site.btaMigrant Crossings Down by 73.6% in January-June Y/Y

Between January and June 2024, 21,082 people attempted to enter the country illegally. This represents a 73.6% decrease compared with the same period of 2023 (79, 990 people), according to monthly migration data report of the Interior Ministry, released on Tuesday.

The number of detainees in the same period totalled 3,117, of whom 926 were entering the country, 858 were exiting without registration and 1,333 migrants were detained for illegally residing in the interior of the country.

According to the statistics, in June 4,999 third-country nationals attempted to illegally enter into Bulgaria (4,983 at the border with Turkiye, 12 at the border with Serbia and four at the border with Greece). This is a 79.1% decrease compared with June 2023 (23, 898 persons).

In June, a total of 943 migrants were apprehended, of whom 242 were entering the country, 212 were exiting without registration by the Ministry of Interior and 489 for illegally staying in the country. The majority were from Syria - 46.8% and Afghanistan - 38.6%.