In 2024, the total population of Bulgaria was estimated at approximately 6.38 million people. Between 1980 and 2024, the figure dropped by around 2.43 million people, though the decline followed an uneven course rather than a steady trajectory. The forecast shows the total population will steadily decline by about 340 thousand people from 2024 to 2030.This indicator describes the total population in the country at hand. This total population of the country consists of all persons falling within the scope of the census.

The total population in Bulgaria was estimated at 6.4 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides - Bulgaria Population - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Bulgaria, with the help of the Russian Empire, achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878. In the decades before independence, Bulgaria's population had remained between 2.2 and 2.8 million people, and growth was much slower then the following century. Although most at the time assumed that it would become a Russian ally, Bulgaria defied the expectations and aligned itself with the western powers, and developed into a modern European state by the turn in the late 1800s. Bulgaria at war In the early twentieth century Bulgaria was involved in both World Wars, as well as two Balkan Wars. The Balkan states were unhappy with the borders assigned to them by the western powers, and instead wanted to re-draw them based on the dispersal of ethnic groups. This led to the first Balkan War in 1912, which saw Bulgaria fight alongside Greece and Serbia against the Ottomans. Bulgaria fought the second Balkan War on all sides, this time against Greece, Serbia, Romania and the Ottomans, as the dispute over borders continued. Bulgaria was defeated this time, and sustained heavy casualties, amassing in 58 thousand fatalities and over 100 thousand wounded in the two wars.

In the First World War, Bulgaria remained neutral at first, in order to recover from the previous wars, but then aligned itself with the Central powers in 1915, and played a vital role in maintaining their control in the Balkans. While Bulgaria was initially successful, its allies weakened as the war progressed, and then Bulgaria eventually succumbed to Allied forces and surrendered in 1918, with almost 200 thousand Bulgarians dying as a result of the war. The interwar years was a period of political and economic turmoil, and when control was re-established, Bulgaria was then able to maintain it's neutrality throughout most of the Second World War, (although there was some conflict and bombings in certain areas). Rise and fall of communism After the war, Bulgaria became a communist state, and life became harsh for the civil population there until the late 1950s when the standard of living rose again. In the late 1980s, like many Eastern European countries, Bulgaria experienced economic decline as the communist system began to collapse. Political failures also contributed to this, and approximately 300 thousand Bulgarian Turks migrated to Turkey, greatly weakening the agricultural economy. This trend of mass migration abroad continued after the fall of the iron curtain, as well as the rise of unemployment. Bulgaria reached it's peak population size in 1985 at 8.98 million inhabitants, but then the number decreases each year, and is expected to be 6.94 million in 2020. This drop in population size has been attributed to the economic collapse at the end of communism in Eastern Europe, causing many to leave the country in search of work elsewhere. Bulgaria also has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world, with 8.7 births per 1,000 people per year (in 2018).

Key information about Bulgaria population

• The Bulgaria population reached 6.4 million people in Dec 2023, compared with the previously reported figure of 6.4 million people in Dec 2022
• The data reached an all-time high of 9.0 million people in Dec 1989 and a record low of 2.8 million people in Dec 1880

• In the latest reports, Bulgaria Unemployment Rate increased to 4.2 % in Dec 2023
• Monthly earnings of the Bulgaria population was 1,278.3 USD in Mar 2024
• Bulgaria Labour Force Participation Rate increased to 56.1 % in Sep 2023

Bulgaria BG: Population: Growth data was reported at -3.006 % in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of -3.468 % for 2022. Bulgaria BG: Population: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging -0.516 % from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2023, with 63 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.958 % in 1961 and a record low of -3.468 % in 2022. Bulgaria BG: Population: Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bulgaria – Table BG.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. 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.;Derived from total population. Population source: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision; (2) Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices; (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics; (4) United Nations Statistics Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years).;Weighted average;

Population growth (annual %) in Bulgaria was reported at --0.0346 % in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Bulgaria - Population growth (annual %) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Bulgaria Population: Urban: 50 to 54 Years data was reported at 362,020.000 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 360,986.000 Person for 2022. Bulgaria Population: Urban: 50 to 54 Years data is updated yearly, averaging 378,462.000 Person from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2023, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 438,344.000 Person in 2000 and a record low of 341,613.000 Person in 2017. Bulgaria Population: Urban: 50 to 54 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistical Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bulgaria – Table BG.G002: Population: by Age Group and Sex.

