By 2030, 42% of this country's population is expected to live in 6 cities – Sofia, Plovdiv, Ruse, Burgas, Varna and Stara Zagora. At the same time, a village disappears every month, Smolyan is the region with fastest shrinking population in the EU. 800 schools have been closed down over the past 15 years as there are no young families with children there, said Vice President Iliana Iotova, opening a conference on the demographic crisis in Bulgaria, Focus News Agency reported.

The main reason for the startling numbers is the lack of a realistic economic development programme, the vice president said, adding that Bulgaria needs a state policy on the matter. She further said development of high technology, tourism, agriculture, dual learning and the healthcare system should be national priorities, in order for people to consider Bulgaria a place worth living and working in. 

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