Population growth (annual %) (UNICEF) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Population growth (annual %) (UNICEF) was -0.0803 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
-0.0803
Change on year
up 72.0%
World rank
60th
of 74 countries
All-time high
0.9582
in 1961
All-time low
-2.17
in 2002
Years of data
64
1961–2024
Population growth in Bulgaria, 1961–2024
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2024, population growth in Bulgaria stood at -0.0803.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 72.0% on the previous year and up 93.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Bulgaria peaked at 0.9582 in 1961 and was at its lowest, -2.17, in 2002.
Bulgaria ranks 60th of 74 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (UNICEF) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.9582 | — |
| 1962 | 0.8753 | -8.7% |
| 1963 | 0.8104 | -7.4% |
| 1964 | 0.8161 | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 0.7319 | -10.3% |
| 1966 | 0.6547 | -10.5% |
| 1967 | 0.6297 | -3.8% |
| 1968 | 0.712 | +13.1% |
| 1969 | 0.7685 | +7.9% |
| 1970 | 0.6547 | -14.8% |
| 1971 | 0.55 | -16.0% |
| 1972 | 0.4652 | -15.4% |
| 1973 | 0.5206 | +11.9% |
| 1974 | 0.668 | +28.3% |
| 1975 | 0.4827 | -27.7% |
| 1976 | 0.4332 | -10.3% |
| 1977 | 0.5191 | +19.8% |
| 1978 | 0.1118 | -78.5% |
| 1979 | 0.135 | +20.8% |
| 1980 | 0.4025 | +198.1% |
| 1981 | 0.3333 | -17.2% |
| 1982 | 0.2958 | -11.2% |
| 1983 | 0.2495 | -15.6% |
| 1984 | 0.234 | -6.2% |
| 1985 | -0.0015 | -100.6% |
| 1986 | -0.0265 | +1700.3% |
| 1987 | 0.1471 | -654.7% |
| 1988 | 0.1124 | -23.6% |
| 1989 | -1.17 | -1141.2% |
| 1990 | -1.8 | +54.2% |
| 1991 | -0.9904 | -45.1% |
| 1992 | -1.07 | +8.4% |
| 1993 | -0.7977 | -25.7% |
| 1994 | -0.3396 | -57.4% |
| 1995 | -0.4454 | +31.2% |
| 1996 | -0.5157 | +15.8% |
| 1997 | -0.6088 | +18.0% |
| 1998 | -0.6673 | +9.6% |
| 1999 | -0.5606 | -16.0% |
| 2000 | -0.4939 | -11.9% |
| 2001 | -1.99 | +303.0% |
| 2002 | -2.17 | +9.0% |
| 2003 | -0.7921 | -63.5% |
| 2004 | -0.7548 | -4.7% |
| 2005 | -0.753 | -0.2% |
| 2006 | -0.7595 | +0.9% |
| 2007 | -0.7353 | -3.2% |
| 2008 | -0.7019 | -4.5% |
| 2009 | -0.6443 | -8.2% |
| 2010 | -0.6583 | +2.2% |
| 2011 | -0.6412 | -2.6% |
| 2012 | -0.5792 | -9.7% |
| 2013 | -2.02 | +248.2% |
| 2014 | -1.21 | -39.8% |
| 2015 | -1.27 | +4.7% |
| 2016 | -1.3 | +2.1% |
| 2017 | -1.32 | +2.0% |
| 2018 | -1.37 | +3.6% |
| 2019 | -1.41 | +2.9% |
| 2020 | -1 | -29.0% |
| 2021 | -0.6647 | -33.7% |
| 2022 | -0.6507 | -2.1% |
| 2023 | -0.2866 | -56.0% |
| 2024 | -0.0803 | -72.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's -0.0803 is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.5423. (42 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's -0.0803 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 0.3319. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (UNICEF) 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 | -1700.3% | -0.0015 | -0.0265 |
| 1989 | -1141.2% | 0.1124 | -1.17 |
| 1987 | +654.7% | -0.0265 | 0.1471 |
| 2001 | -303.0% | -0.4939 | -1.99 |
| 2013 | -248.2% | -0.5792 | -2.02 |
| 1980 | +198.1% | 0.135 | 0.4025 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.773 | 0.6297 | 0.9582 | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.454 | 0.1118 | 0.668 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.0577 | -1.17 | 0.4025 | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.7803 | -1.8 | -0.3396 | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.9796 | -2.17 | -0.4939 | 10 |
| 2010s | -1.18 | -2.02 | -0.5792 | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.537 | -1 | -0.0803 | 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 -0.0803 in 2024, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 0.9582 in 1961.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -2.17 in 2002.
- How does Bulgaria rank for population growth?
- Bulgaria ranks 60th out of 74 countries with data for 2024.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 93.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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