314,718 people are living together without having entered in an official marriage
One of the crucial demographic features of the country is the instability of the Bulgarian family, the Minister of Labour and Social Policy Emiliya Maslarova announced today at a discussion on the
demographic problems in Bulgaria. Fourteen years ago the percentage of illegitimate children was 12.4, jumping to the present 48.7%, Minister Emilia Maslarova has revealed. According to census in
2001, 314,718 people live together without having entered in an official marriage, she added. More couples choose to live without exchanging vows, and the number of divorces is also growing,
totalling 14,669 in 2004, which exceeds by 2,666 the number for 2003. Families living in larger urban areas are more likely to divorce, figures show. According to Minister Maslarova, demographic
problems are determined not only by the birth- and mortality-rates, but also by the quality of living. She emphasized on the importance of the educational structure of the society, which she
described as deteriorated. The Minister called on the representatives of the minority groups present to try and find ways to increase the quality of life of the minorities via education and to give
up the ‘profession’ of ‘living under the poverty line’. The ministry of Labour and Social Policy has allocated a considerable amount for the education of 2,500 gypsies and training of 40,000
people, a big part of which belonged to the minority groups, Emiliya Maslarova added.
