ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Analysis of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences with alarming insights

Bulgaria in 10 years - overcrowded cities and depopulated territories

Photo: BGNES

Huge territories in Bulgaria are already abandoned, their people are gradually dying out. This is shown by an analysis of the declining demographic and economic viability of 75% of the municipalities in Bulgaria by the Institute for Population and Human Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.
The main reasons for this are advanced biological ageing and lack of birth rates in some settlements. There are areas where not a single child has been born in the last 30 years, BTA reported. 

In the next decade, Bulgaria will end up with several overpopulated urban centres at the expense of depopulated remaining territories that are losing population and resources, the analysis shows. The regions most affected by depopulation are Western and North-Western Bulgaria, the Strandzha-Sakar and Central Balkan regions, the towns of Gabrovo and Lovech. 

According to the experts, in order to solve this problem, information needs to be gathered and a development strategy needs to be drawn up for the specific regions. Among the ideas is the creation of "model" settlements to attract people to live there. 

According to the researchers, the period around the Covid-19 pandemic saw a so-called "reverse migration" - from cities to villages - but these were short-term waves.


Read also:

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.
Radio Bulgaria News    depopulated villages depopulation villages

More from category

Blagoevgrad to host the 32nd edition of the International Mathematics Competition for University Students

From July 28 to August 3, the town of Blagoevgrad (Southwestern Bulgaria) will host the 32nd edition of the prestigious International Mathematics Competition for University Students. Over 550 participants from 143 universities in 52 countries,..

published on 7/27/25 5:40 AM

85 folk ensembles to participate in the "Sparks from the Past" festival in Apriltsi

A total of 85 folk ensembles from across the country will participate in the "Sparks from the Past" festival, which will take place in the mountain town of Apriltsi on July 26 and 27. The open-air stage for the performances will be set up at..

published on 7/26/25 5:45 AM

Red heat alert issued for 12 Bulgarian districts, orange code alert in effect for the rest of the country

On Saturday, it will be sunny and even hotter. In the afternoon, clouds will form over the mountainous regions of Western Bulgaria, and by the evening, also in the northwestern areas. Isolated thunderstorms and rain showers are expected in some..

published on 7/25/25 6:25 PM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 18 | Max: 33
Partly Cloudy
Min: 21 | Max: 32
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 33
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 18 | Max: 31
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 20 | Max: 32
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 22 | Max: 35
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 18 | Max: 30
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 37
Partly Cloudy
Min: 20 | Max: 38
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 19 | Max: 33
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 20 | Max: 32
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 20 | Max: 32
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 21 | Max: 37
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 19 | Max: 30
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 19 | Max: 33
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 21 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 34
Mostly Cloudy
Min: 22 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 38
Partly cloudy, chance of rain
Min: 21 | Max: 36
Partly Cloudy
Min: 15 | Max: 32
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 19 | Max: 30
sunshine, cloud, rain and thunder
Min: 19 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 34
Partly Cloudy
Min: 19 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 36
Partly Cloudy
Min: 19 | Max: 39
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

85 folk ensembles to participate in the "Sparks from the Past" festival in Apriltsi

A total of 85 folk ensembles from across the country will participate in the "Sparks from the Past" festival, which will take place in the..

published on 7/26/25 5:45 AM

Blagoevgrad to host the 32nd edition of the International Mathematics Competition for University Students

From July 28 to August 3, the town of Blagoevgrad (Southwestern Bulgaria) will host the 32nd edition of the prestigious International Mathematics..

published on 7/27/25 5:40 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"