36% of people around the world would emigrate immediately if given the opportunity. These are mostly young people up to the age of 34, in a difficult economic situation and limited opportunities for free travel. Results are based on an international opinion poll conducted by Gallup International Association in 57 countries around the world in August-October 2022. Interestingly, the economic prosperity of a particular country, rather than personal wealth, has a greater influence on respondents' willingness to emigrate. 62% of respondents in lower income countries have a desire to emigrate, compared to 32% of the participants in the poll living in economically strong countries. The results show that a strong "cultural identity is the most powerful factor" to stay in one's home country, sociologist Kancho Stoychev said.

What is the situation in Bulgaria?

Only a quarter of the respondents in Bulgaria expressed a firm intention to emigrate. 67% said they preferred to stay in their home country and 8% could not decide. By comparison, the willingness to emigrate among Bulgaria's neighbouring countries is significantly higher - in Greece this percentage is 40, in Romania - 38%, and in North Macedonia - 42%.These results demonstrate the change in migration attitudes in Bulgaria in recent years, namely - to travel abroad for education, development, qualification, and not with the desire to leave the country for good. Living abroad is still attractive for Bulgarians, but only when it is within a certain timeframe.