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

Ministry of Education wants to make religion classes mandatory

The Ministry of Education and Science will offer religion classes in the mandatory curriculum, focusing on ethical, moral, cultural and historical competencies, Education Minister Krasimir Valchev told the Union of Bulgarian Teachers. "The introduction..

published on 4/7/25 5:55 PM

Divers map the most interesting underwater sites on the southern part of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast

Divers, who are members of the non-profit association "Friends of the Sea - Burgas" described and marked on a map the most interesting and visited underwater sites located on the seabed along the southern part of the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. The..

published on 4/7/25 5:33 PM

Transport Minister announces major shake-up of Bulgarian Railways

A major restructuring of Bulgarian State Railways - Cargo (BDZ Cargo) is underway, including cost-cutting and a review of all freight tariffs, Transport and Communications Minister Grozdan Karadjov said on Monday at a meeting with trade unions in the..

published on 4/7/25 5:25 PM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Partly cloudy, chance of snow
Min: 0 | Max: 7
Rain / Snow
Min: 1 | Max: 6
Rain / Snow
Min: 2 | Max: 5
Mostly Cloudy
Min: -1 | Max: 10
Значителна облачност със сняг
Min: 1 | Max: 6
Rain / Snow
Min: 1 | Max: 5
Значителна облачност със сняг
Min: 0 | Max: 4
Rain / Snow
Min: -1 | Max: 5
Wet snow
Min: 0 | Max: 3
Partly cloudy, chance of snow
Min: 0 | Max: 7
Значителна облачност със сняг
Min: 0 | Max: 6
Partly cloudy, chance of snow
Min: 3 | Max: 8
Rain / Snow
Min: 0 | Max: 8
Partly cloudy, chance of snow
Min: -3 | Max: 4
Rain / Snow
Min: 0 | Max: 7
Rain / Snow
Min: 0 | Max: 7
Значителна облачност със сняг
Min: -2 | Max: 5
Rain / Snow
Min: 1 | Max: 7
Rain / Snow
Min: 1 | Max: 8
Wet snow
Min: 0 | Max: 5
Wet snow
Min: -1 | Max: 0
Partly cloudy, chance of snow
Min: -2 | Max: 5
Rain / Snow
Min: 0 | Max: 6
Rain / Snow
Min: -1 | Max: 5
Wet snow
Min: 0 | Max: 4
Rain / Snow
Min: -1 | Max: 6
Wet snow
Min: 0 | Max: 4
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

Road Infrastructure Agency: Drivers should prepare for winter road conditions

Drivers travelling today and in the coming days should prepare their vehicles for winter conditions , the Road Infrastructure Agency has urged. The..

published on 4/6/25 12:36 PM

13,000 reports of poor road conditions have been filed by the Ministry of the Interior in 2024

The Ministry of the Interior has submitted 13,000 reports about poor road conditions in 2024 . This was revealed in an interview with Nova TV by Chief..

published on 4/6/25 11:23 AM

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..

published on 4/5/25 6:10 PM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

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