DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES AND INEQUALITIES: REGIONAL DIFFERENCES WITH A FOCUS ON RURAL AREA IN BULGARIA.

The goal of the paper is to analyze and evaluate the demographic development trends in Bulgaria as well as to identify demographically problematic rural areas and the consequences of their development. Based on information from the National Statistical Institute, the demographic processes in the rural areas of Bulgaria for the period 2011-2021 are analyzed. The obtained results show the high rate of population decline in some regions of Bulgaria and the unfavorable values of the coefficients for demographic dependence and replacement. Rural areas of our country are experiencing faster depopulation than cities. This leads to significant territorial disparities in the manifestation of the observed processes. The last part emphasizes the need to implement regional demographic policies aimed at stimulating families with children and reforming professional education. It is also recommended to implement a proactive immigration policy to attract Bulgarians living abroad and immigrants from third countries with the necessary educational and professional qualifications to reduce the negative effects of the labor shortage in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]