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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 16,634,373 people in Zimbabwe in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 17,361,868 in Zimbabwe.

Population statistics:

  • Zimbabwe's population is 2.73 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Zimbabwe is the 74th.
  • The countries together account for 0.29% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.21% for Zimbabwe.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs +1.57% in Zimbabwe.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Zimbabwe has grown from 12.6M to 17.4M (37.4% growth).

Bulgaria vs Zimbabwe: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Zimbabwe
2100 3,368,029 37,483,053
2099 3,392,444 37,412,398
2098 3,416,655 37,328,255
2097 3,440,938 37,235,542
2096 3,465,328 37,142,915
2095 3,489,216 37,032,129
2094 3,513,318 36,912,747
2093 3,537,356 36,810,893
2092 3,561,475 36,688,511
2091 3,585,597 36,567,262
2090 3,609,873 36,425,606
2089 3,634,642 36,280,973
2088 3,659,749 36,141,446
2087 3,685,668 35,977,638
2086 3,712,363 35,808,135
2085 3,739,898 35,637,092
2084 3,768,305 35,456,207
2083 3,797,217 35,268,035
2082 3,827,186 35,078,904
2081 3,857,721 34,873,129
2080 3,890,095 34,658,962
2079 3,923,403 34,439,720
2078 3,957,241 34,217,295
2077 3,992,168 33,982,909
2076 4,027,738 33,739,228
2075 4,064,356 33,495,867
2074 4,102,642 33,244,838
2073 4,141,518 32,978,488
2072 4,180,975 32,706,059
2071 4,221,261 32,445,747
2070 4,262,568 32,181,119
2069 4,304,304 31,906,793
2068 4,346,623 31,631,000
2067 4,389,924 31,345,338
2066 4,433,953 31,062,884
2065 4,478,521 30,766,830
2064 4,523,406 30,479,939
2063 4,568,385 30,176,104
2062 4,613,363 29,867,679
2061 4,658,825 29,557,068
2060 4,704,379 29,252,423
2059 4,749,738 28,945,088
2058 4,794,388 28,631,679
2057 4,839,236 28,307,305
2056 4,884,068 27,990,713
2055 4,929,309 27,658,887
2054 4,974,635 27,331,920
2053 5,020,162 26,986,935
2052 5,065,364 26,643,553
2051 5,110,833 26,287,592
2050 5,156,741 25,934,893
2049 5,202,941 25,585,239
2048 5,249,351 25,228,082
2047 5,296,642 24,874,649
2046 5,343,848 24,513,443
2045 5,391,354 24,147,637
2044 5,439,559 23,783,088
2043 5,488,407 23,401,965
2042 5,537,839 23,035,288
2041 5,588,510 22,647,950
2040 5,639,850 22,273,520
2039 5,692,028 21,902,980
2038 5,743,725 21,530,130
2037 5,796,645 21,159,664
2036 5,849,741 20,791,034
2035 5,902,025 20,413,656
2034 5,954,460 20,048,019
2033 6,007,050 19,676,339
2032 6,058,858 19,311,985
2031 6,111,118 18,959,300
2030 6,163,564 18,613,738
2029 6,214,784 18,270,049
2028 6,264,738 17,933,466
2027 6,313,255 17,600,984
2026 6,359,449 17,273,208
2025 6,402,394 16,949,303
2024 6,441,421 16,634,373
2023 6,446,596 16,340,822
2022 6,465,097 16,069,056
2021 6,507,301 15,797,210
2020 6,550,696 15,526,888
2019 6,616,726 15,271,368
2018 6,710,798 15,034,452
2017 6,803,468 14,812,482
2016 6,894,139 14,600,294
2015 6,984,225 14,399,013
2014 7,073,572 14,207,359
2013 7,160,005 14,013,808
2012 7,305,888 13,817,887
2011 7,348,328 13,595,424
2010 7,395,599 13,356,548
2009 7,444,443 13,142,790
2008 7,492,561 12,959,149
2007 7,545,338 12,804,058
2006 7,601,022 12,636,445
2005 7,658,972 12,483,432
2004 7,716,860 12,365,896
2003 7,775,327 12,232,323
2002 7,837,161 12,087,653
2001 8,009,142 11,971,901
2000 8,170,172 11,892,055
1999 8,210,624 11,783,458
1998 8,256,786 11,594,297
1997 8,312,068 11,369,827
1996 8,362,826 11,158,360
1995 8,406,067 10,974,599
1994 8,443,591 10,873,148
1993 8,472,313 10,860,288
1992 8,540,164 10,702,700
1991 8,632,367 10,404,816
1990 8,718,289 10,137,281
1989 8,876,972 9,864,798
1988 8,981,446 9,583,094
1987 8,971,359 9,284,644
1986 8,958,171 8,982,578
1985 8,960,547 8,686,813
1984 8,960,679 8,391,488
1983 8,939,738 8,098,404
1982 8,917,457 7,796,496
1981 8,891,117 7,498,635
1980 8,861,535 7,041,303
1979 8,825,940 6,647,556
1978 8,814,032 6,543,575
1977 8,804,183 6,449,512
1976 8,758,599 6,287,105
1975 8,720,742 6,098,658
1974 8,678,745 5,908,328
1973 8,620,967 5,720,404
1972 8,576,200 5,542,445
1971 8,536,395 5,374,712
1970 8,489,574 5,215,918
1969 8,434,172 5,058,181
1968 8,369,603 4,900,440
1967 8,310,226 4,748,307
1966 8,258,057 4,601,217
1965 8,204,168 4,458,462
1964 8,144,340 4,320,006
1963 8,078,145 4,185,877
1962 8,012,946 4,055,959
1961 7,943,118 3,930,401
1960 7,867,374 3,809,389

