Historical population data in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Historical population data was 6.43 million Persons in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
6.43 million Persons
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
32nd
of 43 countries
All-time high
8.98 million Persons
in 1988
All-time low
6.43 million Persons
in 2025
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Historical population data in Bulgaria, 1950–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
In 2025, historical population data in Bulgaria stood at 6.43 million Persons. That is the lowest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, historical population data in Bulgaria peaked at 8.98 million Persons in 1988 and was at its lowest, 6.43 million Persons, in 2025.
That places Bulgaria 32nd out of 43 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 76 years of available data.
Historical population data in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 7.25 million Persons | — |
| 1951 | 7.31 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 1952 | 7.36 million Persons | +0.6% |
| 1953 | 7.42 million Persons | +0.7% |
| 1954 | 7.48 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 1955 | 7.53 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 1956 | 7.59 million Persons | +0.7% |
| 1957 | 7.65 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 1958 | 7.72 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 7.79 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 1960 | 7.87 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 1961 | 7.94 million Persons | +1.0% |
| 1962 | 8.01 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 8.08 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 8.14 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 8.20 million Persons | +0.7% |
| 1966 | 8.26 million Persons | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 8.31 million Persons | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 8.37 million Persons | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 8.43 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 8.49 million Persons | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 8.54 million Persons | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 8.58 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 8.62 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 8.68 million Persons | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 8.72 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 8.76 million Persons | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 8.80 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 8.81 million Persons | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 8.83 million Persons | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 8.86 million Persons | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 8.89 million Persons | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 8.92 million Persons | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 8.94 million Persons | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 8.96 million Persons | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 8.96 million Persons | -0.0% |
| 1986 | 8.96 million Persons | -0.0% |
| 1987 | 8.97 million Persons | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 8.98 million Persons | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 8.88 million Persons | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 8.72 million Persons | -1.8% |
| 1991 | 8.63 million Persons | -1.0% |
| 1992 | 8.54 million Persons | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 8.47 million Persons | -0.8% |
| 1994 | 8.44 million Persons | -0.3% |
| 1995 | 8.41 million Persons | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 8.36 million Persons | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 8.31 million Persons | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 8.26 million Persons | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 8.21 million Persons | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 8.17 million Persons | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 8.01 million Persons | -2.0% |
| 2002 | 7.84 million Persons | -2.1% |
| 2003 | 7.78 million Persons | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 7.72 million Persons | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 7.66 million Persons | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 7.60 million Persons | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 7.55 million Persons | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 7.49 million Persons | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 7.44 million Persons | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 7.40 million Persons | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 7.35 million Persons | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 7.26 million Persons | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 7.16 million Persons | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 7.07 million Persons | -1.2% |
| 2015 | 6.98 million Persons | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 6.89 million Persons | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 6.80 million Persons | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 6.71 million Persons | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 6.62 million Persons | -1.4% |
| 2020 | 6.55 million Persons | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 6.51 million Persons | -0.7% |
| 2022 | 6.47 million Persons | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 6.45 million Persons | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 6.44 million Persons | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 6.43 million Persons | -0.2% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 6.43 million Persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 10.48 million Persons, 61% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 6.43 million Persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10.37 million Persons, 62% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 7.51 million Persons | 7.25 million Persons | 7.79 million Persons | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.16 million Persons | 7.87 million Persons | 8.43 million Persons | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.68 million Persons | 8.49 million Persons | 8.83 million Persons | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.93 million Persons | 8.86 million Persons | 8.98 million Persons | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.44 million Persons | 8.21 million Persons | 8.72 million Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.73 million Persons | 7.44 million Persons | 8.17 million Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.03 million Persons | 6.62 million Persons | 7.40 million Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.47 million Persons | 6.43 million Persons | 6.55 million Persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More population data for Bulgaria
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,187 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.18 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7245 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 146,527 people (2100)
- Population density 32.53 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.921 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is historical population data in Bulgaria?
- Historical population data in Bulgaria was 6.43 million Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest historical population data recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 8.98 million Persons in 1988.
- What is the lowest historical population data recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.43 million Persons in 2025.
- How does Bulgaria rank for historical population data?
- Bulgaria ranks 32nd out of 43 countries with data for 2025.
- Is historical population data rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Historical population data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
This dataset presents annual population data from 1961 by sex and five year age groups as well as the share of children, youth, the elderly, old-age and total dependency ratios. The data is available for all member countries as well as for the EU27 and G20 countries, Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa and the World total. The data refer to mid-year estimates of the population. See country details in Historical population metadata.