Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 1,317 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Bulgaria, 2000–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
In 2025, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Bulgaria stood at 1,317.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 78.0% on the previous year and down 86.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Bulgaria peaked at 16,030 in 2016 and was at its lowest, 736, in 2003.
That places Bulgaria 97th out of 179 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.
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,304 | — |
| 2001 | 1,534 | +17.6% |
| 2002 | 1,118 | -27.1% |
| 2003 | 736 | -34.2% |
| 2004 | 899 | +22.1% |
| 2005 | 787 | -12.5% |
| 2006 | 839 | +6.6% |
| 2007 | 1,002 | +19.4% |
| 2008 | 1,060 | +5.8% |
| 2009 | 1,175 | +10.8% |
| 2010 | 1,392 | +18.5% |
| 2011 | 1,381 | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 1,270 | -8.0% |
| 2013 | 4,539 | +257.4% |
| 2014 | 6,735 | +48.4% |
| 2015 | 9,488 | +40.9% |
| 2016 | 16,030 | +69.0% |
| 2017 | 2,712 | -83.1% |
| 2018 | 1,560 | -42.5% |
| 2019 | 1,054 | -32.4% |
| 2020 | 1,938 | +83.9% |
| 2021 | 7,547 | +289.4% |
| 2022 | 11,165 | +47.9% |
| 2023 | 11,941 | +7.0% |
| 2024 | 5,981 | -49.9% |
| 2025 | 1,317 | -78.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,045 | 736 | 1,534 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,616 | 1,054 | 16,030 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,648 | 1,317 | 11,941 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More social development data for Bulgaria
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 105,596 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 533 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh 2 (2025)
- Democracy lexical 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 533 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0164 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Bulgaria?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in Bulgaria was 1,317 in 2025, according to Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- What is the highest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 16,030 in 2016.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 736 in 2003.
- How does Bulgaria rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- Bulgaria ranks 97th out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 86.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as part of Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Asylum-seekers are individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined. This includes those who are in various stages of the asylum process, such as initial application, appeal, or awaiting final decision. In specific contexts, asylum-seekers may also include those who are seeking protection under complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection, but whose claims are still under consideration.