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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,433,302 in 2025 vs 69,487,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,390,149 people compared to 70,071,289 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 11 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.92% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.84% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.86% per year vs +0.66% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.39M (15.9% decline), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.1M (15.2% growth).

Bulgaria vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria United Kingdom
2100 3,384,288 74,517,005
2099 3,408,821 74,647,273
2098 3,433,149 74,766,073
2097 3,457,549 74,879,923
2096 3,482,057 74,991,940
2095 3,506,060 75,102,041
2094 3,530,278 75,198,597
2093 3,554,432 75,296,704
2092 3,578,667 75,390,038
2091 3,602,907 75,480,137
2090 3,627,300 75,566,962
2089 3,652,188 75,649,353
2088 3,677,416 75,721,067
2087 3,703,460 75,791,990
2086 3,730,284 75,859,854
2085 3,757,953 75,918,647
2084 3,786,496 75,969,065
2083 3,815,548 76,018,614
2082 3,845,662 76,059,464
2081 3,876,344 76,086,593
2080 3,908,874 76,118,679
2079 3,942,344 76,147,352
2078 3,976,345 76,165,841
2077 4,011,440 76,183,437
2076 4,047,182 76,185,828
2075 4,083,977 76,198,349
2074 4,122,447 76,209,676
2073 4,161,511 76,218,781
2072 4,201,158 76,211,187
2071 4,241,639 76,200,495
2070 4,283,145 76,190,801
2069 4,325,083 76,184,140
2068 4,367,606 76,183,288
2067 4,411,116 76,175,881
2066 4,455,358 76,168,987
2065 4,500,141 76,168,193
2064 4,545,243 76,165,129
2063 4,590,439 76,165,534
2062 4,635,634 76,158,910
2061 4,681,315 76,156,587
2060 4,727,089 76,157,104
2059 4,772,667 76,157,593
2058 4,817,532 76,139,384
2057 4,862,597 76,119,478
2056 4,907,646 76,086,799
2055 4,953,105 76,047,952
2054 4,998,650 75,980,524
2053 5,044,397 75,907,047
2052 5,089,817 75,815,200
2051 5,135,505 75,709,173
2050 5,181,635 75,591,218
2049 5,228,058 75,460,140
2048 5,274,692 75,313,837
2047 5,322,212 75,153,802
2046 5,369,645 74,986,563
2045 5,417,381 74,808,886
2044 5,465,818 74,623,687
2043 5,514,902 74,424,133
2042 5,564,573 74,224,922
2041 5,615,489 74,020,934
2040 5,667,076 73,812,680
2039 5,719,506 73,600,788
2038 5,771,452 73,378,310
2037 5,824,628 73,155,497
2036 5,877,980 72,921,995
2035 5,930,517 72,671,687
2034 5,983,205 72,418,766
2033 6,036,049 72,145,065
2032 6,088,107 71,869,259
2031 6,140,619 71,581,519
2030 6,193,318 71,267,237
2029 6,244,785 70,948,992
2028 6,294,981 70,609,246
2027 6,343,732 70,248,858
2026 6,390,149 69,883,746
2025 6,433,302 69,487,000
2024 6,441,421 69,281,000
2023 6,446,596 68,526,000
2022 6,465,097 67,636,000
2021 6,507,301 66,978,000
2020 6,550,696 66,740,000
2019 6,616,726 66,628,000
2018 6,710,798 66,287,000
2017 6,803,468 65,964,000
2016 6,894,139 65,606,000
2015 6,984,225 65,087,000
2014 7,073,572 64,619,000
2013 7,160,005 64,138,000
2012 7,305,888 63,711,000
2011 7,348,328 63,258,810
2010 7,395,599 62,766,365
2009 7,444,443 62,276,270
2008 7,492,561 61,806,995
2007 7,545,338 61,322,463
2006 7,601,022 60,846,820
2005 7,658,972 60,401,206
2004 7,716,860 59,987,905
2003 7,775,327 59,647,577
2002 7,837,161 59,370,479
2001 8,009,142 59,119,673
2000 8,170,172 58,892,514
1999 8,210,624 58,682,466
1998 8,256,786 58,487,141
1997 8,312,068 58,316,954
1996 8,362,826 58,166,950
1995 8,406,067 58,019,030
1994 8,443,591 57,865,745
1993 8,472,313 57,718,614
1992 8,540,164 57,580,402
1991 8,632,367 57,424,897
1990 8,718,289 57,247,586
1989 8,876,972 57,076,711
1988 8,981,446 56,928,327
1987 8,971,359 56,802,050
1986 8,958,171 56,681,396
1985 8,960,547 56,550,268
1984 8,960,679 56,422,072
1983 8,939,738 56,332,848
1982 8,917,457 56,313,641
1981 8,891,117 56,333,829
1980 8,861,535 56,314,216
1979 8,825,940 56,246,951
1978 8,814,032 56,196,504
1977 8,804,183 56,193,492
1976 8,758,599 56,211,968
1975 8,720,742 56,225,800
1974 8,678,745 56,229,974
1973 8,620,967 56,194,527
1972 8,576,200 56,086,065
1971 8,536,395 55,896,223
1970 8,489,574 55,663,250
1969 8,434,172 55,441,750
1968 8,369,603 55,211,700
1967 8,310,226 54,943,600
1966 8,258,057 54,648,500
1965 8,204,168 54,348,050
1964 8,144,340 54,000,000
1963 8,078,145 53,650,000
1962 8,012,946 53,250,000
1961 7,943,118 52,800,000
1960 7,867,374 52,400,000

