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

Bulgaria marks record low birth rate in 2017

Photo: Geo Kalev

In 2017 a total of 57 175 babies were born in Bulgaria. This way Bulgaria has marked a record-low birth rate for the whole period after 1945.

In the period January 2017 to January 2018, babies born in this country were nearly 8,000 less than in 2016. Most of the children were born in Sofia and the lowest number of babies born was recorded in the regions of Vidin and Yambol.

Second place after Sofia, when it comes to birthrate was observed in Plovdiv, according to data from the Birth Information System of the Bulgarian Ministry of Healthcare. Experts say that among the factors contributing to low birth rate are low incomes, changed model of values, as well as high labor migration rates among young people.

In an interview with the Bulgarian National Radio, Professor Elitsa Dimitrova from the Institute of Population and Human Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences said that the way to increasing birth rates went through investment in the general well-being of the society, as well as in employment.



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

Bulgaria’s defence industry offers opportunities for successful partnerships, President Rumen Radev says

“Bulgaria’s defence industry is renowned for its quality and enjoys an excellent international reputation. This offers great opportunities for close cooperation with Vietnam in the security sector,” President Rumen Radev said during a visit to the..

published on 10/24/25 3:11 PM

Cabinet to reallocate security service cars to President’s administration

The Council of Ministers has proposed transferring vehicles from the National Security Service (NSO) to the Presidential Administration through a legislative change, Bulgaria National Radio reporter Tsvetelina Stoyanova reported. This would not put a..

published on 10/24/25 2:04 PM
Vasil Levski Airport in Sofia

Regular flights from Sofia to the US expected from spring 2026

The first regular direct flights between Bulgaria and the United States are expected to begin in April 2026, Transport and Communications Minister Grozdan Karadzhov said during the national discussion “Tourism and Air Connectivity: Traditional..

published on 10/24/25 1:45 PM