MigrantoMigration trends in Bulgaria
Europe
Bulgaria loses more people than it takes in: 1.3M emigrants against 298.3K immigrants. Net balance −953.9K — 15% of the country's population
6.4M
Population
298.3K
Immigrants
1.3M
Emigrants
−953.9K
Outflow
1 in 22 residents of Bulgaria was born abroad — and 1 in 6 people born in Bulgaria lives abroad
#58 in the world by net migration loss
Top corridors
The largest migration flows in Bulgaria
Key moments
How migration has changed since 1990
1990
19.1K immigrants · 597.7K emigrants
1995
- A surge of arrivals — the foreign-born population jumped 59%
2005
- A surge of arrivals — the foreign-born population jumped 43%
2015
- A surge of arrivals — the foreign-born population jumped 65%
- Surge of departures to Germany — 98.1K people left
- The diaspora passed 1M people
- The foreign-born population passed 100K residents
Today
- Ukraine overtook Russia as the largest source of new arrivals
- A surge of arrivals — the foreign-born population jumped 62%
- Since 1990: 279.3K more foreign-born residents and 654.5K more emigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
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