Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Life skills should be a priority in education for 75% of children

59.8% of births in Bulgaria in 2023 are out of wedlock

Photo: Archive

As of 31.12.2023 children under 17 in Bulgaria are 1,104,198, or 17.1% of the total population. This is according to data compiled by the National Statistical Institute and UNICEF Bulgaria on the occasion of 1 June - International Children's Day. 

In 2023, the number of out-of-wedlock births in Bulgaria is 34,357, or 59.8% of all births.  For 81.1% of out-of-wedlock births there are data on the father, which means that these children are most likely raised in a family environment by parents living in cohabitation without marriage. 

Regionally, the highest relative share of out-of-wedlock births is in the districts of Lovech (77.8%), Vratsa (77.6%) and Vidin (75.2%). This share is below 50.0% in four districts of the country - Kardzhali (35.9%), Razgrad (45.1%), Blagoevgrad (48.8%) and Silistra (49.4%).


Ahead of the European elections, five child rights organisations - Child Fund Alliance, Eurochild, Save the Children, SOS Children's Villages and UNICEF - approached EU children and young people, including from Bulgaria, to learn their recommendations to the government, the NSI said. It turns out that 75% of children think life skills should be a priority in education. 


"We all need to acquire practical skills that can help us in everyday life. For example, it is very important to know how to save money," says Nia, 16, Bulgaria. 

70% of children recommend giving them more opportunities to participate in decision-making to ensure that their voices are heard on issues that affect their lives. "Politicians are not interested in children because they cannot vote. That's why they have no idea about our problems," says Harry, 14, Bulgaria. Children urge adults to remember that children are not just the future. Their priorities matter here and now.




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.

More from category

Podkrepa trade union begins protests in key state administrations

“Podkrepa” begins a series of protest actions in key state administrations across the country, BGNES reports. The first of them is today at noon in front of the Central Office of the National Statistical Institute in Sofia and in..

published on 11/20/25 9:57 AM

Average life expectancy in Bulgaria reaches 75.6 years, while in the EU it is 81.4

The average life expectancy in Bulgaria has started to rise again and reaches 75.6 years, the government press service announced. The positive trend is mainly associated with the subsiding impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The average..

published on 11/20/25 9:37 AM

Experts discuss students’ access to social networks

The Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science is organizing a national round table on 20 November on the topic “Are Restrictions Needed on Children’s Access to Social Networks?”   The initiative is in cooperation with the parliamentary..

published on 11/20/25 6:05 AM