Population in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Population was 6.80 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
6.80 million people
Change on year
down 0.4%
World rank
111th
of 239 countries
All-time high
8.99 million people
in 1988
All-time low
550,000 people
in 1400
Years of data
241
1000–2023
Population in Bulgaria, 1000–2023
Source: HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for population in Bulgaria is 6.80 million people, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 0.4% on the previous year and down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Bulgaria peaked at 8.99 million people in 1988 and was at its lowest, 550,000 people, in 1400.
That places Bulgaria 111th out of 239 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 800,000 people | — |
| 1100 | 870,000 people | +8.8% |
| 1200 | 930,000 people | +6.9% |
| 1300 | 1.00 million people | +7.5% |
| 1400 | 550,000 people | -45.0% |
| 1500 | 800,000 people | +45.5% |
| 1600 | 1.25 million people | +56.2% |
| 1700 | 1.25 million people | +0.0% |
| 1710 | 1.29 million people | +3.4% |
| 1720 | 1.35 million people | +4.8% |
| 1730 | 1.42 million people | +4.8% |
| 1740 | 1.49 million people | +4.8% |
| 1750 | 1.56 million people | +4.8% |
| 1760 | 1.63 million people | +4.8% |
| 1770 | 1.71 million people | +4.8% |
| 1780 | 1.79 million people | +4.8% |
| 1790 | 1.88 million people | +4.8% |
| 1800 | 2.25 million people | +20.0% |
| 1801 | 2.25 million people | -0.1% |
| 1802 | 2.24 million people | -0.1% |
| 1803 | 2.24 million people | -0.1% |
| 1804 | 2.24 million people | -0.1% |
| 1805 | 2.23 million people | -0.1% |
| 1806 | 2.23 million people | -0.1% |
| 1807 | 2.23 million people | -0.1% |
| 1808 | 2.22 million people | -0.1% |
| 1809 | 2.22 million people | -0.1% |
| 1810 | 2.22 million people | -0.1% |
| 1811 | 2.22 million people | -0.1% |
| 1812 | 2.21 million people | -0.1% |
| 1813 | 2.21 million people | -0.1% |
| 1814 | 2.21 million people | -0.1% |
| 1815 | 2.20 million people | -0.1% |
| 1816 | 2.20 million people | -0.1% |
| 1817 | 2.20 million people | -0.1% |
| 1818 | 2.19 million people | -0.1% |
| 1819 | 2.19 million people | -0.0% |
| 1820 | 2.19 million people | +0.1% |
| 1821 | 2.20 million people | +0.2% |
| 1822 | 2.21 million people | +0.3% |
| 1823 | 2.22 million people | +0.4% |
| 1824 | 2.23 million people | +0.4% |
| 1825 | 2.24 million people | +0.4% |
| 1826 | 2.25 million people | +0.4% |
| 1827 | 2.26 million people | +0.4% |
| 1828 | 2.27 million people | +0.4% |
| 1829 | 2.28 million people | +0.4% |
| 1830 | 2.29 million people | +0.4% |
| 1831 | 2.30 million people | +0.4% |
| 1832 | 2.31 million people | +0.4% |
| 1833 | 2.32 million people | +0.4% |
| 1834 | 2.33 million people | +0.4% |
| 1835 | 2.34 million people | +0.4% |
| 1836 | 2.35 million people | +0.4% |
| 1837 | 2.36 million people | +0.4% |
| 1838 | 2.37 million people | +0.4% |
| 1839 | 2.38 million people | +0.4% |
| 1840 | 2.39 million people | +0.4% |
| 1841 | 2.40 million people | +0.4% |
| 1842 | 2.41 million people | +0.4% |
| 1843 | 2.42 million people | +0.4% |
| 1844 | 2.43 million people | +0.4% |
| 1845 | 2.44 million people | +0.4% |
| 1846 | 2.46 million people | +0.4% |
| 1847 | 2.47 million people | +0.4% |
| 1848 | 2.48 million people | +0.4% |
| 1849 | 2.49 million people | +0.4% |
| 1850 | 2.50 million people | +0.3% |
| 1851 | 2.50 million people | +0.3% |
| 1852 | 2.51 million people | +0.2% |
| 1853 | 2.51 million people | +0.2% |
| 1854 | 2.52 million people | +0.2% |
| 1855 | 2.52 million people | +0.2% |
| 1856 | 2.52 million people | +0.2% |
| 1857 | 2.53 million people | +0.2% |
| 1858 | 2.53 million people | +0.2% |
| 1859 | 2.53 million people | +0.1% |
| 1860 | 2.54 million people | +0.2% |
| 1861 | 2.54 million people | +0.2% |
| 1862 | 2.55 million people | +0.2% |
| 1863 | 2.55 million people | +0.2% |
| 1864 | 2.55 million people | +0.2% |
| 1865 | 2.56 million people | +0.2% |
| 1866 | 2.56 million people | +0.2% |
| 1867 | 2.56 million people | +0.2% |
| 1868 | 2.57 million people | +0.2% |
