Bulgaria faces demographic crisis as population projected to fall below 5 million

Bulgaria faces a critical demographic window, with experts warning that the country must act before 2030–2035 to mitigate severe pressure on its economy, social, and insurance systems. Associate Professor Stoyanka Cherkezova, a demographic expert from the Institute for Research on Population and Man at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, has announced her candidacy for president alongside Ivan Hristanov. Their campaign, supported by an initiative committee of non-partisan professionals, aims to address long-term issues such as depopulation and an aging society.

These concerns are underscored by Eurostat’s EUROPOP2025 projections, which suggest Bulgaria’s population could fall below 5 million by the end of the century. The data predicts a decline from approximately 6.4 million people in 2025 to 4.6 million by 2100, representing a nearly 28% decrease. This trend aligns with broader European patterns, though Bulgaria's projected decline is significant compared to the overall EU population trends.