Economy, jobs and prices in Sofia, Bulgaria: official figures
Labour offices in Stolichna (Sofia) municipality had 10,958 registered unemployed people on average in 2024, a registered unemployment level of 1.7% against 5.2% nationally, the lowest of 6 cities.
How many hotels are there in Sofia?
Stolichna (Sofia) municipality had 154 accommodation establishments with 15,701 bed-places in 2024, and they welcomed 1,185,345 overnight visitors.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Sofia?
The unemployment rate in Sofia was 2.1% in 2022 (1.9% for women, 2.3% for men).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat are the main jobs in Sofia?
1,015,863 jobs were based in Sofia in 2023; the biggest employers were trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (29% of jobs) and public administration, education and health (17%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Sofia?
Tourist accommodation in Sofia recorded 744,965 nights in 2020, 55% by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Of the registered unemployed in Sofia in 2024, 10.8% were aged 29 or under and 2.0% had been registered for more than a year (national shares 11.1% and 20.4%). Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- Accommodation in Sofia earned 251 million leva from 2,267,902 nights spent in 2024, about 110 leva per night against 87 leva across Bulgaria. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- People of working age made up 63.2% of the population of Stolichna (Sofia) municipality at the end of 2024, compared with 58.5% nationally. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 68% of residents of Sofia were satisfied with public transport. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 62% of residents of Sofia agreed that it is easy to find a good job in the city. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
How Sofia compares with other cities in Bulgaria
Registered unemployment level (%) (2024)
Sofia ranks 6 of 6, highest first. Average annual number of unemployed registered at labour offices as a share of the labour force
| Rank | City | Registered unemployment level (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ruse | 3.2% |
| 2 | Burgas | 2.9% |
| 3 | Plovdiv | 2.8% |
| 4 | Stara Zagora | 2.6% |
| 5 | Varna | 2.4% |
| 6 | Sofia | 1.7% |
Accommodation revenue per night spent (leva) (2024)
Sofia ranks 1 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | City | Accommodation revenue per night spent (leva) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sofia | 110 |
| 2 | Varna | 93 |
| 3 | Burgas | 81 |
| 4 | Plovdiv | 74 |
| 5 | Ruse | 70 |
| 6 | Stara Zagora | 68 |
Unemployment rate (2022)
Sofia ranks 1 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sofia | 2.1% |
| 2 | Plovdiv | 2.1% |
| 3 | Varna | 2.1% |
| 4 | Burgas | 2.1% |
| 5 | Ruse | 2.1% |
| 6 | Stara Zagora | 2.1% |
Tourist nights (2020)
Sofia ranks 2 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | City | Tourist nights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Varna | 1,725,438 |
| 2 | Sofia | 744,965 |
| 3 | Plovdiv | 238,022 |
| 4 | Burgas | 208,676 |
| 5 | Ruse | 81,112 |
| 6 | Stara Zagora | 61,071 |
More on Sofia: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · all cities in Bulgaria
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctour: Urban Audit: culture and tourism (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 235d13e6125c…)
- National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI): Regions, districts and municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria 2024 (yearbook tables by statistical region, district and municipality), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81cba27bb0cc…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_percep: Quality of life in European cities survey 2023: perception (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81bd3e277f3e…)
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