Πέμπτη 21 Απριλίου 2011

Abstract


Minority issues have been the focus of several governments as part of their internal affairs and simultaneously as branch of foreign policy between the host country and the country of origin of the minority groups.  My essay deals with the assimilation and integration policies that were used by the Bulgarian state towards two minority groups: the Roma and the ethnic Turks; in retrospection, these policies were meant to be if not beneficial at least harmless to the interests of the state.  The formulas used for this purpose though have varied considerably throughout history, since they have always depended upon the existing social context and political framework.  It would be interesting to examine the variation in the integrating and assimilating mechanisms adopted by the Bulgarian state in both the Communist and Post-Communist Bulgaria, which have been interrelated with the current trends in each period.  

Τετάρτη 20 Απριλίου 2011

Comments on the 2011 Bulgarian Census regarding population data


I was anticipating the results of the latest statistics of the 2011 Bulgarian Census, so that I could use -in an essay on Bulgarian minorities I am working on- relevant references and statistical data on ethnic groups that comprise the Bulgarian population. Taking into consideration the previous census conducted in Bulgaria, I expected to see something similar regarding the variation in ethnic group presence.  To my surprise, there was no hint about ethnic groups in this one at all –at least concerning the results released so far, I don’t know or rather I doubt that anything else would be added.  Below one can see data about population by districts and ethnic group from the 2001 Bulgarian Census and then the population research categories in the 2011 Bulgarian Census.  The only reference to non-Bulgarian people is in the “PERMANENT RESIDENT FOREIGNERS IN BULGARIA BY CITIZENSHIP AS OF 31.12.” that concerns the period from 2004 up to 2009!  With the voices of ethnic Turks and Roma being too “loud” to be ignored and with an abstract definition of minorities provided by the international law failing to apply in many cases, the Bulgarian state officially disregards a reality that cannot be denied. With this practice continuing and by banning the creation of political parties of ethnic composition, it seems that the diverse ethnic identities become an ideal to fight for.  The MRF (Movement for Rights and Freedom) is a political party consisting mostly of ethnic Turks that based on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (part of the European Law) performs against any act of discrimination of that kind.  Consequently, both the Bulgarian state and the ethnic/national minorities use their own tools to achieve their goals, playing though in a broader field framed by the European Council’s decisions and under its observation.
   Before the data of the census, a small comment is provided from the European Free Alliance Youth webpage:
 

National Census forms fail to acknowledge Bulgaria’s and Albania’s minority populations

The democratic values of the EU have been compromised with the upcoming census in Bulgaria. The column for Macedonian ethnicity has been erased from the census form after some of the experts from the National Statistics Institute included it in the online trial version of the census (alongside with a column for the other smaller minorities in Bulgaria). Due to the tensed atmosphere that arouse in Bulgarian society, five experts were dismissed following a thorough investigation ordered by the Prime Minister. At the same time, a cabinet minister openly agitated against the freedom of citizens to determine their own ethnicity and nobody from the Government reacted. The fact that Government officials speak openly against the Macedonian identity (please read the comments of Mr. Bozidar Dimitrov) as well as the fact that many Macedonians have been threatened after deciding to express their identity during the last Census in 2001 creates an atmosphere of fear and sends the message that being a Macedonian in Bulgaria is forbidden and could be punished. This is the main reason why the number of people who identify as Macedonians in Bulgaria has dropped significantly in 2001 compared to the Census in 1992. In 2001, in some parts of the country, the Census forms were filled out with a pencil which left space for manipulation and modification of the data.  This eloquently illustrates the fact that the policies of assimilation and denial are still part of the official political agenda of the Bulgarian Government...
There are several documents that regulate Population and housing censuses in the EU but they do not oblige the EU countries to include the different ethnic identities and languages in the Census form. The proposed topics do not give a clear picture of the structure of the population. Acknowledging the presence of minorities and stateless nations through the Census is crucial to the preservation of the democratic values of the EU. It is important to mention that the Annex of the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council under recommended topics mentioned and included notions of ethnicity and language. However these notions do not appear in the adopted Regulation.(source:http://europeanfreeallianceyouth.wordpress.com/2011/01/26/national-census-forms-fail-to-acknowledge-bulgaria%E2%80%99s-and-albania%E2%80%99s-minority-populations)

 

