Population growth in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Population growth was -0.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in Bulgaria, 1961–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, population growth in Bulgaria stood at -0.1%.
The figure is down 57.1% on the previous year and up 90.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in Bulgaria peaked at 1.0% in 1961 and was at its lowest, -2.2%, in 2002.
Bulgaria ranks 180th of 215 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.8% | 0.6% | 1.0% | 9 |
| 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% | -0.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More climate change data for Bulgaria
- Population, total 6.43 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.2% (2025)
- Urban population 4.77 million (2025)
- Urban population 74.2% (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 20.0% (2025)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 5.44 billion cubic meters (2022)
- Annual freshwater withdrawals, total 25.9% (2022)
- Terrestrial protected areas 44.3% (2025)
- Terrestrial and marine protected areas 35.6% (2025)
- Marine protected areas 8.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in Bulgaria?
- Population growth in Bulgaria was -0.1% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 1.0% in 1961.
- 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 180th out of 215 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population growth rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 90.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.