Refugees by country of origin in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Refugees by country of origin was 498 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of origin in Bulgaria, 1969–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of origin in Bulgaria is 498 people, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 26.7% on the previous year and down 69.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of origin in Bulgaria peaked at 4,692 people in 1994 and was at its lowest, 90 people, in 1969.
That places Bulgaria 114th out of 204 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of origin in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 90 people | — |
| 1970 | 320 people | +255.6% |
| 1971 | 340 people | +6.2% |
| 1972 | 340 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 340 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 300 people | -11.8% |
| 1975 | 300 people | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 290 people | -3.3% |
| 1980 | 329 people | +13.4% |
| 1981 | 274 people | -16.7% |
| 1982 | 257 people | -6.2% |
| 1983 | 227 people | -11.7% |
| 1984 | 183 people | -19.4% |
| 1985 | 190 people | +3.8% |
| 1986 | 160 people | -15.8% |
| 1987 | 138 people | -13.8% |
| 1988 | 898 people | +550.7% |
| 1989 | 869 people | -3.2% |
| 1990 | 1,922 people | +121.2% |
| 1991 | 2,733 people | +42.2% |
| 1992 | 2,980 people | +9.0% |
| 1993 | 3,157 people | +5.9% |
| 1994 | 4,692 people | +48.6% |
| 1995 | 4,157 people | -11.4% |
| 1996 | 3,246 people | -21.9% |
| 1997 | 3,049 people | -6.1% |
| 1998 | 3,121 people | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 2,652 people | -15.0% |
| 2000 | 2,404 people | -9.4% |
| 2001 | 2,122 people | -11.7% |
| 2002 | 2,843 people | +34.0% |
| 2003 | 2,565 people | -9.8% |
| 2004 | 2,227 people | -13.2% |
| 2005 | 4,250 people | +90.8% |
| 2006 | 3,431 people | -19.3% |
| 2007 | 3,306 people | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 3,036 people | -8.2% |
| 2009 | 2,743 people | -9.7% |
| 2010 | 2,558 people | -6.7% |
| 2011 | 2,322 people | -9.2% |
| 2012 | 2,143 people | -7.7% |
| 2013 | 1,875 people | -12.5% |
| 2014 | 1,644 people | -12.3% |
| 2015 | 1,264 people | -23.1% |
| 2016 | 799 people | -36.8% |
| 2017 | 716 people | -10.4% |
| 2018 | 620 people | -13.4% |
| 2019 | 566 people | -8.7% |
| 2020 | 510 people | -9.9% |
| 2021 | 455 people | -10.8% |
| 2022 | 790 people | +73.6% |
| 2023 | 393 people | -50.3% |
| 2024 | 498 people | +26.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 90 people | 90 people | 90 people | 1 |
| 1970s | 318.57 people | 290 people | 340 people | 7 |
| 1980s | 352.5 people | 138 people | 898 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,171 people | 1,922 people | 4,692 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,893 people | 2,122 people | 4,250 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,451 people | 566 people | 2,558 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 529.2 people | 393 people | 790 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 111 Madagascar 604 people compare
- 112 Malawi 570 people compare
- 113 Papua New Guinea 504 people compare
- 115 Trinidad and Tobago 474 people compare
- 116 Argentina 464 people compare
- 117 Equatorial Guinea 426 people compare
More population data for Bulgaria
- Population regions 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 long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.7245 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -1.18 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 5,187 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.8803 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.921 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 32.53 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 146,527 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of origin in Bulgaria?
- Refugees by country of origin in Bulgaria was 498 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of origin recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 4,692 people in 1994.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of origin recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 90 people in 1969.
- How does Bulgaria rank for refugees by country of origin?
- Bulgaria ranks 114th out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of origin rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 69.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees, not just those who fled that year.