Skip to content

Population in Bulgaria compared to Zambia: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 3.57 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.35% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Bulgaria vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Zambia
2100 3,368,029 65,217,429
2099 3,392,444 64,871,545
2098 3,416,655 64,515,891
2097 3,440,938 64,148,736
2096 3,465,328 63,777,313
2095 3,489,216 63,393,169
2094 3,513,318 62,992,652
2093 3,537,356 62,590,327
2092 3,561,475 62,175,930
2091 3,585,597 61,750,591
2090 3,609,873 61,321,399
2089 3,634,642 60,880,148
2088 3,659,749 60,434,676
2087 3,685,668 59,970,107
2086 3,712,363 59,499,234
2085 3,739,898 59,023,040
2084 3,768,305 58,535,857
2083 3,797,217 58,040,512
2082 3,827,186 57,538,672
2081 3,857,721 57,027,491
2080 3,890,095 56,506,421
2079 3,923,403 55,983,242
2078 3,957,241 55,449,777
2077 3,992,168 54,906,771
2076 4,027,738 54,361,075
2075 4,064,356 53,806,856
2074 4,102,642 53,246,777
2073 4,141,518 52,677,348
2072 4,180,975 52,101,139
2071 4,221,261 51,519,691
2070 4,262,568 50,931,614
2069 4,304,304 50,334,700
2068 4,346,623 49,737,479
2067 4,389,924 49,135,488
2066 4,433,953 48,530,443
2065 4,478,521 47,918,592
2064 4,523,406 47,299,740
2063 4,568,385 46,677,439
2062 4,613,363 46,048,819
2061 4,658,825 45,416,657
2060 4,704,379 44,777,347
2059 4,749,738 44,137,306
2058 4,794,388 43,494,451
2057 4,839,236 42,851,923
2056 4,884,068 42,206,898
2055 4,929,309 41,558,284
2054 4,974,635 40,906,492
2053 5,020,162 40,255,629
2052 5,065,364 39,603,888
2051 5,110,833 38,949,958
2050 5,156,741 38,294,607
2049 5,202,941 37,634,194
2048 5,249,351 36,971,309
2047 5,296,642 36,309,749
2046 5,343,848 35,645,868
2045 5,391,354 34,981,812
2044 5,439,559 34,316,981
2043 5,488,407 33,652,420
2042 5,537,839 32,990,657
2041 5,588,510 32,329,447
2040 5,639,850 31,664,262
2039 5,692,028 31,001,305
2038 5,743,725 30,335,662
2037 5,796,645 29,668,561
2036 5,849,741 29,000,264
2035 5,902,025 28,333,498
2034 5,954,460 27,671,195
2033 6,007,050 27,011,974
2032 6,058,858 26,356,580
2031 6,111,118 25,702,812
2030 6,163,564 25,055,216
2029 6,214,784 24,414,405
2028 6,264,738 23,780,809
2027 6,313,255 23,151,479
2026 6,359,449 22,529,742
2025 6,402,394 21,918,187
2024 6,441,421 21,314,956
2023 6,446,596 20,723,965
2022 6,465,097 20,152,938
2021 6,507,301 19,603,607
2020 6,550,696 19,059,395
2019 6,616,726 18,513,839
2018 6,710,798 17,973,569
2017 6,803,468 17,441,320
2016 6,894,139 16,914,423
2015 6,984,225 16,399,089
2014 7,073,572 15,895,315
2013 7,160,005 15,398,997
2012 7,305,888 14,913,629
2011 7,348,328 14,437,796
2010 7,395,599 13,965,594
2009 7,444,443 13,490,389
2008 7,492,561 13,021,324
2007 7,545,338 12,565,085
2006 7,601,022 12,129,553
2005 7,658,972 11,718,819
2004 7,716,860 11,338,198
2003 7,775,327 10,983,595
2002 7,837,161 10,647,949
2001 8,009,142 10,325,185
2000 8,170,172 10,017,631
1999 8,210,624 9,740,005
1998 8,256,786 9,482,408
1997 8,312,068 9,237,063
1996 8,362,826 9,004,053
1995 8,406,067 8,785,763
1994 8,443,591 8,576,269
1993 8,472,313 8,373,921
1992 8,540,164 8,176,680
1991 8,632,367 7,981,650
1990 8,718,289 7,786,169
1989 8,876,972 7,589,216
1988 8,981,446 7,391,440
