,111,118 12,424,286
2030 6,163,564 12,288,186
2029 6,214,784 12,148,661
2028 6,264,738 11,999,549
2027 6,313,255 11,831,082
2026 6,359,449 11,632,806
2025 6,402,394 11,367,504
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while the United Arab Emirates' population increased by 2,751,343 people (a 30.8% 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 5,156,741 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of the United Arab Emirates will increase by 32.5% to 15,487,008 people and will still be ranked 84th.

The United Arab Emirates is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 26.4M 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
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 -0.61% 3.47%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/united-arab-emirates | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while the United Arab Emirates' population grew by 4.79%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria UAE
Current population
6359449
11686438
Population rank 112/197 84/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.14%
One net population change
1.69 hours
1.05 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
5.13 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
53.8 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +1,377
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +502,649
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +4.79%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 3/197
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 - 524 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/united-arab-emirates | 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 the United Arab Emirates 30.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 857,996 people) and 69.5% is from migration (a gain of 1,958,520 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 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
UAE
City Population
Dubai 3.94M
Abu Dhabi 1.57M
Sharjah 1.25M
Al Ain 767K
Ajman 490K
Ras al-Khaimah 116K
Fujairah 93.7K
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 (1960–2024, 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/united-arab-emirates | 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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