Bulgaria
Bulgaria
UNHCR works with the Government, civil society, and other partners in Bulgaria to protect displaced and stateless people, including over 100,000 refugees from Ukraine.
Are you a refugee, asylum-seeker or stateless person looking for help? Visit the HELP site to find support and services from UNHCR.
Key statistics
143,783
people were displaced or stateless (or returning from forced displacement) within the country at the end of 2024
108,753
people are registered as refugees in the country at the end of 2024, mostly from Ukraine
$14.5 million
are needed in 2025 to ensure that operations and programmes in Bulgaria are sustained
UNHCR cooperates with the Government, civil society, refugee-led organisations, academia and the private sector in Bulgaria to ensure the protection and a better future for displaced and stateless people. In Bulgaria, UNHCR has expanded its support to over 100,000 refugees from Ukraine, with assistance and protection. UNHCR supports the State to strengthen its asylum system in line with international humanitarian standards ahead of the implementation of the European Union's Pact on Asylum and Migration.
UNHCR has expanded its support through various programs aimed at improving access to education, employment and essential services.
UNHCR spearheads inter-agency efforts to address the refugee situation as part of a joint effort to support refugee-hosting countries. In 2024, together with its local partners, UNHCR launched the Compass Network of Protection and Inclusion Centres in six refugee-hosting cities in Bulgaria. The centres promote collective empowerment, inclusion, and social cohesion for refugees and vulnerable host community members. This is done through comprehensive support tailored to their diverse needs.
Population and financial overview
Bulgaria
Use the year selector to access information from previous years.
Populations
Population types
Population types
Note: The "Stateless" category does not include stateless people who are also in other categories, to avoid double counting. The total number of stateless, across all categories, is .
NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Population by country
Population by country
NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Population by origin
Population by origin
NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Financial
Budget and expenditure trend
Budget and expenditure trend
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by pillar
Budget by pillar
Budget by objective
Budget by objective
Note: The table presents the budget for this operation broken down at the objective level. Resource allocation at the objective level is subject to change during the course of the year as the operational situation evolves and priorities shift. The current budget, reflected in the bottom line of this table, is updated on a monthly basis and is replaced by the final budget at year-end.
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2024 budget and 2023 current budget are taken from the budget document approved by UNHCR's Executive Committee in October 2023.
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
yearselected
Strategy - Country
Strategy
For more information about our work in Bulgaria:
Find more information on our work in the area and the latest local news and stories.
Find legislation, case law and UNHCR policy relating to claims for international protection.
Street Address:
2, Pozitano SQUARE, Perform Business Center Building, 6th F, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Mailing Address:
19 Denkoglu Street, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Phone:
+359 2 98 02 453
Fax:
+359 2 98 01 639
Email:
[email protected]
Time zone:
GMT +2
Working hours
- Monday: 08.30 - 17:30
- Tuesday: 08.30 - 17:30
- Wednesday: 08.30 - 17:30
- Thursday: 08.30 - 17:30
- Friday: 08.30 - 17:30
- Saturday: closed
- Sunday: closed
