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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 341,784,857 people in the United States in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 344,023,146 in the United States.

Population statistics:

  • The United States' population is 54.1 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while the United States is the 3rd.
  • The countries together account for 4.23% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 4.15% for the United States.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +0.65% in the United States.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while the United States has grown from 298M to 344M (15.3% growth).

Bulgaria vs United States: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
United States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria United States
2100 3,368,029 415,429,771
2099 3,392,444 414,829,167
2098 3,416,655 414,231,720
2097 3,440,938 413,576,381
2096 3,465,328 412,927,393
2095 3,489,216 412,225,379
2094 3,513,318 411,498,749
2093 3,537,356 410,785,729
2092 3,561,475 410,051,921
2091 3,585,597 409,320,183
2090 3,609,873 408,613,732
2089 3,634,642 407,885,645
2088 3,659,749 407,129,733
2087 3,685,668 406,421,298
2086 3,712,363 405,715,343
2085 3,739,898 405,059,379
2084 3,768,305 404,343,130
2083 3,797,217 403,612,785
2082 3,827,186 402,871,293
2081 3,857,721 402,054,554
2080 3,890,095 401,319,194
2079 3,923,403 400,554,914
2078 3,957,241 399,737,968
2077 3,992,168 398,906,565
2076 4,027,738 398,035,750
2075 4,064,356 397,109,170
2074 4,102,642 396,226,412
2073 4,141,518 395,307,725
2072 4,180,975 394,393,561
2071 4,221,261 393,415,363
2070 4,262,568 392,469,727
2069 4,304,304 391,479,981
2068 4,346,623 390,517,695
2067 4,389,924 389,543,856
2066 4,433,953 388,597,719
2065 4,478,521 387,685,327
2064 4,523,406 386,805,026
2063 4,568,385 385,911,917
2062 4,613,363 385,032,627
2061 4,658,825 384,170,837
2060 4,704,379 383,361,269
2059 4,749,738 382,542,030
2058 4,794,388 381,704,804
2057 4,839,236 380,907,023
2056 4,884,068 380,159,777
2055 4,929,309 379,430,756
2054 4,974,635 378,682,851
2053 5,020,162 377,878,421
2052 5,065,364 377,073,303
2051 5,110,833 376,229,840
2050 5,156,741 375,373,155
2049 5,202,941 374,493,150
2048 5,249,351 373,590,762
2047 5,296,642 372,626,259
2046 5,343,848 371,644,809
2045 5,391,354 370,602,914
2044 5,439,559 369,518,897
2043 5,488,407 368,375,680
2042 5,537,839 367,158,772
2041 5,588,510 365,937,822
2040 5,639,850 364,671,837
2039 5,692,028 363,367,337
2038 5,743,725 361,997,023
2037 5,796,645 360,606,236
2036 5,849,741 359,193,245
2035 5,902,025 357,750,686
2034 5,954,460 356,266,726
2033 6,007,050 354,775,032
2032 6,058,858 353,259,037
2031 6,111,118 351,721,511
2030 6,163,564 350,155,042
2029 6,214,784 348,564,667
2028 6,264,738 346,906,294
2027 6,313,255 345,257,605
2026 6,359,449 343,565,426
2025 6,402,394 341,784,857
2024 6,441,421 340,110,988
2023 6,446,596 334,914,895
2022 6,465,097 333,271,411
2021 6,507,301 331,893,745
2020 6,550,696 331,526,933
2019 6,616,726 328,329,953
2018 6,710,798 326,838,199
2017 6,803,468 325,122,128
2016 6,894,139 323,071,755
2015 6,984,225 320,738,994
2014 7,073,572 318,386,329
2013 7,160,005 316,059,947
2012 7,305,888 313,877,662
2011 7,348,328 311,583,481
2010 7,395,599 309,327,143
2009 7,444,443 306,771,529
2008 7,492,561 304,093,966
2007 7,545,338 301,231,207
2006 7,601,022 298,379,912
2005 7,658,972 295,516,599
2004 7,716,860 292,805,298
2003 7,775,327 290,107,933
2002 7,837,161 287,625,193
2001 8,009,142 284,968,955
2000 8,170,172 282,162,411
1999 8,210,624 279,294,713
1998 8,256,786 276,115,288
1997 8,312,068 272,911,760
1996 8,362,826 269,667,391
1995 8,406,067 266,557,091
1994 8,443,591 263,435,673
1993 8,472,313 260,255,352
1992 8,540,164 256,894,189
1991 8,632,367 253,492,503
1990 8,718,289 250,131,894
1989 8,876,972 246,819,222
1988 8,981,446 244,499,004
1987 8,971,359 242,288,936
1986 8,958,171 240,132,831
1985 8,960,547 237,923,734
1984 8,960,679 235,824,908
1983 8,939,738 233,792,014
1982 8,917,457 231,664,432
1981 8,891,117 229,465,744
1980 8,861,535 226,542,250
1979 8,825,940 225,055,487
1978 8,814,032 222,584,545
1977 8,804,183 220,239,425
1976 8,758,599 218,035,164
1975 8,720,742 215,973,199
1974 8,678,745 213,853,928
1973 8,620,967 211,908,788
1972 8,576,200 209,896,021
1971 8,536,395 207,660,677
1970 8,489,574 205,052,174
1969 8,434,172 202,676,946
1968 8,369,603 200,706,052
1967 8,310,226 198,712,056
1966 8,258,057 196,560,338
1965 8,204,168 194,302,963
1964 8,144,340 191,888,791
1963 8,078,145 189,241,798
1962 8,012,946 186,537,737
1961 7,943,118 183,691,481
1960 7,867,374 180,671,158

