Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Life skills should be a priority in education for 75% of children

59.8% of births in Bulgaria in 2023 are out of wedlock

Photo: Archive

As of 31.12.2023 children under 17 in Bulgaria are 1,104,198, or 17.1% of the total population. This is according to data compiled by the National Statistical Institute and UNICEF Bulgaria on the occasion of 1 June - International Children's Day. 

In 2023, the number of out-of-wedlock births in Bulgaria is 34,357, or 59.8% of all births.  For 81.1% of out-of-wedlock births there are data on the father, which means that these children are most likely raised in a family environment by parents living in cohabitation without marriage. 

Regionally, the highest relative share of out-of-wedlock births is in the districts of Lovech (77.8%), Vratsa (77.6%) and Vidin (75.2%). This share is below 50.0% in four districts of the country - Kardzhali (35.9%), Razgrad (45.1%), Blagoevgrad (48.8%) and Silistra (49.4%).


Ahead of the European elections, five child rights organisations - Child Fund Alliance, Eurochild, Save the Children, SOS Children's Villages and UNICEF - approached EU children and young people, including from Bulgaria, to learn their recommendations to the government, the NSI said. It turns out that 75% of children think life skills should be a priority in education. 


"We all need to acquire practical skills that can help us in everyday life. For example, it is very important to know how to save money," says Nia, 16, Bulgaria. 

70% of children recommend giving them more opportunities to participate in decision-making to ensure that their voices are heard on issues that affect their lives. "Politicians are not interested in children because they cannot vote. That's why they have no idea about our problems," says Harry, 14, Bulgaria. Children urge adults to remember that children are not just the future. Their priorities matter here and now.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

World public service media meet in Sofia, discuss current challenges

There is no democracy and freedom without freedom of speech and pluralism, said President Rumen Radev at the opening, in Sofia, of the annual Public Broadcasters International Conference (PBI 2025) . For the first time, the Bulgarian National Radio..

published on 10/21/25 2:05 PM

BNR hosts the 2025 edition of the annual Public Broadcasters International conference

For the first time, the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) is hosting the annual Public Broadcasters International conference . The conference brings together public media bosses and executives from 24 countries across five continents. The theme..

published on 10/21/25 10:42 AM

Bulgaria wants to invite mayors from Taraclia to gain insight into how the European Union functions

Bulgaria supports the start of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, said Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev during the EU Foreign Affairs Council held in Luxembourg. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos..

published on 10/21/25 9:54 AM