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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 70,154,914 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 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

Bulgaria vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria United Kingdom
2100 3,368,029 74,700,585
2099 3,392,444 74,831,175
2098 3,416,655 74,950,267
2097 3,440,938 75,064,397
2096 3,465,328 75,176,691
2095 3,489,216 75,287,063
2094 3,513,318 75,383,856
2093 3,537,356 75,482,205
2092 3,561,475 75,575,769
2091 3,585,597 75,666,091
2090 3,609,873 75,753,129
2089 3,634,642 75,835,723
2088 3,659,749 75,907,614
2087 3,685,668 75,978,712
2086 3,712,363 76,046,742
2085 3,739,898 76,105,680
2084 3,768,305 76,156,223
2083 3,797,217 76,205,894
2082 3,827,186 76,246,844
2081 3,857,721 76,274,040
2080 3,890,095 76,306,205
2079 3,923,403 76,334,949
2078 3,957,241 76,353,484
2077 3,992,168 76,371,123
2076 4,027,738 76,373,520
2075 4,064,356 76,386,071
2074 4,102,642 76,397,426
2073 4,141,518 76,406,554
2072 4,180,975 76,398,941
2071 4,221,261 76,388,223
2070 4,262,568 76,378,505
2069 4,304,304 76,371,827
2068 4,346,623 76,370,973
2067 4,389,924 76,363,548
2066 4,433,953 76,356,638
2065 4,478,521 76,355,841
2064 4,523,406 76,352,770
2063 4,568,385 76,353,175
2062 4,613,363 76,346,535
2061 4,658,825 76,344,206
2060 4,704,379 76,344,725
2059 4,749,738 76,345,215
2058 4,794,388 76,326,961
2057 4,839,236 76,307,006
2056 4,884,068 76,274,247
2055 4,929,309 76,235,304
2054 4,974,635 76,167,710
2053 5,020,162 76,094,051
2052 5,065,364 76,001,979
2051 5,110,833 75,895,690
2050 5,156,741 75,777,445
2049 5,202,941 75,646,044
2048 5,249,351 75,499,380
2047 5,296,642 75,338,951
2046 5,343,848 75,171,300
2045 5,391,354 74,993,186
2044 5,439,559 74,807,530
2043 5,488,407 74,607,485
2042 5,537,839 74,407,783
2041 5,588,510 74,203,292
2040 5,639,850 73,994,525
2039 5,692,028 73,782,112
2038 5,743,725 73,559,085
2037 5,796,645 73,335,723
2036 5,849,741 73,101,646
2035 5,902,025 72,850,722
2034 5,954,460 72,597,177
2033 6,007,050 72,322,802
2032 6,058,858 72,046,316
2031 6,111,118 71,757,868
2030 6,163,564 71,442,811
2029 6,214,784 71,123,782
2028 6,264,738 70,783,199
2027 6,313,255 70,421,923
2026 6,359,449 70,055,911
2025 6,402,394 69,658,188
2024 6,441,421 69,226,000
2023 6,446,596 68,492,000
2022 6,465,097 67,604,000
2021 6,507,301 66,984,000
2020 6,550,696 66,744,000
2019 6,616,726 66,631,000
2018 6,710,798 66,289,000
2017 6,803,468 65,966,000
2016 6,894,139 65,607,000
2015 6,984,225 65,088,000
2014 7,073,572 64,620,000
2013 7,160,005 64,139,000
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% 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 5,156,741 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of the United Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

The United Kingdom is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 76.4M 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 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 -0.61% 0.62%
2024 -0.08% 1.07%
2023 -0.29% 1.31%
2022 -0.65% 0.93%
2021 -0.66% 0.36%
2020 -1% 0.17%
2019 -1.4% 0.52%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria United Kingdom
Current population
6359449
70154914
Population rank 112/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.85%
One net population change
1.69 hours
43 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
45.9 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline -14 +2,011
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 97/197
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 - 524 - 417,114
2023 -43,837 5,173 34,589 445,523
2022 -62,065 26,498 39,751 487,029
2021 -90,452 11,756 30,612 462,967
2020 -65,507 30,167 -4,272 144,221
2019 -46,317 -2,156 108,342 232,727
2018 -46,304 -3,873 119,321 259,744
2017 -45,583 -6,109 145,125 272,311
2016 -42,744 -9,482 177,139 324,649
2015 -44,699 -4,227 175,738 347,839
2014 -41,027 -2,180 206,784 306,091
2013 -37,948 -1,324 198,830 237,272
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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/united-kingdom | 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 Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 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 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
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 (1960–2024, 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-kingdom | 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. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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