Efforts to Protect Bulgaria’s Decreasing Population by 30%
The population in Bulgaria has seen a significant decrease over the years, according to data from the Bulgarian National Institute of Statistics (NSI). From 1985 to 2023, the population has decreased from 8 million 948 thousand to 6 million 445 thousand, marking a loss of approximately 30 percent.
The main contributing factors to this population decline have been the higher number of deaths compared to births, as well as increased migration from Bulgaria to other countries, particularly after its European Union membership in 2007.
Despite various measures taken by the government, including the adoption of a national strategy for demographic development and initiatives to promote industrialization and housing, the population decline has not been reversed.
Professor Nadejda Ilieva of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences predicts that if the current trends continue, the population in Bulgaria could fall below 5 million by 2050. Ilieva attributes this decline to lower birth rates compared to mortality rates, a trend not only seen in Bulgaria but also in other developed countries.
Ilieva mentions that population growth in European countries is often achieved through attracting immigrants from other regions. She highlights the significant wave of migration from Bulgaria for political and economic reasons since 1989, with a large number of people leaving the country during different periods.
While population growth is still observed in major cities like Sofia, Plovdiv, and Varna, there has been a significant decrease in population density in the northwest region of Bulgaria. The return of Bulgarians living abroad and Turks of Bulgarian origin from Turkey has also contributed to the population dynamics in recent years.
Overall, the challenges of population decline in Bulgaria require comprehensive strategies that address not only birth rates and mortality but also migration patterns and regional disparities in population growth.
