Net migration (UNICEF) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Net migration was -2,961 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-2,961
Change on year
down 665.1%
World rank
42nd
of 74 countries
All-time high
30,167
in 2020
All-time low
-120,552
in 1992
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Net migration in Bulgaria, 1960–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Bulgaria stood at -2,961.
That represents a change of 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.
Bulgaria ranks 42nd of 74 countries on this measure, 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 9,502. (42 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's -2,961 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 158. (52 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 population data for Bulgaria
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,187 Persons (2050)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.18 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.7245 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 146,527 people (2100)
- Population density 32.53 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.921 % change on previous year (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Bulgaria?
- Net migration in Bulgaria was -2,961 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- 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 42nd out of 74 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 UNICEF, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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