| 1869 | 2.58 million people | +0.4% |
| 1870 | 2.60 million people | +0.7% |
| 1871 | 2.62 million people | +0.9% |
| 1872 | 2.65 million people | +1.2% |
| 1873 | 2.69 million people | +1.4% |
| 1874 | 2.73 million people | +1.4% |
| 1875 | 2.77 million people | +1.4% |
| 1876 | 2.81 million people | +1.4% |
| 1877 | 2.84 million people | +1.4% |
| 1878 | 2.89 million people | +1.4% |
| 1879 | 2.93 million people | +1.4% |
| 1880 | 2.97 million people | +1.4% |
| 1881 | 3.01 million people | +1.4% |
| 1882 | 3.05 million people | +1.4% |
| 1883 | 3.10 million people | +1.4% |
| 1884 | 3.14 million people | +1.4% |
| 1885 | 3.19 million people | +1.4% |
| 1886 | 3.23 million people | +1.4% |
| 1887 | 3.28 million people | +1.4% |
| 1888 | 3.32 million people | +1.4% |
| 1889 | 3.37 million people | +1.4% |
| 1890 | 3.42 million people | +1.4% |
| 1891 | 3.47 million people | +1.5% |
| 1892 | 3.52 million people | +1.5% |
| 1893 | 3.57 million people | +1.5% |
| 1894 | 3.63 million people | +1.5% |
| 1895 | 3.68 million people | +1.5% |
| 1896 | 3.74 million people | +1.5% |
| 1897 | 3.79 million people | +1.5% |
| 1898 | 3.85 million people | +1.5% |
| 1899 | 3.90 million people | +1.4% |
| 1900 | 3.96 million people | +1.4% |
| 1901 | 4.01 million people | +1.3% |
| 1902 | 4.06 million people | +1.3% |
| 1903 | 4.11 million people | +1.2% |
| 1904 | 4.16 million people | +1.2% |
| 1905 | 4.21 million people | +1.2% |
| 1906 | 4.26 million people | +1.2% |
| 1907 | 4.31 million people | +1.2% |
| 1908 | 4.36 million people | +1.2% |
| 1909 | 4.42 million people | +1.2% |
| 1910 | 4.47 million people | +1.2% |
| 1911 | 4.52 million people | +1.2% |
| 1912 | 4.57 million people | +1.2% |
| 1913 | 4.62 million people | +1.1% |
| 1914 | 4.68 million people | +1.1% |
| 1915 | 4.73 million people | +1.1% |
| 1916 | 4.78 million people | +1.1% |
| 1917 | 4.84 million people | +1.1% |
| 1918 | 4.89 million people | +1.2% |
| 1919 | 4.96 million people | +1.3% |
| 1920 | 5.03 million people | +1.4% |
| 1921 | 5.10 million people | +1.5% |
| 1922 | 5.18 million people | +1.6% |
| 1923 | 5.27 million people | +1.7% |
| 1924 | 5.37 million people | +1.7% |
| 1925 | 5.46 million people | +1.7% |
| 1926 | 5.56 million people | +1.7% |
| 1927 | 5.65 million people | +1.7% |
| 1928 | 5.75 million people | +1.7% |
| 1929 | 5.84 million people | +1.6% |
| 1930 | 5.93 million people | +1.4% |
| 1931 | 6.00 million people | +1.3% |
| 1932 | 6.07 million people | +1.2% |
| 1933 | 6.13 million people | +1.0% |
| 1934 | 6.20 million people | +1.0% |
| 1935 | 6.26 million people | +1.0% |
| 1936 | 6.32 million people | +1.0% |
| 1937 | 6.39 million people | +1.0% |
| 1938 | 6.45 million people | +1.0% |
| 1939 | 6.51 million people | +1.0% |
| 1940 | 6.58 million people | +0.9% |
| 1941 | 6.63 million people | +0.9% |
| 1942 | 6.69 million people | +0.9% |
| 1943 | 6.75 million people | +0.8% |
| 1944 | 6.81 million people | +0.8% |
| 1945 | 6.86 million people | +0.8% |
| 1946 | 6.92 million people | +0.8% |
| 1947 | 6.98 million people | +0.8% |
| 1948 | 7.04 million people | +0.8% |
| 1949 | 7.10 million people | +0.8% |
| 1950 | 7.25 million people | +2.1% |
| 1951 | 7.31 million people | +0.9% |
| 1952 | 7.36 million people | +0.6% |
| 1953 | 7.42 million people | +0.7% |
| 1954 | 7.48 million people | +0.8% |
| 1955 | 7.53 million people | +0.8% |
| 1956 | 7.59 million people | +0.7% |
| 1957 | 7.65 million people | +0.8% |
| 1958 | 7.72 million people | +1.0% |
| 1959 | 7.79 million people | +0.9% |
| 1960 | 7.86 million people | +0.9% |
| 1961 | 7.94 million people | +1.0% |
| 1962 | 8.01 million people | +0.9% |
| 1963 | 8.07 million people | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 8.14 million people | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 8.20 million people | +0.8% |
| 1966 | 8.26 million people | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 8.31 million people | +0.6% |
| 1968 | 8.37 million people | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 8.44 million people | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 8.49 million people | +0.7% |