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-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while the United Kingdom gained 4,759,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 503,990 people (a 7.31% decline), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,465,289 people (a 6.81% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 Kingdom will increase by 7.88% to 75,591,218 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

The United Kingdom is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 76.2M 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 Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria United Kingdom
2100 -0.72% -0.17%
2099 -0.71% -0.16%
2098 -0.71% -0.15%
2097 -0.7% -0.15%
2096 -0.68% -0.15%
2095 -0.69% -0.13%
2094 -0.68% -0.13%
2093 -0.68% -0.12%
2092 -0.67% -0.12%
2091 -0.67% -0.11%
2090 -0.68% -0.11%
2089 -0.69% -0.09%
2088 -0.7% -0.09%
2087 -0.72% -0.09%
2086 -0.74% -0.08%
2085 -0.75% -0.07%
2084 -0.76% -0.07%
2083 -0.78% -0.05%
2082 -0.79% -0.04%
2081 -0.83% -0.04%
2080 -0.85% -0.04%
2079 -0.86% -0.02%
2078 -0.87% -0.02%
2077 -0.88% -0.003%
2076 -0.9% -0.02%
2075 -0.93% -0.01%
2074 -0.94% -0.01%
2073 -0.94% 0.01%
2072 -0.95% 0.01%
2071 -0.97% 0.01%
2070 -0.97% 0.009%
2069 -0.97% 0.001%
2068 -0.99% 0.01%
2067 -0.99% 0.009%
2066 -1% 0.001%
2065 -0.99% 0.004%
2064 -0.98% -0%
2063 -0.97% 0.009%
2062 -0.98% 0.003%
2061 -0.97% -0.001%
2060 -0.95% -0.001%
2059 -0.93% 0.02%
2058 -0.93% 0.03%
2057 -0.92% 0.04%
2056 -0.92% 0.05%
2055 -0.91% 0.09%
2054 -0.91% 0.1%
2053 -0.89% 0.12%
2052 -0.89% 0.14%
2051 -0.89% 0.16%
2050 -0.89% 0.17%
2049 -0.88% 0.19%
2048 -0.89% 0.21%
2047 -0.88% 0.22%
2046 -0.88% 0.24%
2045 -0.89% 0.25%
2044 -0.89% 0.27%
2043 -0.89% 0.27%
2042 -0.91% 0.28%
2041 -0.91% 0.28%
2040 -0.92% 0.29%
2039 -0.9% 0.3%
2038 -0.91% 0.3%
2037 -0.91% 0.32%
2036 -0.89% 0.34%
2035 -0.88% 0.35%
2034 -0.88% 0.38%
2033 -0.86% 0.38%
2032 -0.86% 0.4%
2031 -0.85% 0.44%
2030 -0.82% 0.45%
2029 -0.8% 0.48%
2028 -0.77% 0.51%
2027 -0.73% 0.52%
2026 -0.67% 0.57%
2025 -0.13% 0.3%
2024 -0.08% 1.1%
2023 -0.29% 1.32%
2022 -0.65% 0.98%
2021 -0.66% 0.36%
2020 -1% 0.17%
2019 -1.4% 0.51%
2018 -1.36% 0.49%
2017 -1.32% 0.55%
2016 -1.29% 0.8%
2015 -1.26% 0.72%
2014 -1.21% 0.75%
2013 -2% 0.67%
2012 -0.58% 0.71%
2011 -0.64% 0.78%
2010 -0.66% 0.79%
2009 -0.64% 0.76%
2008 -0.7% 0.79%
2007 -0.73% 0.78%
2006 -0.76% 0.74%
2005 -0.75% 0.69%
2004 -0.75% 0.57%
2003 -0.79% 0.47%
2002 -2.15% 0.42%
2001 -1.97% 0.39%
2000 -0.49% 0.36%
1999 -0.56% 0.33%
1998 -0.67% 0.29%
1997 -0.61% 0.26%
1996 -0.51% 0.25%
1995 -0.44% 0.26%
1994 -0.34% 0.25%
1993 -0.79% 0.24%
1992 -1.07% 0.27%
1991 -0.99% 0.31%
1990 -1.79% 0.3%
1989 -1.16% 0.26%
1988 0.11% 0.22%
1987 0.15% 0.21%
1986 -0.03% 0.23%
1985 -0.001% 0.23%
1984 0.23% 0.16%
1983 0.25% 0.03%
1982 0.3% -0.04%
1981 0.33% 0.03%
1980 0.4% 0.12%
1979 0.14% 0.09%
1978 0.11% 0.005%
1977 0.52% -0.03%
1976 0.43% -0.02%
1975 0.48% -0.007%
1974 0.67% 0.06%
1973 0.52% 0.19%
1972 0.47% 0.34%
1971 0.55% 0.42%
1970 0.66% 0.4%
1969 0.77% 0.42%
1968 0.71% 0.49%
1967 0.63% 0.54%
1966 0.66% 0.55%
1965 0.73% 0.64%
1964 0.82% 0.65%
1963 0.81% 0.75%
1962 0.88% 0.85%
1961 0.96% 0.76%

