site.btaInfant Mortality in Bulgaria Is Declining but Remains Way above EU Average

Bulgaria shows progress in reducing child mortality, but the rate remains significantly higher than the European Union average, according to the latest report of the United Nations Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation for 2022, released by the UNICEF-Bulgaria press office on Wednesday.

Infant mortality in Bulgaria declined significantly between 2000 and 2022, with the under-five mortality rate falling from 18 per 1,000 to 5 per 1,000. For children under one year, it is 4.8‰, which, despite positive downward trends, remains significantly higher than the EU average of 3.2‰ in 2021, the report said.

It points out that there are significant regional disparities in the indicator, with some districts, such as Sliven and Montana, more than twice the national average.

"Data for Bulgaria shows significant progress in reducing infant mortality over the past decades. However, Bulgaria is far below the average rates in the EU, and serious investment is needed in the system of primary health care, including the introduction of the system of patronage care in the community, which to reach all children and families in need," said Christina de Bruin, representative of UNICEF in Bulgaria.