1987 8,971,359 7,191,282
1986 8,958,171 6,986,471
1985 8,960,547 6,780,953
1984 8,960,679 6,580,490
1983 8,939,738 6,381,038
1982 8,917,457 6,178,637
1981 8,891,117 5,983,289
1980 8,861,535 5,802,833
1979 8,825,940 5,631,728
1978 8,814,032 5,465,374
1977 8,804,183 5,302,480
1976 8,758,599 5,143,842
1975 8,720,742 4,990,086
1974 8,678,745 4,842,746
1973 8,620,967 4,702,693
1972 8,576,200 4,569,309
1971 8,536,395 4,442,525
1970 8,489,574 4,321,718
1969 8,434,172 4,197,116
1968 8,369,603 4,065,593
1967 8,310,226 3,936,343
1966 8,258,057 3,812,003
1965 8,204,168 3,692,086
1964 8,144,340 3,577,017
1963 8,078,145 3,465,907
1962 8,012,946 3,358,099
1961 7,943,118 3,254,086
1960 7,867,374 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Zambia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 65.2M 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
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Zambia
2100 -0.72% 0.53%
2099 -0.71% 0.55%
2098 -0.71% 0.57%
2097 -0.7% 0.58%
2096 -0.68% 0.61%
2095 -0.69% 0.64%
2094 -0.68% 0.64%
2093 -0.68% 0.67%
2092 -0.67% 0.69%
2091 -0.67% 0.7%
2090 -0.68% 0.72%
2089 -0.69% 0.74%
2088 -0.7% 0.77%
2087 -0.72% 0.79%
2086 -0.74% 0.81%
2085 -0.75% 0.83%
2084 -0.76% 0.85%
2083 -0.78% 0.87%
2082 -0.79% 0.9%
2081 -0.83% 0.92%
2080 -0.85% 0.93%
2079 -0.86% 0.96%
2078 -0.87% 0.99%
2077 -0.88% 1%
2076 -0.9% 1.03%
2075 -0.93% 1.05%
2074 -0.94% 1.08%
2073 -0.94% 1.11%
2072 -0.95% 1.13%
2071 -0.97% 1.15%
2070 -0.97% 1.19%
2069 -0.97% 1.2%
2068 -0.99% 1.23%
2067 -0.99% 1.25%
2066 -1% 1.28%
2065 -0.99% 1.31%
2064 -0.98% 1.33%
2063 -0.97% 1.37%
2062 -0.98% 1.39%
2061 -0.97% 1.43%
2060 -0.95% 1.45%
2059 -0.93% 1.48%
2058 -0.93% 1.5%
2057 -0.92% 1.53%
2056 -0.92% 1.56%
2055 -0.91% 1.59%
2054 -0.91% 1.62%
2053 -0.89% 1.65%
2052 -0.89% 1.68%
2051 -0.89% 1.71%
2050 -0.89% 1.75%
2049 -0.88% 1.79%
2048 -0.89% 1.82%
2047 -0.88% 1.86%
2046 -0.88% 1.9%
2045 -0.89% 1.94%
2044 -0.89% 1.97%
2043 -0.89% 2.01%
2042 -0.91% 2.05%
2041 -0.91% 2.1%
2040 -0.92% 2.14%
2039 -0.9% 2.19%
2038 -0.91% 2.25%
2037 -0.91% 2.3%
2036 -0.89% 2.35%
2035 -0.88% 2.39%
2034 -0.88% 2.44%
2033 -0.86% 2.49%
2032 -0.86% 2.54%
2031 -0.85% 2.58%
2030 -0.82% 2.62%
2029 -0.8% 2.66%
2028 -0.77% 2.72%
2027 -0.73% 2.76%
2026 -0.67% 2.79%
2025 -0.61% 2.83%
2024 -0.08% 2.85%
2023 -0.29% 2.83%
2022 -0.65% 2.8%
2021 -0.66% 2.86%
2020 -1% 2.95%
2019 -1.4% 3.01%
2018 -1.36% 3.05%
2017 -1.32% 3.12%
2016 -1.29% 3.14%
2015 -1.26% 3.17%
2014 -1.21% 3.22%
2013 -2% 3.25%
2012 -0.58% 3.3%
2011 -0.64% 3.38%
2010 -0.66% 3.52%
2009 -0.64% 3.6%
2008 -0.7% 3.63%
2007 -0.73% 3.59%
2006 -0.76% 3.5%
2005 -0.75% 3.36%
2004 -0.75% 3.23%
2003 -0.79% 3.15%
2002 -2.15% 3.13%
2001 -1.97% 3.07%
2000 -0.49% 2.85%
1999 -0.56% 2.72%
1998 -0.67% 2.66%
1997 -0.61% 2.59%
1996 -0.51% 2.48%
1995 -0.44% 2.44%
1994 -0.34% 2.42%
1993 -0.79% 2.41%
1992 -1.07% 2.44%
1991 -0.99% 2.51%
1990 -1.79% 2.6%
1989 -1.16% 2.68%
1988 0.11% 2.78%
1987 0.15% 2.93%
1986 -0.03% 3.03%
1985 -0.001% 3.05%
1984 0.23% 3.13%
1983 0.25% 3.28%
1982 0.3% 3.26%
1981 0.33% 3.11%
1980 0.4% 3.04%
1979 0.14% 3.04%
1978 0.11% 3.07%
1977 0.52% 3.08%
1976 0.43% 3.08%
1975 0.48% 3.04%
1974 0.67% 2.98%
1973 0.52% 2.92%
1972 0.47% 2.85%
1971 0.55% 2.8%
