This is where most Bulgarians return from abroad

A total of 314,285 are Bulgarian citizens who declared that they resided outside the country for more than one year in the period 1980 – 2021, and returned or arrived in the country during the same period. Most returned from the United Kingdom – 47 thousand, or 14.9 percent, followed by Germany – 41 thousand, or 13.1 percent, Spain – 27 thousand, or 8.7 percent, and Greece – 27 thousand, or 8.5 percent of those residing abroad.

The data are from Census 2021 and are included in the new “Statistical Guide “Census 2021” published on the NSI website.

The census was conducted from 7 September to 10 October 2021. The publication contains data on the main demographic, ethno-cultural, health and socio-economic characteristics of the population, on migration and on the location of the workplace/educational institution of the employed and studying persons.

As of September 7, 2021, the population of Bulgaria is 6,519,789 people. In the period between the two censuses, 2011 – 2021, the country’s population decreased by 844,781 people, or by 11.5 percent.

Arrived/returned from abroad during the period 1980 – 2021

As of September 7, 2021, 354,138 people declared that they resided outside the country for more than one year during the period 1980 – 2021 and returned or arrived in the country during the same period. The Bulgarian citizens who returned to the country during the monitored period are 314,285, or 88.7 percent of all who indicated that they had resided abroad. Men are 164,833 (52.4 percent) and women – 149,452 (47.6 percent). The share of people aged 40 – 49 years old as of September 7, 2021 is the highest – 20 percent, or every fifth of those who returned to the country.

The ethnic structure of the returning Bulgarian citizens is similar to the ethnic structure of the population – 84.5 percent of them identified themselves with the Bulgarian ethnic group, 9.6 percent – with the Turkish, and 2.3 percent – with the Roma.

The largest number of Bulgarian citizens returned from the United Kingdom – 47 thousand, or 14.9 percent, followed by Germany – 41 thousand, or 13.1 percent, Spain – 27 thousand, or 8.7 percent, and Greece – 27 thousand, or 8.5 percent of those residing abroad. The flow of Bulgarian citizens who returned to the country in 2020 and 2021 was the largest – 49,377 people.

Foreign citizens who arrived in the country during the observed period are 39,853 people. Men are 15,808, or 51.3 percent, and women – 15,030, or 48.7 percent. Citizens of countries from Europe prevail – 77.4 percent, and Asia – 17.8 percent, of all foreigners who arrived in the country. The highest share of foreigners settled in the regions of Sofia (the capital) – 33.4 percent, Varna – 13.8 percent, and Burgas – 11.5 percent.

The internal migration of the population during the period 2011 – 2021

As of September 7, 2021, 395,690 people declared that they had changed the place of their habitual residence during the period 2011 – 2021, BTA reported. Migrant women are 213,558, or 54 percent, and men – 182,132, or 46 percent of those who migrated.

There are four main directions in which the population moves, changing its place of residence within the country: “from the cities – to the cities”, “from the cities – to the villages”, “from the villages – to the cities” and “from the villages – to the villages” .

The formation of these flows is mainly influenced by numerous socio-economic factors, the development of the regions, as well as the living conditions in individual settlements.

During the period 2011 – 2021, 224 thousand people, or 56.6 percent of all migrants, changed their place of residence from one city to another within the country. The people who moved from the cities to the villages are 88 thousand, or 22.1 percent, followed by the migrants in the direction from the villages to the cities – 62 thousand, or 15.6 percent.

The relative share of migrants who changed their place of residence from one village to another is the smallest – 22 thousand, or 5.7 percent of all migrated people.

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