Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 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.

More from category

Prosecutor’s office is investigating Romanian citizens for illegal migrant trafficking

The Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office has initiated pre-trial proceedings regarding an organized criminal group for the trafficking of migrants, the prosecutor’s office has announced. Evidence was collected during the investigation regarding 16..

published on 11/25/24 2:51 PM
Chief Inspector Zornitsa Shumanova (L)

Domestic violence figures have been growing steadily

The number of crimes committed in the conditions of domestic violence has gone up by 54% since the beginning of the year compared to last year, the Ministry of Interior announced on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. A..

published on 11/25/24 2:36 PM
Sofia

Use of solid fuels will be banned in 9 Sofia regions

As of next year, use of solid fuels for domestic heating in buildings which are part of central heating and gas supply networks will be banned in nine Sofia regions, Deputy Mayor of Sofia Nadezhda Bobcheva announced at the opening of a round table..

published on 11/25/24 2:11 PM