Bulgaria Population: Rural: 100 Years and Above data was reported at 107.000 Person in 2023. This records an increase from the previous number of 101.000 Person for 2022. Bulgaria Population: Rural: 100 Years and Above data is updated yearly, averaging 107.000 Person from Dec 2001 (Median) to 2023, with 23 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 221.000 Person in 2009 and a record low of 68.000 Person in 2018. Bulgaria Population: Rural: 100 Years and Above data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistical Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bulgaria – Table BG.G002: Population: by Age Group and Sex.

Graph and download economic data for Population, Total for Bulgaria (POPTOTBGA647NWDB) from 1960 to 2024 about Bulgaria and population.

Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Bulgaria was reported at 59.55 sq. Km in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Bulgaria - Population density (people per sq. km) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Bulgaria - Population was 6437360.00 persons for December of 2025, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Bulgaria - Population - last updated from the EUROSTAT on July of 2025. Historically, Bulgaria - Population reached a record high of 7369431.00 persons in December of 2011 and a record low of 6437360.00 persons in December of 2025.

Bulgaria population density for 2022 was 61.19, a 3.41% decline from 2021.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Bulgaria population density for 2021 was <strong>63.35</strong>, a <strong>0.81% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>Bulgaria population density for 2020 was <strong>63.87</strong>, a <strong>0.6% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
<li>Bulgaria population density for 2019 was <strong>64.26</strong>, a <strong>0.7% decline</strong> from 2018.</li>
</ul>Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.

The annual population growth in Bulgaria increased by 0.5 percentage points compared to the previous year. In total, the population growth amounted to -3.01 percent in 2023. This increase was preceded by a declining population growth.Annual population growth refers to the change in the population over time, and is affected by factors such as fertility, mortality, and migration.Find more key insights for the annual population growth in countries like North Macedonia and Cyprus.

Bulgaria: Population growth, percent: The latest value from 2023 is -0.54 percent, an increase from -6.19 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 1.15 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Bulgaria from 1961 to 2023 is -0.32 percent. The minimum value, -6.19 percent, was reached in 2022 while the maximum of 0.96 percent was recorded in 1961.

Population ages 15-64, total in Bulgaria was reported at 4101928 Persons in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Bulgaria - Population ages 15-64, total - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Population, male in Bulgaria was reported at 3118451 Persons in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Bulgaria - Population, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Population ages 15-64, male in Bulgaria was reported at 2075821 Persons in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Bulgaria - Population ages 15-64, male - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Population ages 00-04, male (% of male population) in Bulgaria was reported at 4.8128 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Bulgaria - Population ages 0-4, male (% of male population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Population ages 0-14 (% of total population) in Bulgaria was reported at 14.54 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Bulgaria - Population ages 0-14 (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Bulgaria gained its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878, and for the next century the population grew at a relatively constant rate, before falling into decline from the 1980s until today. The ratio of men to women in Bulgaria has remained fairly level before the 1980s, with the difference never exceeding 100,000. It was only in the 1980s when the numbers began to drift further apart, with the male population decreasing at a higher rate than females. A difference of more than 100,000 people appeared in 1988, and 200,000 at the turn of the millennium. The difference in Bulgaria's male and female populations has remained around 200,000 people for the past two decades, as the overall population has fallen from around eight million to below seven million people. This drop in population size has been attributed to the economic collapse which followed the end of communism in Eastern Europe, causing many to leave the country in search of work elsewhere. Bulgaria also has one of the lowest birth rates in the world, with just 9 births per 1,000 people in 2020.