First residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: First residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence was 21.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling

Latest (2025)
21.8%
Change on year
down 20.0%
World rank
23rd
of 39 countries
All-time high
43.9%
in 2010
All-time low
21.8%
in 2025
Years of data
18
2008–2025

First residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence in Bulgaria, 2008–2025

0102030402008201620252008: 39.3 Percentage2009: 35.1 Percentage2010: 43.9 Percentage2011: 38.1 Percentage2012: 34.9 Percentage2013: 34.8 Percentage2014: 29.5 Percentage2015: 30.3 Percentage2016: 40.8 Percentage2017: 33 Percentage2018: 32 Percentage2019: 30.4 Percentage2020: 28.3 Percentage2021: 35.4 Percentage2022: 33.8 Percentage2023: 31.8 Percentage2024: 27.2 Percentage2025: 21.8 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

The most recent figure for first residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence in Bulgaria is 21.8%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.

That represents a change of down 20.0% on the previous year and down 28.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, first residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence in Bulgaria peaked at 43.9% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 21.8%, in 2025.

That places Bulgaria 23rd out of 39 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.

First residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for First residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence permits in Bulgaria, 2008 to 2025.
Year Percentage Change
2008 39.3%
2009 35.1% -10.7%
2010 43.9% +25.1%
2011 38.1% -13.3%
2012 34.9% -8.3%
2013 34.8% -0.2%
2014 29.5% -15.4%
2015 30.3% +2.8%
2016 40.8% +34.7%
2017 33.0% -19.1%
2018 32.0% -3.1%
2019 30.4% -5.0%
2020 28.3% -6.9%
2021 35.4% +25.3%
2022 33.8% -4.7%
2023 31.8% -5.8%
2024 27.2% -14.3%
2025 21.8% -20.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 37.2% 35.1% 39.3% 2
2010s 34.8% 29.5% 43.9% 10
2020s 29.7% 21.8% 35.4% 6

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 21 Czechia 25.0% compare
  2. 22 France 24.1% compare
  3. 24 Latvia 15.1% compare
  4. 24 Latvia 15.1% compare
  5. 26 Slovakia 14.6% compare
  6. 26 Slovakia 14.6% compare

See the full ranking of 40 places →

More reference data data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is first residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence in Bulgaria?
First residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence in Bulgaria was 21.8% in 2025, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest first residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 43.9% in 2010.
What is the lowest first residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 21.8% in 2025.
How does Bulgaria rank for first residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence?
Bulgaria ranks 23rd out of 39 countries with data for 2025.
Is first residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 28.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of First residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence permits. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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First residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/first-residence-permits-by-reasons-percent-of-total-first-residence-permits/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
First residence permits by reasons - % of total first residence permits
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
40 places, 691 data points, 2008–2025
Last refreshed