30% of Bulgarian citizens expected to be over 60 years of age by 2050

By 2050, the Bulgarian population over 60 years of age is expected to reach over 30%, commented yesterday Emilia Voynova from the Standard Life and Social Security Directorate with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy at the roundtable on the demographic challenges. She added that when the proportion of the population over that age exceeds 30%, the functioning of all social systems will be threatened and, hence, these will start to disintegrate. Voynova announced that the demographic crisis in Bulgaria was the most serious, compared to the situation in all the rest of the EU member-states.

According to the data, the negative demographic trends are due to the low birth rate, the high death rate, the low average life expectancy and large migration flows. Voynova described the early mortality among men as an extremely serious problem, leading to an increase in the number of widows. Therefore, the problem of female poverty in older age groups intensifies. According to the experts, the negative Bulgarian natural growth has deepened over recent years due to the economic crisis.

The Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Deyana Kostadinova, responsible for demographic policy, commented that a special emphasis should be placed on the need for measures aiding elderly people. Besides, their role and contribution to socio-economic development should be reconsidered. She also explained that 2012 would be the European Year of Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity. Kostadinova added that the objectives of the GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) government programme and of the National Reform Programme refer to the updating of the National Strategy for Demographic Development of Bulgaria, as well as of the National Concept of Active Ageing Promotion.

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