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while the United States gained 24,691,843 people (a 8.28% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while the United States' population increased by 20,951,391 people (a 6.49% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. The United States was ranked 3rd in 2006 and still ranked 3rd 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 States will increase by 9.11% to 375,373,155 people and will still be ranked 3rd.

The United States is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 415M 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 States
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria United States
2100 -0.72% 0.14%
2099 -0.71% 0.14%
2098 -0.71% 0.16%
2097 -0.7% 0.16%
2096 -0.68% 0.17%
2095 -0.69% 0.18%
2094 -0.68% 0.17%
2093 -0.68% 0.18%
2092 -0.67% 0.18%
2091 -0.67% 0.17%
2090 -0.68% 0.18%
2089 -0.69% 0.19%
2088 -0.7% 0.17%
2087 -0.72% 0.17%
2086 -0.74% 0.16%
2085 -0.75% 0.18%
2084 -0.76% 0.18%
2083 -0.78% 0.18%
2082 -0.79% 0.2%
2081 -0.83% 0.18%
2080 -0.85% 0.19%
2079 -0.86% 0.2%
2078 -0.87% 0.21%
2077 -0.88% 0.22%
2076 -0.9% 0.23%
2075 -0.93% 0.22%
2074 -0.94% 0.23%
2073 -0.94% 0.23%
2072 -0.95% 0.25%
2071 -0.97% 0.24%
2070 -0.97% 0.25%
2069 -0.97% 0.25%
2068 -0.99% 0.25%
2067 -0.99% 0.24%
2066 -1% 0.24%
2065 -0.99% 0.23%
2064 -0.98% 0.23%
2063 -0.97% 0.23%
2062 -0.98% 0.22%
2061 -0.97% 0.21%
2060 -0.95% 0.21%
2059 -0.93% 0.22%
2058 -0.93% 0.21%
2057 -0.92% 0.2%
2056 -0.92% 0.19%
2055 -0.91% 0.2%
2054 -0.91% 0.21%
2053 -0.89% 0.21%
2052 -0.89% 0.22%
2051 -0.89% 0.23%
2050 -0.89% 0.23%
2049 -0.88% 0.24%
2048 -0.89% 0.26%
2047 -0.88% 0.26%
2046 -0.88% 0.28%
2045 -0.89% 0.29%
2044 -0.89% 0.31%
2043 -0.89% 0.33%
2042 -0.91% 0.33%
2041 -0.91% 0.35%
2040 -0.92% 0.36%
2039 -0.9% 0.38%
2038 -0.91% 0.39%
2037 -0.91% 0.39%
2036 -0.89% 0.4%
2035 -0.88% 0.42%
2034 -0.88% 0.42%
2033 -0.86% 0.43%
2032 -0.86% 0.44%
2031 -0.85% 0.45%
2030 -0.82% 0.46%
2029 -0.8% 0.48%
2028 -0.77% 0.48%
2027 -0.73% 0.49%
2026 -0.67% 0.52%
2025 -0.61% 0.49%
2024 -0.08% 1.55%
2023 -0.29% 0.49%
2022 -0.65% 0.42%
2021 -0.66% 0.11%
2020 -1% 0.97%
2019 -1.4% 0.46%
2018 -1.36% 0.53%
2017 -1.32% 0.63%
2016 -1.29% 0.73%
2015 -1.26% 0.74%
2014 -1.21% 0.74%
2013 -2% 0.7%
2012 -0.58% 0.74%
2011 -0.64% 0.73%
2010 -0.66% 0.83%
2009 -0.64% 0.88%
2008 -0.7% 0.95%
2007 -0.73% 0.96%
2006 -0.76% 0.97%
2005 -0.75% 0.93%
2004 -0.75% 0.93%
2003 -0.79% 0.86%
2002 -2.15% 0.93%
2001 -1.97% 0.99%
2000 -0.49% 1.03%
1999 -0.56% 1.15%
1998 -0.67% 1.17%
1997 -0.61% 1.2%
1996 -0.51% 1.17%