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/zimbabwe | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Zimbabwe gained 1,963,849 people (a 15.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Zimbabwe's population increased by 2,761,574 people (a 18.9% growth).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Zimbabwe was ranked 70th in 2006 and ranked 74th 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 Zimbabwe will increase by 49.4% to 25,934,893 people and rank change from 74th to 65th.

Zimbabwe is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 37.5M 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
Zimbabwe
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Zimbabwe
2100 -0.72% 0.19%
2099 -0.71% 0.23%
2098 -0.71% 0.25%
2097 -0.7% 0.25%
2096 -0.68% 0.3%
2095 -0.69% 0.32%
2094 -0.68% 0.28%
2093 -0.68% 0.33%
2092 -0.67% 0.33%
2091 -0.67% 0.39%
2090 -0.68% 0.4%
2089 -0.69% 0.39%
2088 -0.7% 0.46%
2087 -0.72% 0.47%
2086 -0.74% 0.48%
2085 -0.75% 0.51%
2084 -0.76% 0.53%
2083 -0.78% 0.54%
2082 -0.79% 0.59%
2081 -0.83% 0.62%
2080 -0.85% 0.64%
2079 -0.86% 0.65%
2078 -0.87% 0.69%
2077 -0.88% 0.72%
2076 -0.9% 0.73%
2075 -0.93% 0.76%
2074 -0.94% 0.81%
2073 -0.94% 0.83%
2072 -0.95% 0.8%
2071 -0.97% 0.82%
2070 -0.97% 0.86%
2069 -0.97% 0.87%
2068 -0.99% 0.91%
2067 -0.99% 0.91%
2066 -1% 0.96%
2065 -0.99% 0.94%
2064 -0.98% 1.01%
2063 -0.97% 1.03%
2062 -0.98% 1.05%
2061 -0.97% 1.04%
2060 -0.95% 1.06%
2059 -0.93% 1.09%
2058 -0.93% 1.15%
2057 -0.92% 1.13%
2056 -0.92% 1.2%
2055 -0.91% 1.2%
2054 -0.91% 1.28%
2053 -0.89% 1.29%
2052 -0.89% 1.35%
2051 -0.89% 1.36%
2050 -0.89% 1.37%
2049 -0.88% 1.42%
2048 -0.89% 1.42%
2047 -0.88% 1.47%
2046 -0.88% 1.51%
2045 -0.89% 1.53%
2044 -0.89% 1.63%
2043 -0.89% 1.59%
2042 -0.91% 1.71%
2041 -0.91% 1.68%
2040 -0.92% 1.69%
2039 -0.9% 1.73%
2038 -0.91% 1.75%
2037 -0.91% 1.77%
2036 -0.89% 1.85%
2035 -0.88% 1.82%
2034 -0.88% 1.89%
2033 -0.86% 1.89%
2032 -0.86% 1.86%
2031 -0.85% 1.86%
2030 -0.82% 1.88%
2029 -0.8% 1.88%
2028 -0.77% 1.89%
2027 -0.73% 1.9%
2026 -0.67% 1.91%
2025 -0.61% 1.89%
2024 -0.08% 1.8%
2023 -0.29% 1.69%
2022 -0.65% 1.72%
2021 -0.66% 1.74%
2020 -1% 1.67%
2019 -1.4% 1.58%
2018 -1.36% 1.5%
2017 -1.32% 1.45%
2016 -1.29% 1.4%
2015 -1.26% 1.35%
2014 -1.21% 1.38%
2013 -2% 1.42%
2012 -0.58% 1.64%
2011 -0.64% 1.79%
2010 -0.66% 1.63%
2009 -0.64% 1.42%
2008 -0.7% 1.21%
2007 -0.73% 1.33%
2006 -0.76% 1.23%
2005 -0.75% 0.95%
2004 -0.75% 1.09%
2003 -0.79% 1.2%
2002 -2.15% 0.97%
2001 -1.97% 0.67%
2000 -0.49% 0.92%
1999 -0.56% 1.63%
1998 -0.67% 1.97%
1997 -0.61% 1.9%
1996 -0.51% 1.67%
1995 -0.44% 0.93%
1994 -0.34% 0.12%
1993 -0.79% 1.47%
1992 -1.07% 2.86%
1991 -0.99% 2.64%
1990 -1.79% 2.76%
1989 -1.16% 2.94%
1988 0.11% 3.21%
1987 0.15% 3.36%
1986 -0.03% 3.4%
1985 -0.001% 3.52%
1984 0.23% 3.62%
1983 0.25% 3.87%
1982 0.3% 3.97%
1981 0.33% 6.49%
1980 0.4% 5.92%
1979 0.14% 1.59%
1978 0.11% 1.46%
1977 0.52% 2.58%
1976 0.43% 3.09%
1975 0.48% 3.22%
1974 0.67% 3.29%
1973 0.52% 3.21%
1972 0.47% 3.12%
1971 0.55% 3.04%
1970 0.66% 3.12%
1969 0.77% 3.22%
1968 0.71% 3.2%
1967 0.63% 3.2%
1966 0.66% 3.2%
1965 0.73% 3.2%
1964 0.82% 3.2%
1963 0.81% 3.2%
1962 0.88% 3.19%
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/zimbabwe | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Zimbabwe's population grew by 1.8%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Zimbabwe
Current population
6359449
17361868
Population rank 112/197 74/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.21%
One net population change
1.69 hours
1.79 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
1.06 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
4.22 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +804
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +293,551