POPULATION BY DISTRICTS AND ETHNIC GROUP AS OF 1.03.2001

Districts
Total
Bulgarian
Turkish
Gypsies
Other
Not stated
Unknown
Total
7 928 901
6 655 210
746 664
370 908
69 204
62 108
24 807
Blagoevgrad
341 173
286 491
31 857
12 405
5 519
4 242
659
Burgas
423 547
338 625
58 636
19 439
3 728
1 919
1 200
Varna
462 013
393 884
37 502
15 462
9 866
3 830
1 469
Veliko Tarnovo
293 172
259 099
22 562
6 064
2 495
2 014
938
Vidin
130 074
118 543
139
9 786
528
553
525
Vratsa
243 036
223 692
2 000
14 899
608
984
853
Gabrovo
144 125
131 494
9 109
1 611
939
615
357
Dobrich
215 217
164 204
28 231
18 649
1 588
1 854
691
Kurdzhali
164 019
55 939
101 116
1 264
385
4 565
750
Kyustendil
162 534
152 644
146
8 294
416
508
526
Lovech
169 951
152 194
8 476
6 316
891
1 522
552
Montana
182 258
157 507
235
22 784
649
322
761
Pazardzhik
310 723
261 260
20 448
23 970
1 461
2 978
606
Pernik
149 832
145 642
108
3 035
375
270
402
Pleven
311 985
280 475
16 931
9 777
1 702
2 135
965
Plovdiv
715 816
621 338
52 499
30 196
7 274
2 869
1 640
Razgrad
152 417
67 069
71 963
8 733
1 444
2 739
469
Ruse
266 157
213 408
37 050
9 703
3 076
2 071
849
Silistra
142 000
84 178
48 761
6 478
1 461
656
466
Sliven
218 474
163 188
22 971
26 777
3 193
1 597
748
Smolyan
140 066
122 806
6 212
686
250
9 696
416
Sofia-cap.
1 170 842
1 124 240
6 036
17 885
13 652
4 645
4 384
Sofia
273 240
253 536
654
16 748
821
661
820
Stara Zagora
370 615
319 379
18 529
26 804
2 400
2 308
1 195
Targovishte
137 689
76 294
49 495
9 868
324
1 259
449
Haskovo
277 478
224 757
31 266
17 089
1 143
2 302
921
Shumen
204 378
123 084
59 551
16 457
2 344
2 350
592
Yambol
156 070
140 240
4 181
9 729
672
644
604

Published on 05.01.2004  http://www.nsi.bg/Census_e/Census_e.htm

2011 Bulgarian Census – National Statistical Institute (categories)
1. Fertility
                                                               
1.1. Births                                             
                               
1.1.1. Births by place of residence, statistical regions, districts and sex
                               
1.1.2. Mean age of the mother at birth by place of residence, statistical regions and districts
               
1.2. Live births                                    
                               
1.2.1. Live births by districts, municipalities and sex
                               
1.2.2.Marital and extra-marital live births by districts, municipalities and place of residence
                               