1995 -0.44% 1.18%
1994 -0.34% 1.22%
1993 -0.79% 1.31%
1992 -1.07% 1.34%
1991 -0.99% 1.34%
1990 -1.79% 1.34%
1989 -1.16% 0.95%
1988 0.11% 0.91%
1987 0.15% 0.9%
1986 -0.03% 0.93%
1985 -0.001% 0.89%
1984 0.23% 0.87%
1983 0.25% 0.92%
1982 0.3% 0.96%
1981 0.33% 1.29%
1980 0.4% 0.66%
1979 0.14% 1.11%
1978 0.11% 1.06%
1977 0.52% 1.01%
1976 0.43% 0.95%
1975 0.48% 0.99%
1974 0.67% 0.92%
1973 0.52% 0.96%
1972 0.47% 1.08%
1971 0.55% 1.27%
1970 0.66% 1.17%
1969 0.77% 0.98%
1968 0.71% 1%
1967 0.63% 1.09%
1966 0.66% 1.16%
1965 0.73% 1.26%
1964 0.82% 1.4%
1963 0.81% 1.45%
1962 0.88% 1.55%
1961 0.96% 1.67%
1960 - 1.6%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2025, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while the United States' population grew by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria United States
Current population
6359449
344023146
Population rank 112/197 3/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 4.15%
One net population change
1.69 hours
18.9 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
8.8 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
10.2 seconds
Daily growth/decline -14 +4,586
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +1,673,869
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +0.49%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 134/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
25.7 seconds
Annual migration change -2,961 +1,230,663
Net migration rank 106/196 2/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 52,375,047
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 1/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 15.2%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 41/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
United States
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria United States
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 1,230,663
2024 - 524 - 1,286,132
2023 -43,837 5,173 502,372 1,322,668
2022 -62,065 26,498 399,926 1,319,009
2021 -90,452 11,756 199,137 674,787
2020 -65,507 30,167 208,862 329,769
2019 -46,317 -2,156 887,476 1,774,500
2018 -46,304 -3,873 955,022 1,764,961
2017 -45,583 -6,109 1,028,037 1,864,738
2016 -42,744 -9,482 1,197,627 1,889,129
2015 -44,699 -4,227 1,270,126 1,722,127
2014 -41,027 -2,180 1,357,281 1,672,598
2013 -37,948 -1,324 1,322,711 1,663,885
2012 -40,183 -26,334 1,411,822 1,632,007
2011 -37,477 -23,360 1,441,697 1,624,033
2010 -34,759 -21,668 1,548,182 1,594,453
2009 -26,800 -19,060 1,717,920 1,387,306
2008 -32,967 -17,595 1,794,154 1,416,841
