Bulgaria faces the bleakest demographic prospects on a global scale over the next 35 years, according to the 2015 World Population Prospects report of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

In the period 2015-2050, Bulgaria’s population is expected to shrink by 27.9%.

Bulgaria’s population is to decrease from the current rate of 7,152 million to 5,154 million in 2050 and to 3,406 million in 2100, according to the report.

Romania registers the second-worst performance, with its population expected to shrink by 22.1% from the current rate of 19.511 million to 15,207 million in 2050.

Romania is followed by Ukraine, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia, Croatia, and Hungary in the group of the 10 worst-performing countries.

The best score is that of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which currently has a population of 109 000, with the figure set to remain unchanged in 2050.

As regards age distribution, at present 14,1% of Bulgaria’s population are in the age group 0-14, with 58.9% in the age group 15-59, 26,9% aged 60+, and 4.5% aged 80+.

In 2015, 14.7% of Bulgaria’s population will belong to the 0-14 age group, 48.8% will be in the age group 15-59, 36.4% will be in the age group 60+, and 7.6% will be aged 80+.

In 2100, 15.1% of Bulgaria’s population will belong to the 0-14 age group, 50.9% will belong to the 15-59 age group, 34.0% will be in the 60+ age group, and 11.1% will be aged 80+.