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +1.8%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 60/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
9.66 minutes
Annual migration change -2,961 -54,555
Net migration rank 106/196 175/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 429,108
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 87/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 2.6%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 127/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Zimbabwe
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Zimbabwe
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - -54,555
2024 - 524 - -60,528
2023 -43,837 5,173 372,505 -97,380
2022 -62,065 26,498 371,243 -102,828
2021 -90,452 11,756 349,908 -74,623
2020 -65,507 30,167 354,790 -89,440
2019 -46,317 -2,156 348,798 -103,107
2018 -46,304 -3,873 345,883 -117,758
2017 -45,583 -6,109 344,035 -128,241
2016 -42,744 -9,482 348,772 -140,181
2015 -44,699 -4,227 356,203 -162,220
2014 -41,027 -2,180 366,350 -177,029
2013 -37,948 -1,324 374,757 -176,972
2012 -40,183 -26,334 371,135 -177,061
2011 -37,477 -23,360 359,572 -108,714
2010 -34,759 -21,668 335,570 -108,671
2009 -26,800 -19,060 309,316 -108,689
2008 -32,967 -17,595 280,527 -113,858
2007 -37,727 -16,366 261,805 -118,299
2006 -39,526 -15,184 248,963 -57,257
2005 -42,124 -14,435 248,545 -134,212
2004 -40,128 -13,604 248,307 -127,550
2003 -44,319 -13,183 243,057 -96,667
2002 -46,240 -12,735 244,170 -101,212
2001 -44,050 -30,726 227,909 -139,361
2000 -41,668 -26,211 236,343 -165,181
1999 -39,411 -23,846 232,393 -86,343
1998 -52,844 -23,262 225,614 6,645
1997 -58,185 -22,963 216,288 395
1996 -45,159 -21,520 205,269 978
1995 -42,030 -22,020 206,695 -45,428
1994 -32,086 -20,984 216,343 -174,723
1993 -24,569 -19,973 228,045 -243,947
1992 -18,789 -120,552 255,291 75,788
1991 -14,675 -119,356 260,943 3,749
1990 -3,487 -116,817 265,444 4,948
1989 5,326 -114,705 270,838 3,736
1988 9,879 215 277,498 11,327
1987 8,971 357 286,766 21,308
1986 16,125 1,104 289,894 6,154
1985 11,649 -19,230 290,756 4,718
1984 20,610 -1,032 290,052 5,124
1983 21,455 -1,872 286,545 4,456
1982 24,077 -1,860 279,934 32,899
1981 29,341 -1,830 271,361 11,523
1980 30,129 -2,045 241,179 390,593
1979 40,599 -872 223,657 -67,937
1978 44,070 -62,769 222,979 -170,727
1977 47,543 -11,955 225,139 -89,270
1976 56,055 -2,522 221,419 -32,495
1975 54,941 -38,071 216,947 -28,988
1974 64,223 -1,402 208,806 -16,105
1973 57,760 -5,409 201,885 -18,733
1972 47,169 -11,296 193,725 -20,959
1971 52,925 -7,654 185,427 -22,719
1970 61,125 -11,315 178,979 -24,102
1969 63,256 -3,204 172,626 -12,028
1968 69,468 -132 166,865 -11,997
1967 49,861 -420 161,205 -11,814
1966 54,504 -144 156,014 -11,211
1965 58,249 -1,406 151,164 -10,465
1964 66,783 505 145,848 -9,631
1963 66,241 500 140,984 -8,936
1962 64,104 499 136,317 -8,529
1961 75,460 378 131,531 -8,204
1960 76,314 -1,112 126,959 -8,260

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

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/zimbabwe | 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 Zimbabwe 74.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,558,487 people) and 25.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,192,807 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 429,108 people or 2.6% in Zimbabwe.

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
Zimbabwe
City Population
Harare 2.15M
Masvingo 1.64M
Bulawayo 666K
Chitungwiza 371K
Mutare 225K
Gweru 141K
Kadoma 116K
Kwekwe 93.1K
Chinhoyi 56.8K
Marondera 52.3K

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/zimbabwe | 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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