Pathways Toward Demographic Resilience : An Evaluation of Bulgaria’s National Strategy for Demographic Development 2012 to 2030 - Overview

Overview & Synopsis

This report is an evaluation of Bulgaria’s National Strategy for Demographic Development 2012 to 2030 with the objective to help Bulgaria chart pathways toward demographic resilience. The report responds to a request from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (MoLSP) of Bulgaria for technical support to: (1) evaluate the Strategy with a focus on policy measures in the fields of family support, support for older persons, and reducing territorial disparities; and (2) identify concrete recommendations to improve policies and implementation of the Strategy. The demographic forces at play have produced advanced population aging, population decline, and an increasing geographic concentration of the population, in cities and certain regions of the country. Bulgaria’s demographic transformation poses significant challenges, necessitating a forceful and concerted public policy response. The National Strategy for Demographic Development 2012 to 2030 has the potential to be a key strategic document for Bulgaria to manage the consequences of its demographic transformation in a way that helps it to adapt to the challenges and to leverage the opportunities.