High Risk of Poverty or Social Exclusion for People in Bulgaria – Report

Bulgaria has highest percentage in the European Union (EU) of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion – 41.3%, media giant Bertelsmann says in a report.

One-third of the Bulgarians have no resources to cover basic needs, necessary for normal life, according to the report.

In addition, in two of six dimensions of social justice, our country ranks last. These are the prevention of poverty, social inclusion and non-discrimination.

Meanwhile, Bulgaria is among the countries that set aside the lowest amount of funding for science and innovation. There is a large proportion of people who neither study nor work in Bulgaria.

The report said, that according to last year's report 24% of young people aged between 20-24 years are not engaged with anything. In the EU the average level is about 17.3% in the group of 20-24 years old, in Italy- 31.1%, Greece 26.1%, while in Spain the percentage is 22.

Bertelsmann made also a few statements according to which 34.2% of people in Bulgaria do not have enough money to cover their daily needs, such as heating their apartment or paying their phone bills. The highest risk is for the elderly and children.

The group of retirees 51.8% are at risk of poverty, while 40.9% of them suffer from serious material deprivation.

Nevertheless, the study of Bertelsmann says that there are some positive trends - an increase in employment compared to the peak of the financial crisis in 2013. At the same time, the  number of working people who are poor is growing. In particular, the effects of the economic recovery did not succeed to give benefits to children. The highest risk is for countries in southern Europe.

The lowest percentage of people at risk of poverty is in the Czech Republic (14%), Sweden (16%), Finland and the Netherlands (16.8%).

In conclusion, in all 28 EU member states, opportunities for children and young people for social inclusion remain below pre-crisis levels. Particularly serious is the situation in several affected by the financial crisis countries, such as Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal, where one in three children is at risk.

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