| 1971 | 8.54 million people | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 8.58 million people | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 8.62 million people | +0.5% |
| 1974 | 8.68 million people | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 8.72 million people | +0.5% |
| 1976 | 8.76 million people | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 8.80 million people | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 8.81 million people | +0.1% |
| 1979 | 8.82 million people | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 8.86 million people | +0.4% |
| 1981 | 8.89 million people | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 8.91 million people | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 8.93 million people | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 8.95 million people | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 8.96 million people | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 8.96 million people | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 8.98 million people | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 8.99 million people | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 8.94 million people | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 8.82 million people | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 8.70 million people | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 8.56 million people | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 8.47 million people | -1.1% |
| 1994 | 8.42 million people | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 8.36 million people | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 8.29 million people | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 8.22 million people | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 8.14 million people | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 8.07 million people | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 8.00 million people | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 7.93 million people | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 7.86 million people | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 7.80 million people | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 7.75 million people | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 7.70 million people | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 7.64 million people | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 7.59 million people | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 7.54 million people | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 7.49 million people | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 7.44 million people | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 7.38 million people | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 7.32 million people | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 7.26 million people | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 7.22 million people | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 7.18 million people | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 7.13 million people | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 7.08 million people | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 7.02 million people | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 6.98 million people | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 6.93 million people | -0.6% |
| 2021 | 6.88 million people | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 6.83 million people | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 6.80 million people | -0.4% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 6.80 million people is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.98 million people, 2.3× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 6.80 million people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.36 million people, 1.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1600 | +56.2% | 800,000 people | 1.25 million people |
