A quarter of Bulgarians live on the edge of poverty

Bulgaria has one of the highest inflation rates in the European Union. The rising prices without any rising wages push more and more Bulgarians into poverty. For example, the prices of food stuffs in the country has gone up 7.6 percent, while rent and household has gone up 20 percent.

More facts and figures are presented in this story from Sofia Echo.

In 2008, the cost of life in Bulgaria has gone up by 14 per cent, which is the highest rise registered over the past eight years, Sega daily reported on January 22 2009 citing data provided by the Institute for Trade Union and Social Research (ITUSR).

One four-member household needs 1895 leva a month to cover basic expenses for food, utilities, clothing, education and short holidays. This would roughly make 474 leva a person. Sega daily cited national statistics indicating that only 15.2 per cent of Bulgarian families live with more than 450 a person monthly allowance.

To physically survive, one person needs 185 leva, according to ITUSR. National Statistical Institute released data showing that by November 2008, 22 per cent of Bulgarian households live below that minimum.

“At the beginning of 2008, food prices increased as a direct result from the tendencies on the food exchange market, later the gas prices increased,” Lyuben Tomev from ITUSR said as quoted by Sega daily. Although Tomev said he expected prices to rise slower, “the inflation would remain way above the EU average."

Eurostat research, cited by the newspaper, showed that in 2008, inflation rate in Bulgaria was 12 per cent, which has placed the country second in the category of intensive cost of life increased. First was Latvia with annual inflation rate of 15.3 per cent. In comparison, the average inflation rate in the EU is 3.7 per cent.

Another factor affecting the living standard in Bulgaria is the salary. The country occupies the bottom with minimal wage floor of 112 euro (218 leva). Usual expenses for a child vary from 261 leva to 445 leva.

Bulgaria's Pensioners Risk Poverty

from Sofia Echo

The risk of poverty among people above 65 years was 18 per cent, while for those over 75 it was 27.4 per cent, Labour and Social Policy Ministry Expert Dragomir Draganov said at a conference on the ageing population.

In comparison, in 2005, the risk for people aged over 65 was 17.5 per cent and for those over 75, 20.3 per cent.

Meglena Vesselinova from the Ministry said that a quarter of Bulgaria's pensioners were over 75-years-old. Effective care for the ageing population of the country was needed, she said. In 2008, nearly two billion leva would be allocated from the state budget to cover shortages in state public insurance.

Bulgarian Red Cross head Hristo Grigorov said there were 2.5 million pensioners in Bulgaria, most of them lived under the existence minimum and needed help.

Andrew Humphreys, expert in the HelpAge International organisation, said that the quick ageing of the population was a general problem in the EU. Most of the EU population was aged between 45 and 65. The longer life-expectancy was something that people should be proud of, but it made them face new challenges, he said. Ageing would disappear as a phenomenon, but it would take years.

Until 2050, the number of people between 70 and 80 years-old in the EU would grow and pensioners would make up 30 per cent of society, Humphreys said.

39% of Bulgarians Below the Poverty Threshold

from International News Bulgaria

388 BGN (190 EUR) is the support money per person in a 4 member family in the first 3 months of 2007. 1552 BGN (760 BGN) is the necessary monthly sum for a family with two kids for their major needs.

Unfortunately just 1/4 of the Bulgarian households dispose of this earnings, which includes the hidden incomes.

Bulgarians spend mostly for food and maintenance of their homes.

In the first 3 months of this year is notices increase of prices of main food products like: bread, milk, rice, flour, cheese.

The calculated support money for a kid is round 150 BGN (75 EUR). The allowance for children between 14 and 18 years-old goes to 360 BGN (180 EUR).

Poverty limit is 153 BGN (75 EUR) and round 39% of the Bulgarians stand below the poverty threshold.

Bulgaria Marks World AIDS Day with 677 HIV-Positive

from The Sofia News Agency

Bulgaria marks this year's World AIDS Day with information campaigns across the country, part of a nationwide initiative for HIV/AIDS prevention.

Bulgaria's HIV-positive patients on record grew to 677 in November, up by 76 since the beginning of the year, latest figures show.

Though experts suppose the actual number of the infected exceeds that figure, AIDS is not an epidemic of catastrophic proportions for a population of approximately 8 million.

The lethal disease has been spreading mostly among men, younger people and residents of larger cities. HIV has already crossed into the mainstream population and take its toll among people from all ages, social groups and professions.

In over 90% percent of the cases the disease has been transmitted through sexual contacts. In this form the disease knows no age limits - unprotected sex inflicts with HIV people aged from 16 till 70.

Bulgaria's young pay a high price for being the first generation to have lived so far without the strict restrictions of the former totalitarian regime, often without any clear vision for the future and often in poverty. More than 70% of HIV infections are among 20-39 years old and the spread of the virus is particularly severe among young intravenous drug users. The youngest is aged 16.

Bulgaria is considered to have a relatively low number of HIV positive people presently, and health officials say efforts must focus on prevention.

The government seems to try hard to address the issue. As early as 2001 the National Strategy and the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of AIDS was adopted to cover the period from 2001-2007.