The biggest fears Bulgarians have is that they or their family members could fall ill – 43.3%, or fall into poverty – 36.7%. These fears come before war – 33.5%, which is in third position, indicate the results of a representative survey by ESTAT sociological agency conducted in February 2024. Fear of refugees stands at a mere 2%, and 2.7% say they are worried about the environment. 7.7% say they are afraid of natural calamities and disasters. ESTAT director Ivo Zhelev comments, for 24 Chasa daily, that the “top three of Bulgarians’ fears” is similar to the fears all people around the world have.

“Modern fears like terrorism, migrants, ecology, environmental pollution give way to existential fears,” he says. “Interestingly, fear of heights, of flying, of insects and animals is comparable to fear of terrorism – at around 5-6%. Fear of the future is expressed by 4.8%. The introduction of the Euro scares under 2% of Bulgarians. Very few people say they are afraid of road accidents or of the demographic crisis in the country. The popular fears of AI are not very widespread in society in Bulgaria at 0.9%, reaching 2.3% among the young. No fear of hunger exists. 0.1% say they have respect “of God”. Out of 1,008 respondents over 18 included in the survey, 6.2% say they are afraid of nothing.