A buffer status report processing method and an apparatus are disclosed. A network device determines a logical channel or a logical channel group for which a separate buffer status report BSR needs to be reported, and sends separate-BSR reporting indication information. A terminal device receives the separate-BSR reporting indication information sent by the network device, and reports the separate BSR for the logical channel or the logical channel group indicated in the separate-BSR reporting indication information. The network device receives the separate BSR reported by the terminal device, and determines, based on the separate BSR, uplink buffer data amount information corresponding to the logical channel or the logical channel group. According to the BSR processing method, resource scheduling accuracy of the network device is improved.