Annual change in population in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Annual change in population was -30,057 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
-30,057 people
Change on year
up 41.5%
World rank
224th
of 236 countries
All-time high
75,373 people
in 1961
All-time low
-136,707 people
in 1992
Years of data
73
1951–2023
Annual change in population in Bulgaria, 1951–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded -30,057 people for annual change in population in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 41.5% on the previous year and up 42.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in population in Bulgaria peaked at 75,373 people in 1961 and was at its lowest, -136,707 people, in 1992.
That places Bulgaria 224th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in population in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 65,917 people | — |
| 1952 | 47,532 people | -27.9% |
| 1953 | 53,964 people | +13.5% |
| 1954 | 60,344 people | +11.8% |
| 1955 | 57,391 people | -4.9% |
| 1956 | 53,508 people | -6.8% |
| 1957 | 62,378 people | +16.6% |
| 1958 | 75,350 people | +20.8% |
| 1959 | 69,283 people | -8.1% |
| 1960 | 68,759 people | -0.8% |
| 1961 | 75,373 people | +9.6% |
| 1962 | 70,020 people | -7.1% |
| 1963 | 65,403 people | -6.6% |
| 1964 | 66,343 people | +1.4% |
| 1965 | 62,343 people | -6.0% |
| 1966 | 56,370 people | -9.6% |
| 1967 | 52,340 people | -7.1% |
| 1968 | 59,518 people | +13.7% |
| 1969 | 64,628 people | +8.6% |
| 1970 | 55,549 people | -14.0% |
| 1971 | 48,078 people | -13.4% |
| 1972 | 41,012 people | -14.7% |
| 1973 | 44,887 people | +9.4% |
| 1974 | 57,951 people | +29.1% |
| 1975 | 40,395 people | -30.3% |
| 1976 | 36,288 people | -10.2% |
| 1977 | 45,257 people | +24.7% |
| 1978 | 9,052 people | -80.0% |
| 1979 | 11,252 people | +24.3% |
| 1980 | 34,545 people | +207.0% |
| 1981 | 28,264 people | -18.2% |
| 1982 | 24,935 people | -11.8% |
| 1983 | 20,590 people | -17.4% |
| 1984 | 19,280 people | -6.4% |
| 1985 | 6,247 people | -67.6% |
| 1986 | 4,618 people | -26.1% |
| 1987 | 12,733 people | +175.7% |
| 1988 | 9,515 people | -25.3% |
| 1989 | -49,335 people | -618.5% |
| 1990 | -114,020 people | +131.1% |
| 1991 | -126,568 people | +11.0% |
| 1992 | -136,707 people | +8.0% |
| 1993 | -92,558 people | -32.3% |
| 1994 | -49,609 people | -46.4% |
| 1995 | -59,348 people | +19.6% |
| 1996 | -66,174 people | +11.5% |
| 1997 | -74,301 people | +12.3% |
| 1998 | -78,908 people | +6.2% |
| 1999 | -70,729 people | -10.4% |
| 2000 | -66,945 people | -5.3% |
| 2001 | -72,064 people | +7.6% |
| 2002 | -66,506 people | -7.7% |
| 2003 | -57,544 people | -13.5% |
| 2004 | -54,975 people | -4.5% |
| 2005 | -54,383 people | -1.1% |
| 2006 | -54,755 people | +0.7% |
| 2007 | -53,396 people | -2.5% |
| 2008 | -51,307 people | -3.9% |
| 2009 | -47,573 people | -7.3% |
| 2010 | -50,422 people | +6.0% |
| 2011 | -57,571 people | +14.2% |
| 2012 | -63,003 people | +9.4% |
| 2013 | -52,415 people | -16.8% |
| 2014 | -41,155 people | -21.5% |
| 2015 | -45,935 people | +11.6% |
| 2016 | -50,079 people | +9.0% |
| 2017 | -51,794 people | +3.4% |
| 2018 | -50,897 people | -1.7% |
| 2019 | -49,279 people | -3.2% |
| 2020 | -41,810 people | -15.2% |
| 2021 | -56,434 people | +35.0% |
| 2022 | -51,360 people | -9.0% |
| 2023 | -30,057 people | -41.5% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's -30,057 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,163 people. (85 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's -30,057 people is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 15,382 people. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in population in Bulgaria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | -618.5% | 9,515 people | -49,335 people |
| 1980 | +207.0% | 11,252 people | 34,545 people |
| 1987 | +175.7% | 4,618 people | 12,733 people |
| 1990 | -131.1% | -49,335 people | -114,020 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 60,630 people | 47,532 people | 75,350 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 64,110 people | 52,340 people | 75,373 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 38,972 people | 9,052 people | 57,951 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 11,139 people | -49,335 people | 34,545 people | 10 |
| 1990s | -86,892 people | -136,707 people | -49,609 people | 10 |
| 2000s | -57,945 people | -72,064 people | -47,573 people | 10 |
| 2010s | -51,255 people | -63,003 people | -41,155 people | 10 |
| 2020s | -44,915 people | -56,434 people | -30,057 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More population data for Bulgaria
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7245 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7245 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.18 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,187 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.8803 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.921 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 32.53 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 146,527 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in population in Bulgaria?
- Annual change in population in Bulgaria was -30,057 people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in population recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 75,373 people in 1961.
- What is the lowest annual change in population recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -136,707 people in 1992.
- How does Bulgaria rank for annual change in population?
- Bulgaria ranks 224th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual change in population rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 42.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual change in population, calculated as the difference between population on 1 July of consecutive years.