1970 0.66% 2.97%
1969 0.77% 3.24%
1968 0.71% 3.28%
1967 0.63% 3.26%
1966 0.66% 3.25%
1965 0.73% 3.22%
1964 0.82% 3.21%
1963 0.81% 3.21%
1962 0.88% 3.2%
1961 0.96% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Zambia
Current population
6359449
22697916
Population rank 112/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.27%
One net population change
1.69 hours
53.4 seconds
One birth every
9.16 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
5.19 minutes
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +1,619
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 21/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -2,961 +6,562
Net migration rank 106/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 6,562
2024 - 524 - 7,381
2023 -43,837 5,173 577,660 9,521
2022 -62,065 26,498 563,456 -8,566
2021 -90,452 11,756 535,629 8,143
2020 -65,507 30,167 536,484 8,156
2019 -46,317 -2,156 528,089 18,385
2018 -46,304 -3,873 515,644 18,431
2017 -45,583 -6,109 504,630 25,789
2016 -42,744 -9,482 497,521 25,860
2015 -44,699 -4,227 491,021 16,261
2014 -41,027 -2,180 483,663 16,574
2013 -37,948 -1,324 476,846 15,542
2012 -40,183 -26,334 469,406 8,958
2011 -37,477 -23,360 459,743 13,569
2010 -34,759 -21,668 448,337 22,761
2009 -26,800 -19,060 434,458 44,867
2008 -32,967 -17,595 419,560 39,249
2007 -37,727 -16,366 403,729 49,945
2006 -39,526 -15,184 387,891 29,517
2005 -42,124 -14,435 368,756 35,316
2004 -40,128 -13,604 349,352 7,819
2003 -44,319 -13,183 331,189 20,845
2002 -46,240 -12,735 316,041 3,206
2001 -44,050 -30,726 302,682 23,582
2000 -41,668 -26,211 293,186 -4,338
1999 -39,411 -23,846 283,297 -16,888
1998 -52,844 -23,262 275,568 -26,796
1997 -58,185 -22,963 268,198 -26,276
1996 -45,159 -21,520 262,468 -38,358
1995 -42,030 -22,020 257,897 -45,423
1994 -32,086 -20,984 252,023 -45,504
1993 -24,569 -19,973 245,917 -47,739
1992 -18,789 -120,552 239,953 -43,656
1991 -14,675 -119,356 237,957 -44,203
1990 -3,487 -116,817 235,835 -38,619
1989 5,326 -114,705 233,429 -36,736
1988 9,879 215 230,118 -31,270
1987 8,971 357 227,813 -26,338
1986 16,125 1,104 224,768 -16,610
1985 11,649 -19,230 221,351 -18,474
1984 20,610 -1,032 216,695 -18,652
1983 21,455 -1,872 212,712 -11,849
1982 24,077 -1,860 207,621 -3,676
1981 29,341 -1,830 202,822 -16,072
1980 30,129 -2,045 198,817 -24,664
1979 40,599 -872 197,578 -29,515
1978 44,070 -62,769 194,933 -30,284
1977 47,543 -11,955 191,557 -30,423
1976 56,055 -2,522 186,762 -30,612
1975 54,941 -38,071 182,258 -30,886
1974 64,223 -1,402 174,484 -31,178
1973 57,760 -5,409 168,258 -31,472
1972 47,169 -11,296 161,648 -31,672
1971 52,925 -7,654 155,249 -31,651
1970 61,125 -11,315 149,380 -31,370
1969 63,256 -3,204 142,660 -11,469
1968 69,468 -132 137,315 -5,447
1967 49,861 -420 131,938 -5,298
1966 54,504 -144 127,164 -5,129
1965 58,249 -1,406 122,814 -5,023
1964 66,783 505 117,197 -4,851
1963 66,241 500 114,555 -4,676
1962 64,104 499 110,173 -4,428
1961 75,460 378 106,318 -4,043
1960 76,314 -1,112 102,335 -3,898

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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 2026-04-06)
  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)

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.