Latest Data Confirms Bulgaria Faces Demographic Collapse

Bulgaria's population is dangerously aging and decreasing, according to data of the National Strategy for Demographic Development.

In 10 years, the population of the country has decreased by over half million – 560 000 people, bTV reports Wednesday.

The two well-known reasons are the lower birth rate and staggering emigration.

At the same time, the average age of Bulgarians is up from 39 years in 1995 to 43 in 2011. The grim forecast shows that in 2050, the share of the elderly will be 30%.

In 2011, the number of Bulgarians went down by over 37 000 people due to the continuing trend of higher mortality rate and lower birthrate. Experts say the seriously threatening stats will have a huge negative effect on the labor market and difficulties in the retirement system and the healthcare sector.

Sociologists point out the need of material encouragement, which must be directed not to families with many children, but to those having just one offspring.

According to economists, measures must include more investments and jobs.

Nearly 200 000 Bulgarians have left the country in the last 10 years.