General insecurity affects the demographic process in Bulgaria

published on 1/9/13 11:40 AM

Fewer children are born in Bulgaria and unless special measures are enforced, the nation’s population will continue to decline, and, according to predictions, will come to a mere 5.7m by 2050. The demographic process underway across Europe, takes place at a faster rate in Bulgaria owing to some local specifics. Emigration, the falling number of women in active child-bearing age and the reluctance of families to have more children because of insecurity and career targets are some of the factors that give no hopes of bucking the negative trends in the foreseeable future, experts contend.

In the coming decades the prospects for a higher birthrate, and consequently, for a growing population, are dim. This is said in Bulgaria’s Demographic Strategy until 2030. Until then a Bulgarian woman in childbearing age will have the average of 1.5 children. Next, the commentary of Antoaneta Hristova, Director of the Institute for Population and Human Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

“There is a massive ageing of the population and fewer and fewer women in childbearing age. Some 4 to 5 years ago there was a period when we evidenced a boom in the birthrate due to widespread birth postponement. Back then, the generation that had put off having babies decided that they should use the moment and carry out the most important task for humans, reproduction. However, now again we have a falling number of women in childbearing age. Hence, the population decline in Bulgaria. We cannot possibly stop this process right now because neither prevention nor intervention measures are taken to stop it.”

The economic crisis and the financial insecurity for the future have urged many families to emigrate to countries where it is easier to raise more kids. From 2001 to 2011 alone this was the main cause for the decline of the Bulgarian population by 170,000, statistics suggest. One good thing in Bulgaria is that here the maternity leave is the longest across EU, or 410 days. This however is coupled with meager financing of maternity, just 120 euros a month.

Bulgaria does have a National Strategy for Demographic Development. It has good scientific quality but sounds a bit abstract, Antoaneta Hristova says. She comments that all listed measures such as education, the way children are brought up, ways to assist parenthood as well as faster adaptation of young moms as they return to their jobs, are linked to financing that should be raised by central government.

“The state has declared the demographic crisis Bulgaria’s problem No. 1, and also that this crisis is related to the national security of the country. The main problem however is that no financing has been attached to this top priority. This implies that the respective national strategy cannot function. So, I cannot say I am an optimist. The crisis is no good excuse. Yes, there is little money to spend, but part of it should go to something that is a top priority for the country.”

The negative trends in the birthrate are a big challenge. According to Antoaneta Hristova, it would be a success in case in two years from now Bulgaria manages to keep the birthrate at its current levels.

Translated by Daniela Konstantinova

По публикацията работи: Milka Dimitrova

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General insecurity affects the demographic process in Bulgaria

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