The information provided in this Country Profile reflects the situation at the end of May 2021. Country profiles look at key indicators across all the countries involved in the campaign and identify gaps in national data and evidence on early childhood.
Bulgaria is the poorest country in the European Union (EU), with more than one-third of children living at risk of poverty (over 570.000 according to Eurostat, 2018). The country also has the second-highest infant mortality in the EU, with the probability of a child dying between birth and five years of age 70% higher than the EU average (Eurostat, 2020).
Over the past few years, early childhood development (ECD) has received the government’s increased attention with important progress made in delivering ECD policies and supporting families with young children by bringing together the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, and the Social Assistance Agency. However, ECD policies and services are still fragmented. Better mechanisms are needed for effective coordination, both at the national and local levels.
