Abstract
For the last thirty years, Bulgaria has been gripped by a demographic crisis, which has led to a rapid decrease in the number of the population. This is due to the demographic transformation and the country entering the fourth stage of the demographic transition. To it we can add the large migration flows, characteristic of the economic crisis during the transition. The aim is to analyze the deteriorating demographic indicators, which are closely related to the socio-economic problems in Bulgaria. The methods used allow population projections to be made, which are also unfavourable. The deepening of the negative demographic processes, which leads to an acute labour shortage, difficult functioning of the social systems, ethnic change of the population and depopulation of significant territories of the country, has been traced. The need for a more effective demographic policy and adequate intervention by the state is shown.