Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) was -0.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Bulgaria, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population growth in Bulgaria is -0.0%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 87.9% on the previous year and up 97.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Bulgaria peaked at 0.7% in 1974 and was at its lowest, -2.2%, in 2002.
That places Bulgaria 179th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 0.7% | — |
| 1971 | 0.6% | -16.0% |
| 1972 | 0.5% | -15.4% |
| 1973 | 0.5% | +11.9% |
| 1974 | 0.7% | +28.3% |
| 1975 | 0.5% | -27.7% |
| 1976 | 0.4% | -10.3% |
| 1977 | 0.5% | +19.8% |
| 1978 | 0.1% | -78.5% |
| 1979 | 0.1% | +20.8% |
| 1980 | 0.4% | +198.1% |
| 1981 | 0.3% | -17.2% |
| 1982 | 0.3% | -11.2% |
| 1983 | 0.2% | -15.6% |
| 1984 | 0.2% | -6.2% |
| 1985 | -0.0% | -100.6% |
| 1986 | -0.0% | +1704.1% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | -654.7% |
| 1988 | 0.1% | -23.6% |
| 1989 | -1.2% | -1141.2% |
| 1990 | -1.8% | +54.2% |
| 1991 | -1.0% | -45.1% |
| 1992 | -1.1% | +8.4% |
| 1993 | -0.8% | -25.7% |
| 1994 | -0.3% | -57.4% |
| 1995 | -0.4% | +31.2% |
| 1996 | -0.5% | +15.8% |
| 1997 | -0.6% | +18.0% |
| 1998 | -0.7% | +9.6% |
| 1999 | -0.6% | -16.0% |
| 2000 | -0.5% | -11.9% |
| 2001 | -2.0% | +303.0% |
| 2002 | -2.2% | +9.0% |
| 2003 | -0.8% | -63.5% |
| 2004 | -0.8% | -4.7% |
| 2005 | -0.8% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | -0.8% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | -0.7% | -3.2% |
| 2008 | -0.7% | -4.5% |
| 2009 | -0.6% | -8.2% |
| 2010 | -0.7% | +2.2% |
| 2011 | -0.6% | -2.6% |
| 2012 | -0.6% | -9.7% |
| 2013 | -2.0% | +248.2% |
| 2014 | -1.2% | -39.8% |
| 2015 | -1.3% | +4.7% |
| 2016 | -1.3% | +2.1% |
| 2017 | -1.3% | +2.0% |
| 2018 | -1.4% | +3.6% |
| 2019 | -1.4% | +2.9% |
| 2020 | -1.0% | -29.0% |
| 2021 | -0.7% | -33.7% |
| 2022 | -0.7% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | -0.3% | -56.0% |
| 2024 | -0.0% | -87.9% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's -0.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.5%. (85 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's -0.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.3%. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNESCO Institute) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | -1704.1% | -0.0% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | -1141.2% | 0.1% | -1.2% |
| 1987 | +654.7% | -0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2001 | -303.0% | -0.5% | -2.0% |
| 2013 | -248.2% | -0.6% | -2.0% |
| 1980 | +198.1% | 0.1% | 0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.1% | -1.2% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.8% | -1.8% | -0.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.0% | -2.2% | -0.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.2% | -2.0% | -0.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.5% | -1.0% | -0.0% | 5 |
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)
- Population growth rate -0.733 (2100)
- Population density 32.53 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 146,527 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Bulgaria?
- Population growth in Bulgaria was -0.0% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 0.7% in 1974.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.2% in 2002.
- How does Bulgaria rank for population growth?
- Bulgaria ranks 179th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 97.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release