2007 -37,727 -16,366 1,897,757 1,371,353
2006 -39,526 -15,184 1,849,955 1,347,750
2005 -42,124 -14,435 1,684,445 1,369,224
2004 -40,128 -13,604 1,698,271 1,313,467
2003 -44,319 -13,183 1,653,615 1,331,376
2002 -46,240 -12,735 1,581,938 1,336,518
2001 -44,050 -30,726 1,595,826 1,312,455
2000 -41,668 -26,211 1,664,758 1,248,392
1999 -39,411 -23,846 1,564,050 1,156,311
1998 -52,844 -23,262 1,573,857 1,225,134
1997 -58,185 -22,963 1,501,014 1,116,922
1996 -45,159 -21,520 1,510,137 1,141,648
1995 -42,030 -22,020 1,546,031 1,173,016
1994 -32,086 -20,984 1,633,302 1,179,309
1993 -24,569 -19,973 1,717,685 1,228,478
1992 -18,789 -120,552 1,875,328 1,304,880
1991 -14,675 -119,356 1,926,543 1,202,426
1990 -3,487 -116,817 2,026,068 1,084,720
1989 5,326 -114,705 1,875,826 400,998
1988 9,879 215 1,735,943 460,778
1987 8,971 357 1,720,252 480,815
1986 16,125 1,104 1,656,917 493,082
1985 11,649 -19,230 1,689,258 598,777
1984 20,610 -1,032 1,627,192 622,793
1983 21,455 -1,872 1,636,544 662,840
1982 24,077 -1,860 1,714,317 600,149
1981 29,341 -1,830 1,652,153 583,070
1980 30,129 -2,045 1,608,450 595,916
1979 40,599 -872 1,597,894 503,559
1978 44,070 -62,769 1,402,283 556,521
1977 47,543 -11,955 1,431,556 577,060
1976 56,055 -2,522 1,264,604 635,590
1975 54,941 -38,071 1,252,644 655,078
1974 64,223 -1,402 1,218,968 706,978
1973 57,760 -5,409 1,165,499 783,163
1972 47,169 -11,296 1,301,355 833,543
1971 52,925 -7,654 1,640,519 833,549
1970 61,125 -11,315 1,824,965 744,902
1969 63,256 -3,204 1,702,487 523,740
1968 69,468 -132 1,565,507 594,514
1967 49,861 -420 1,669,181 585,410
1966 54,504 -144 1,749,387 637,692
1965 58,249 -1,406 1,943,030 644,902
1964 66,783 505 2,245,099 618,635
1963 66,241 500 2,289,826 639,495
1962 64,104 499 2,406,337 625,617
1961 75,460 378 2,571,681 580,333
1960 76,314 -1,112 2,565,530 422,708

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/united-states | 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 States 35.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 8,005,866 people) and 64.2% is from migration (a gain of 14,334,286 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 52,375,047 people or 15.2% in the United States.

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 States
City Population
New York 8.8M
Los Angeles 3.9M
Chicago 2.75M
Houston 2.3M
Phoenix 1.61M
Philadelphia 1.6M
San Antonio 1.43M
San Diego 1.39M
Dallas 1.3M
San Jose 1.01M

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-states | 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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