| 1400 | -45.0% | 1.00 million people | 550,000 people |
| 1500 | +45.5% | 550,000 people | 800,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 800,000 people | 800,000 people | 800,000 people | 1 |
| 1100s | 870,000 people | 870,000 people | 870,000 people | 1 |
| 1200s | 930,000 people | 930,000 people | 930,000 people | 1 |
| 1300s | 1.00 million people | 1.00 million people | 1.00 million people | 1 |
| 1400s | 550,000 people | 550,000 people | 550,000 people | 1 |
| 1500s | 800,000 people | 800,000 people | 800,000 people | 1 |
| 1600s | 1.25 million people | 1.25 million people | 1.25 million people | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.25 million people | 1.25 million people | 1.25 million people | 1 |
| 1710s | 1.29 million people | 1.29 million people | 1.29 million people | 1 |
| 1720s | 1.35 million people | 1.35 million people | 1.35 million people | 1 |
| 1730s | 1.42 million people | 1.42 million people | 1.42 million people | 1 |
| 1740s | 1.49 million people | 1.49 million people | 1.49 million people | 1 |
| 1750s | 1.56 million people | 1.56 million people | 1.56 million people | 1 |
| 1760s | 1.63 million people | 1.63 million people | 1.63 million people | 1 |
| 1770s | 1.71 million people | 1.71 million people | 1.71 million people | 1 |
| 1780s | 1.79 million people | 1.79 million people | 1.79 million people | 1 |
| 1790s | 1.88 million people | 1.88 million people | 1.88 million people | 1 |
| 1800s | 2.24 million people | 2.22 million people | 2.25 million people | 10 |
| 1810s | 2.20 million people | 2.19 million people | 2.22 million people | 10 |
| 1820s | 2.23 million people | 2.19 million people | 2.28 million people | 10 |
| 1830s | 2.33 million people | 2.29 million people | 2.38 million people | 10 |
| 1840s | 2.44 million people | 2.39 million people | 2.49 million people | 10 |
| 1850s | 2.52 million people | 2.50 million people | 2.53 million people | 10 |
| 1860s | 2.56 million people | 2.54 million people | 2.58 million people | 10 |
| 1870s | 2.75 million people | 2.60 million people | 2.93 million people | 10 |
| 1880s | 3.17 million people | 2.97 million people | 3.37 million people | 10 |
| 1890s | 3.66 million people | 3.42 million people | 3.90 million people | 10 |
| 1900s | 4.18 million people | 3.96 million people | 4.42 million people | 10 |
| 1910s | 4.71 million people | 4.47 million people | 4.96 million people | 10 |
| 1920s | 5.42 million people | 5.03 million people | 5.84 million people | 10 |
| 1930s | 6.23 million people | 5.93 million people | 6.51 million people | 10 |
| 1940s | 6.84 million people | 6.58 million people | 7.10 million people | 10 |
| 1950s | 7.51 million people | 7.25 million people | 7.79 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.16 million people | 7.86 million people | 8.44 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.68 million people | 8.49 million people | 8.82 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.94 million people | 8.86 million people | 8.99 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 8.40 million people | 8.07 million people | 8.82 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.73 million people | 7.49 million people | 8.00 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.20 million people | 6.98 million people | 7.44 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.86 million people | 6.80 million people | 6.93 million 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 population in Bulgaria?
- Population in Bulgaria was 6.80 million people in 2023, according to HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 8.99 million people in 1988.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 550,000 people in 1400.
- How does Bulgaria rank for population?
- Bulgaria ranks 111th out of 239 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2023); Gapminder (2022); UN WPP (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 241 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Population by country, available from 10,000 BCE to 2023, based on data and estimates from different sources.