Total population (thousands) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Total population (thousands) was 6,737 thousands in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
6,737 thousands
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
109th
of 233 countries
All-time high
8,991 thousands
in 1989
All-time low
6,737 thousands
in 2025
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Bulgaria, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
In 2025, total population in Bulgaria stood at 6,737 thousands. That is the lowest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.6% on the previous year and down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Bulgaria peaked at 8,991 thousands in 1989 and was at its lowest, 6,737 thousands, in 2025.
Bulgaria ranks 109th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8,465 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 8,516 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1972 | 8,562 thousands | +0.5% |
| 1973 | 8,598 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 8,651 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 8,714 thousands | +0.7% |
| 1976 | 8,732 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 8,787 thousands | +0.6% |
| 1978 | 8,823 thousands | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 8,805 thousands | -0.2% |
| 1980 | 8,845 thousands | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 8,874 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1982 | 8,902 thousands | +0.3% |
| 1983 | 8,924 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1984 | 8,943 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 8,962 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 8,955 thousands | -0.1% |
| 1987 | 8,972 thousands | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 8,981 thousands | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 8,991 thousands | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 8,882 thousands | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 8,763 thousands | -1.3% |
| 1992 | 8,629 thousands | -1.5% |
| 1993 | 8,489 thousands | -1.6% |
| 1994 | 8,444 thousands | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 8,390 thousands | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 8,325 thousands | -0.8% |
| 1997 | 8,258 thousands | -0.8% |
| 1998 | 8,177 thousands | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 8,100 thousands | -0.9% |
| 2000 | 8,035 thousands | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 7,966 thousands | -0.9% |
| 2002 | 7,891 thousands | -0.9% |
| 2003 | 7,833 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 7,776 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 7,723 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 7,667 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2007 | 7,613 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2008 | 7,560 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 7,511 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 7,465 thousands | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 7,410 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 7,350 thousands | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 7,284 thousands | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 7,245 thousands | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 7,202 thousands | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 7,153 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 7,102 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 7,050 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 7,000 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2020 | 6,951 thousands | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 6,916 thousands | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 6,838 thousands | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 6,813 thousands | -0.4% |
| 2024 | 6,778 thousands | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 6,737 thousands | -0.6% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 6,737 thousands is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,084 thousands, 2.2× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 6,737 thousands is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6,353 thousands, 1.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8,665 thousands | 8,465 thousands | 8,823 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 8,935 thousands | 8,845 thousands | 8,991 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 8,446 thousands | 8,100 thousands | 8,882 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 7,758 thousands | 7,511 thousands | 8,035 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,226 thousands | 7,000 thousands | 7,465 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,839 thousands | 6,737 thousands | 6,951 thousands | 6 |
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 total population in Bulgaria?
- Total population in Bulgaria was 6,737 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 8,991 thousands in 1989.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,737 thousands in 2025.
- How does Bulgaria rank for total population?
- Bulgaria ranks 109th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total 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 falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release