Net migration in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Net migration was -2,961 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Bulgaria, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Bulgaria is -2,961, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 665.1% on the previous year and up 30.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Bulgaria peaked at 30,167 in 2020 and was at its lowest, -120,552, in 1992.
That places Bulgaria 126th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | -1,112 | — |
| 1961 | 378 | -134.0% |
| 1962 | 499 | +32.0% |
| 1963 | 500 | +0.2% |
| 1964 | 505 | +1.0% |
| 1965 | -1,406 | -378.4% |
| 1966 | -144 | -89.8% |
| 1967 | -420 | +191.7% |
| 1968 | -132 | -68.6% |
| 1969 | -3,204 | +2327.3% |
| 1970 | -11,315 | +253.2% |
| 1971 | -7,654 | -32.4% |
| 1972 | -11,296 | +47.6% |
| 1973 | -5,409 | -52.1% |
| 1974 | -1,402 | -74.1% |
| 1975 | -38,071 | +2615.5% |
| 1976 | -2,522 | -93.4% |
| 1977 | -11,955 | +374.0% |
| 1978 | -62,769 | +425.0% |
| 1979 | -872 | -98.6% |
| 1980 | -2,045 | +134.5% |
| 1981 | -1,830 | -10.5% |
| 1982 | -1,860 | +1.6% |
| 1983 | -1,872 | +0.6% |
| 1984 | -1,032 | -44.9% |
| 1985 | -19,230 | +1763.4% |
| 1986 | 1,104 | -105.7% |
| 1987 | 357 | -67.7% |
| 1988 | 215 | -39.8% |
| 1989 | -114,705 | -53451.2% |
| 1990 | -116,817 | +1.8% |
| 1991 | -119,356 | +2.2% |
| 1992 | -120,552 | +1.0% |
| 1993 | -19,973 | -83.4% |
| 1994 | -20,984 | +5.1% |
| 1995 | -22,020 | +4.9% |
| 1996 | -21,520 | -2.3% |
| 1997 | -22,963 | +6.7% |
| 1998 | -23,262 | +1.3% |
| 1999 | -23,846 | +2.5% |
| 2000 | -26,211 | +9.9% |
| 2001 | -30,726 | +17.2% |
| 2002 | -12,735 | -58.6% |
| 2003 | -13,183 | +3.5% |
| 2004 | -13,604 | +3.2% |
| 2005 | -14,435 | +6.1% |
| 2006 | -15,184 | +5.2% |
| 2007 | -16,366 | +7.8% |
| 2008 | -17,595 | +7.5% |
| 2009 | -19,060 | +8.3% |
| 2010 | -21,668 | +13.7% |
| 2011 | -23,360 | +7.8% |
| 2012 | -26,334 | +12.7% |
| 2013 | -1,324 | -95.0% |
| 2014 | -2,180 | +64.7% |
| 2015 | -4,227 | +93.9% |
| 2016 | -9,482 | +124.3% |
| 2017 | -6,109 | -35.6% |
| 2018 | -3,873 | -36.6% |
| 2019 | -2,156 | -44.3% |
| 2020 | 30,167 | -1499.2% |
| 2021 | 11,756 | -61.0% |
| 2022 | 26,498 | +125.4% |
| 2023 | 5,173 | -80.5% |
| 2024 | 524 | -89.9% |
| 2025 | -2,961 | -665.1% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's -2,961 is below the median for high income countries, which is 843. (85 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's -2,961 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 166. (57 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | -53451.2% | 215 | -114,705 |
| 1975 | -2615.5% | -1,402 | -38,071 |
| 1969 | -2327.3% | -132 | -3,204 |
| 1985 | -1763.4% | -1,032 | -19,230 |
| 2020 | +1499.2% | -2,156 | 30,167 |
| 2025 | -665.1% | 524 | -2,961 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -453.6 | -3,204 | 505 | 10 |
| 1970s | -15,326 | -62,769 | -872 | 10 |
| 1980s | -14,090 | -114,705 | 1,104 | 10 |
| 1990s | -51,129 | -120,552 | -19,973 | 10 |
| 2000s | -17,910 | -30,726 | -12,735 | 10 |
| 2010s | -10,071 | -26,334 | -1,324 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11,860 | -2,961 | 30,167 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More financial sector data for Bulgaria
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 20.89 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 15.25 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 20.89 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Bulgaria?
- Net migration in Bulgaria was -2,961 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 30,167 in 2020.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was -120,552 in 1992.
- How does Bulgaria rank for net migration?
- Bulgaria ranks 126th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 30.0%. 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), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.