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

Bulgaria's demographic crisis hits GDP

Negative growth accounts for 45% of Bulgaria's average annual GDP decline, BAS reports
Photo: BTA

Population decline has had a strong adverse impact on GDP growth since 2009, with an average negative effect of around 0.9 percentage points per year. This corresponds to about 45 per cent of the average annual GDP growth rate from 2010 to 2021, according to research by the Institute for Population and Human Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, as reported by BTA. According to the authors of the study, the negative effect is mainly due to emigration and the ageing of the population. 

The scientists warn that without changes in economic conditions and policies, there is a risk that this negative effect will continue and even worsen after 2035 due to the acceleration of population ageing.

Population decline is driven both by global trends, such as fertility decline and ageing, and by country-specific factors. The fertility rate remains below the replacement level, despite its slow recovery since the beginning of the new millennium. Bulgaria has one of the highest mortality rates in the European Union and the lowest life expectancy at 74.2 years, compared with an EU average of 80.6 years. 

Moreover, the population is declining due to negative natural growth and net migration, especially in the period 2012-2019. Measures are needed with a long-term effect, such as stimulating fertility and improving the health status of the population, as well as those with a short-term effect, related to the management of migration processes. Policies aimed at improving employment and increasing labour market participation are also needed, the authors note.

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    ageing demography economy gdp

More from category

Temperatures go down on Sunday, rain and snow in the forecast

Over the next 24 hours the weather in the country will be dynamic. After temporarily dispersing, after midnight the clouds will increase and the precipitation will pick up from the Northwest. During the day on Sunday the rain will continue, and..

published on 4/5/25 6:10 PM

Former athlete detained with 30 kgs. of cocaine worth over 5 million Leva

The Sofia district court has left 45-year old Bulgarian former athlete Petar Dachev in custody. Dachev was detained on 2 April in the region of Petrohan pass for possession of 30 kgs. of cocaine, public service TV BNT reports. The cocaine, hidden..

published on 4/5/25 5:39 PM
Daniel Mitov

Interior minister orders nationwide inspection of dangerous road sections

Against the background of protests in different towns across the country against the “war on the roads”, the poor condition of roads, corruption in public procurement and flawed road repairs, Minister of Interior Daniel Mitov has ordered a..

published on 4/5/25 2:28 PM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Rain / Snow
Min: 4 | Max: 7
Rain
Min: 9 | Max: 13
Scattered showers
Min: 10 | Max: 12
Cloudy
Min: 6 | Max: 10
Rain / Snow
Min: 5 | Max: 6
Scattered showers
Min: 8 | Max: 9
Rain / Snow
Min: 7 | Max: 7
Scattered showers
Min: 9 | Max: 10
Rain
Min: 7 | Max: 14
Rain / Snow
Min: 4 | Max: 8
Rain / Snow
Min: 7 | Max: 7
Scattered showers
Min: 6 | Max: 8
Scattered showers
Min: 5 | Max: 11
Rain / Snow
Min: 3 | Max: 5
Cloudy
Min: 7 | Max: 8
Scattered showers
Min: 7 | Max: 12
Scattered showers
Min: 8 | Max: 9
Scattered showers
Min: 10 | Max: 10
Scattered showers
Min: 6 | Max: 8
Scattered showers
Min: 5 | Max: 11
Rain / Snow
Min: 0 | Max: 6
Rain / Snow
Min: 4 | Max: 6
Scattered showers
Min: 5 | Max: 10
Scattered showers
Min: 7 | Max: 9
Rain
Min: 8 | Max: 14
Scattered showers
Min: 7 | Max: 9
Scattered showers
Min: 6 | Max: 12
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

Civil society calls for effective policing and an end to animal cruelty

Bulgarians have traditionally had a deep respect and gratitude for domestic animals. For generations, horses, oxen, donkeys and cows have been..

published on 4/4/25 1:53 PM

21 years since the tragedy in the River Lim in which 12 Bulgarian children lost their lives

It is 21 years today since the tragedy in the River Lim on the border between Serbia and Montenegro, in which 12 Bulgarian children were killed. On..

published on 4/4/25 5:22 PM

Aqaba Process summit in Sofia addresses terrorism, migration and radicalisation in the Balkans

The President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, and the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, are hosting the Aqaba Process Summit, which focuses on the Balkans and brings..

published on 4/4/25 3:53 PM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

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