The census of the Bulgarian population in 2011 confirmed the sociological forecasts which point to a constant process of depopulation in this country. All indicators are negative, Bulgarian sociologists say and make grim forecasts about 2050, when, if the current trends remain in place, Bulgaria’s population will amount to 5 million people only, which is 2 million less than 2014. Meanwhile, the total population of the European Union will increase by 15 million people in the same period.

The feeling of demographic catastrophe in Bulgaria grows due to the high mortality rate and the fact that the people aged 69 and above are 19% of the whole Bulgarian population. The negative statistics shows that the population of this country decreases by 164 people per day. The problems are not to be found abroad, they are local, says Dr Totko Naydenov who is the Chief Secretary of Life for Bulgaria National Alliance. Totko is also an author of the book entitled The Children We Can Not Live Without. He is among the Bulgarians who shares the opinion that the Bulgarian authorities, which were in charge of this country during the long transition period, are responsible for Bulgaria’s demographic problems. The fight for power and money amidst the ones who are authorized to govern this country has changed the morals and the values of many Bulgarians. The latter affected the family relations. Personalities from the criminal underground often turn into an example of behavior. Over half of the Bulgarian children were born in families with extramarital relations, says Dr Naydenov and adds:

“Most Bulgarian women register as unmarried mothers, in order to receive higher child benefits. We have been encouraging the so-called Ro-Ro (Roma parent) profession. Thus, we are all digging the pit our country is soon likely to fall into. A special report of the US Special Intelligence Agency regarding the global trends in 2015 reads that Bulgaria is the country with highest rates of ageing population, poverty and immigration. In other words, we would not exaggerate if we say that our country faces catastrophe even without a war on its territory. The country’s population melts down with some 60,000 people per year. In 1988 Bulgaria’s population was growing by 2.1 people per 1,000 citizens. Now, each year it melts with 5.1 people per 1,000. According to the National Statistical Institute, the population of this country amounts to just over 7.280 million. However, according to the CIA, the population of Bulgaria is 6.9 million people. Moreover, I would like to add to this negative statistics the fact that the Bulgarians are among the world citizens who suffer from various illnesses the most. We suffer from the lack of a high-quality and well-paid healthcare. The country spends only 4.3% of its gross domestic product on healthcare. This amount is twice higher in other EU member states. The ethnic structure of the population has also been changing, but this phenomenon is not subject to research by the sociological agencies.”

Although there is no specific data about this trend, the change is now a reality. Some publications appeared in the Bulgarian media, according to which, Macedonian, Russian, Arabian and Asian nationals like Bulgaria and call this country their second home. In 2009 half of the foreigners who came to this country to marry, do business and study intended to stay here for good. Most of them came from Asian and Arab countries, Russia and the former Soviet states. They are attracted by the declining property prices, the low price of the Bulgarian products and services and last, but not the least, by the beauty of the country’s nature. The Russians who bought properties along Bulgaria’s coastline are also known as the New Bulgarians. Most of them say that they would settle here permanently when they get the first chance to do so.

According to the estate agents, their number varies between 200,000 and 300,000 and continues to grow, despite the economic crisis. The Russians are attracted by the mild climate in Bulgaria and the proximity of this country to their motherland. They enjoy their stay in Bulgaria and feel the similarity between the Russian and the Bulgarian language. Unlike all other immigrants, the citizens of neighboring Macedonia are lucky to receive Bulgarian citizenship quick enough. They settle in Bulgaria due to economic reasons, stemming from the possibility to become citizens of the EU. The Macedonian Foreign Ministry in Skopje monitors closely this trend, but does not possess any mechanism to determine the number of the Macedonians who received a Bulgarian ID. In the autumn of 2011 their number increased by nearly 7,000 in one month only.

English version: Kostadin Atanasov