More than forty percent of children in Bulgaria are facing a risk of poverty or social exclusion, according to national statistics published ahead of the world anti-poverty day.

A worsening of demographic trends and an increase in inequality and income distribution have been noted by the National Statistical Institute's research for 2015, the National Network for Children, a non-profit, has said, citing the figures.

The wealthiest twenty percent of the population earn 7.1 times as much as the the lowest-income citizens.

Fifty-four percent of children aged 0-15 in Bulgaria suffered from some degree of material deprivation. Half of all Bulgarian kins cannot afford a holiday away from their home even for a week on an annual basis, the survey shows.

Two in five children cannot be guaranteed a proper place to study or write homework, the Bulgarian National Radio quotes the non-profit as saying.

The world marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17. This year, the UN has themed the date "Moving from humiliation and exclusion to participation: Ending poverty in all its forms".