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-kingdom | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.13%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 0.3%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria United Kingdom
Current population
6390149
70071289
Population rank 112/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.84%
One net population change
1.08 hours
2.56 minutes
One birth every
9.83 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
5.23 minutes
46.9 seconds
Daily growth/decline -22 +564
Annual growth/decline -8,119 +206,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.13% +0.3%
Population growth rate rank 168/197 145/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 +389,911
Net migration rank 106/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 389,911
2024 -47,023 524 13,233 417,114
2023 -43,837 5,173 34,606 445,523
2022 -62,065 26,498 39,770 487,029
2021 -90,452 11,756 30,609 462,967
2020 -65,507 30,167 -4,272 144,221
2019 -46,317 -2,156 108,338 232,727
2018 -46,304 -3,873 119,317 259,744
2017 -45,583 -6,109 145,121 272,311
2016 -42,744 -9,482 177,136 324,649
2015 -44,699 -4,227 175,735 347,839
2014 -41,027 -2,180 206,781 306,091
2013 -37,948 -1,324 198,827 237,272
2012 -40,183 -26,334 248,473 172,088
2011 -37,477 -23,360 259,361 228,773
2010 -34,759 -21,668 251,066 274,811
2009 -26,800 -19,060 230,422 249,639
2008 -32,967 -17,595 216,325 263,390
2007 -37,727 -16,366 196,232 309,385
2006 -39,526 -15,184 176,455 288,923
2005 -42,124 -14,435 144,963 308,279
2004 -40,128 -13,604 131,974 276,077
2003 -44,319 -13,183 89,471 211,846
2002 -46,240 -12,735 65,308 203,577
2001 -44,050 -30,726 65,032 175,133
2000 -41,668 -26,211 70,671 153,917
1999 -39,411 -23,846 64,551 152,653
1998 -52,844 -23,262 87,730 125,541
1997 -58,185 -22,963 99,138 59,723
1996 -45,159 -21,520 98,884 54,964
1995 -42,030 -22,020 87,028 61,385
1994 -32,086 -20,984 127,304 45,339
1993 -24,569 -19,973 103,893 27,403
1992 -18,789 -120,552 149,709 17,846
1991 -14,675 -119,356 143,562 27,601
1990 -3,487 -116,817 154,569 57,132
1989 5,326 -114,705 119,861 49,586
1988 9,879 215 136,628 13,952
1987 8,971 357 136,325 8,266
1986 16,125 1,104 90,690 41,836
1985 11,649 -19,230 79,170 83,164
1984 20,610 -1,032 84,633 71,107
1983 21,455 -1,872 61,966 27,063
1982 24,077 -1,860 56,314 -61,152
1981 29,341 -1,830 73,234 -83,876
1980 30,129 -2,045 95,734 -25,187
1979 40,599 -872 61,872 11,255
1978 44,070 -62,769 16,859 3,783
1977 47,543 -11,955 0 -21,636
1976 56,055 -2,522 -5,621 -19,135
1975 54,941 -38,071 33,735 -40,241
1974 64,223 -1,402 67,476 -65,710
1973 57,760 -5,409 112,389 -33,840
1972 47,169 -11,296 162,650 -1,406
1971 52,925 -7,654 257,123 1,175
1970 61,125 -11,315 244,918 -15,254
1969 63,256 -3,204 260,577 -60,655
1968 69,468 -132 292,622 -38,852
1967 49,861 -420 346,145 -39,659
1966 54,504 -144 333,356 -27,935
1965 58,249 -1,406 364,132 -24,955
1964 66,783 505 405,000 -23,885
1963 66,241 500 337,995 8,271
1962 64,104 499 340,800 76,443
1961 75,460 378 311,519 52,295
1960 76,314 -1,112 314,400 19,953

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/united-kingdom | 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 Kingdom 19.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 839,593 people) and 80.2% is from migration (a gain of 3,394,124 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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-kingdom | 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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