Definition of Youth
The National Youth Strategy (2010-2020) defines young people as aged 15 - 29 years, according to "international and European standards for youth work."
Marriageable Age
- Opposite Sex
- Same Sex
- Without parental consent
- with parental consent
- Male
- 18
- 16
- --
Candidacy Age
- Lower House
- 21 Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
- Upper House
- --
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
Unicameral.
Situation of Young People
Literacy Rates
- 98.21% Male (15-24) %
- 97.78% Female (15-24) %
- Year: 2015
- Source: UNESCO
Net Enrolment Rate
Secondary School- 86.06%Male %
- 84.47% Female %
- Year: 2012
- Source: UNESCO
Situation of Young People
Tobacco Use
Consumed any smokeless or smoking tobacco product at least once 30 days prior to the survey.- 26.40% Male (13-15) %
- 31.80% Female (13-15) %
- Year: 2010
- Source: WHO
Policy & Legislation
The youth law (2012), “determines the main principles, management and financing of the activities conducted for implementation of the state youth policy.” It covers youth work, youth organisations, volunteering, youth policy and information. The national youth strategy 2010-2020 outlines the situation for young people and details nine strategic aims including:
- Economic activity and career Development;
- Improving the access to information and quality services;
- Promoting healthy lifestyle;
- Social exclusion,
- Volunteering;
- Participation;
- Rural development
- Intercultural dialogue;
- Crime prevention.
Public Institutions
(ministry, department or office) that is primarily responsible for youth?
Youth and Representation
The dialogue with young people at national, regional, district and local level on matters affecting them is not structured yet, unlike the established European models of representation through national, regional and local youth councils.
The ‘Implementation and Monitoring’ section (2.9) notes, however, that youth participation in public policy, "could be structured through youth councils.” Though the membership of the Bulgarian National Youth Council in the European Youth Forum was terminated in 2002 due to inactivity, attempts have been renewed to establish a national youth council.Budget & Spending
- % of GDP
- % of gov. expenditure
Source: World Bank
Additional Background
Young people have always been considered a group at the margin of the Bulgarian labour market. They did not manage to escape from this unenviable position even during the 11 consecutive years of economic growth, mainly due to structural constraints, such as insufficient qualifications, skills, experience and social capital. Predictably, young people have suffered a disproportionately severe blow from the recession, leading to exceptionally high levels of unemployment and inactivity and low rates of labour market participation and employment. The economic crisis has added powerful cyclical factors to the structural ones.
The Report on the study visit to Bulgaria (2005) critically reflects on youth policy and civil society in Bulgaria,Unfortunately relations with the government are difficult. Bureaucracy, lack of communication among the NGOs and the government, and the constantly changing labor force in the institutions are barriers that must be broken to achieve success.
The more prominent NGOs based in the capital city are forced to aid the smaller NGOs since the government is not willing to help them. The communication between NGOs and the government is more difficult for the organizations which are based out of Sofia. The local representatives are ineffective and unable to provide the needed information.
Many of the European programs are managed by corrupt governmental agencies. This causes NGOs to seek money from abroad and cooperate with strong European organizations. An example for that is our cooperation with European Bureau for Conscientious Objection.