UN: Bulgaria Faces Demographic Crisis over Ageing Population

Bulgaria ranked 7th in the world for the oldest median age, with an average age of 41,5 in 2009 and 5th for the percentage of population over the age of 60 – 24,2%. Photo by Sofia Phot0 Agency

A new report from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs has shown that Bulgaria is facing a serious demographic crisis as it has one of the most ageing populations in the world.

The report concludes that the number of elderly people worldwide will outnumber children for the first time in 2045, forecasting the start of a "demographic winter" some experts say could constitute the biggest international crisis in the coming century.

According to the report, “World Population Ageing 2009,” 22% of the world's population will be older than 60 years within forty years - a jump from 11% in 2009, and 8% in 1950.

Bulgaria was reported to have one of the largest differences in the world, alongside Belarus and the Republic of Korea, between the proportion of older persons in rural and urban areas, with elderly rural dwellers outnumbering urban by 15-18%. Bulgaria was also one of ten countries in which people aged 60 or over constituted more than 25% of the total rural population.

Bulgaria ranked 7th in the world for the oldest median age, with an average age of 41,5 in 2009 and 5th for the percentage of population over the age of 60 – 24,2%.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!