1.2.3.Live births by districts, municipalities and mother’s age
               
1.3. Birth rates                                     
                               
1.3.1. Crude birth rate by statistical regions, districts and place of residence
                               
1.3.2. Total fertility rate by statistical regions, districts and place of residence
               
2. Mortality
                                               
2.1. Deaths by districts, municipalities and sex
               
2.2. Deaths by districts, age, place of residence and sex
               
2.3. Infant deaths under 1 year of age by districts, municipalities and sex
               
2.4. Infant deaths under 1 year of age by statistical regions, districts, completed days and sex
               
2.5. Crude death and infant mortality rates by place of residence, statistical regions, districts and sex
               
3. Mortality and life expectancy                                     
               
3.1. Mortality and life expectancy by sex and place of residence
               
3.2. Life expectancy by sex and age under hypotheses for exclusion of the basic causes for death
               
3.3. Probabilities for dying by sex, age and basic causes of death
               
3.4. Life expectancy by districts and sex
               
4. Marriages and divorces                                 
               
4.1. Marriages                                     
                               
4.1.1. Marriages by districts and place of residence
                               
4.1.2. Marriages by place of residence and partners’ age
                               
4.1.3. Marriages by place of residence and partners’ marital status before the marriage

4.1.4. Marriages by place of residence and rank
                               
4.1.5. Marriages by districts and partners’ age
                               
4.1.6. Marriages by districts and partners’ marital status before the marriage
                               
4.1.7. Marriages by districts and rank
               
4.2. Divorces                                        
                               
4.2.1. Divorces by districts and place of residence
                               
4.2.2. Divorces by place of residence and age of the ex-spouses
                               
4.2.3. Divorces by place of residence and ex-spouses’ previous marital status
                               
4.2.4. Divorces by place of residence and rank
                               
4.2.5. Divorces by districts and age of the ex-spouses
                               
4.2.6. Divorces by districts and ex-spouses’ previous marital status
                               
4.2.7. Divorces by districts and rank
               
5. Migration                                         
               
5.1. Mechanical movement of the population by districts, municipalities and sex
               
5.2. Mechanical movement of the population by place of residence, districts, reasons and sex
               
5.3. Mechanical movement of the population by place of residence, districts, age and sex
               
5.4. Internal migration of the population between statistical regions by sex
               
5.5. Internal migration of the population between towns and villages by sex
               
5.6. Mechanical movement of the population between districts
               
5.7. External migration by age and sex
               
5.8. Permanent resident foreigners in Bulgaria by citizenship
               
6. Population and demographic projections                                 
               
6.1. Population                                    
                               
6.1.1. Population by districts, municipalities, place of residence and sex
                               
6.1.2. Population by statistical regions, age, place of residence and sex
                               
6.1.3. Population by districts, age, place of residence and sex
                               
6.1.4. Population by towns and sex
                               
6.1.5. Average annual population by districts, municipalities and place of residence
                               
6.1.6. Average annual population by statistical regions, districts, place of residence and sex
                               
6.1.7. Natural movement of the population by districts, municipalities and sex
                               
6.1.8. Natural increase per 1 000 persons of the population by statistical regions, districts and place of residence
                               
6.1.9. Residence structure, sex ratio and age dependency ratio
               
6.2. Population projections
                                                                               
6.2.1. Population projections by sex and age
                               
6.2.2. Population projections by districts and sex


Population – Table data

PERMANENT RESIDENT FOREIGNERS1 IN BULGARIA BY CITIZENSHIP AS OF 31.12.
Citizenship
Permanent resident foreigners

As of 31.12.2004
As of 31.12.2005
As of 31.12.2006
As of 31.12.2007
As of 31.12.2008
As of 31.12.2009







Total
50756
53197
55653
63615
66806
69423







Europe
35437
37051
38988
44261
47106
49379
EU - 27
5690
5949
6245
6861
6904
6948
Austria
119
145
176
185
187
189
Belgium
47
57
62
63
66
69
UK
196
226
269
290
292
304
Germany
1228
1295
1372
1402
1407
1411
Greece
814
837
892
937
955
963
Denmark
28
30
33
34
34
34
Estonia
8
7
7
9
10
11
Ireland
15
18
18
23
23
23
Spain
33
36
41
45
45
45
Italy
317
341
358
379
382
388
Cyprus
82
80
80
84
85
85
Latvia
25
28
29
35
35
35
Lithuania
41
39
41
43
43
43
Luxembourg
2
2
2
2
2
2
Malta
1
1
1
1
1
1
Netherlands
82
88
103
107
107
109
Poland
1538
1558
1564
1657
1659
1660
Portugal
17
17
17
18
19
19
Romania2
.
.
.
338
339
341
Slovakia
182
189
196
198
199
200
Slovenia
17
16
16
18
18
18
Hungary
214
225
227
234
234
234
Finland
34
34
38
39
39
40
France
121
132
143
149
151
151
Czech Republic
467
485
493
504
505
506
Sweden
62
63
67
67
67
67
Other EU
29747
31102
32743
37400
40202
42431
   of which:






Albania
99
113
142
198
229
265
Belarus
283
306
326
351
362
377
Bosnia and Herzegovina
46
47
48
50
58
63
The former Yugoslav Rep. of Macedonia
821
918
1115
2188
4375
5507
Moldova, Republic of
1643
1626
1703
2071
2203
2403
Norway
43
39
43
45
45
46
Romania2
267
290
307
.
.
.
Russian Federation
18639
18947
19216
21171
21309
21483
Serbia
1068
1116
1121
1326
355
593
Turkey
1880
2583
3361
3778
3828
4092
Ukraine
4500
4659
4861
5263
5350
5514
Croatia
43
43
43
50
49
53
Switzerland
58
66
75
83
83
83







Asia
7060
7700
8162
9308
9623
9888
Armenia
873
1018
1142
1268
1322
1380
Viet Nam
796
832
867
1033
1043
1040
Iraq
359
366
369
430
437
443
China
1081
1421
1581
1785
1934
2011
Lebanon
794
817
832
913
932
953
Syrian Arabic Republic
1617
1648
1690
1929
1945
1987
Other Asia
1540
1598
1681
1950
2010
2074







Africa
546
562
591
611
627
651
Algeria
80
79
85
89
90
91
Egypt
75
86
89
94
102
106
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
39
42
37
36
34
38
Morocco
50
49
50
51
56
57
Nigeria
87
86
91
92
92
96
Tunisia
43
45
50
46
46
47
Other Africa
172
175
189
203
207
216







America
618
669
732
821
838
890
Canada
38
41
40
43
45
49
Cuba
157
158
160
200
203
204
Nicaragua
55
55
54
58
57
58
Peru
20
19
22
24
23
25
United States of America
221
273
332
360
374
412
Chile
27
28
27
27
27
27
Other America
100
95
97
109
109
115







Australia and New Zealand
30
34
39
39
44
48
Stateless
1749
1896
1903
2157
2167
2171
ex-USSR
5316
5285
5238
6404
6386
6372
Unknown citizenship
-
-
-
13
14
23
Release from citizenship
-
-
-
1
1
1
Ministry of interior is the sourse of date on the permanent resident foreigners in Bulgaria

2 Romania has been a member of the EU since 2007