Economy, jobs and prices in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria: official figures
The registered unemployment level in Stara Zagora municipality averaged 2.6% in 2024 (1,717 people on the labour office register), 3rd lowest of 6 cities; the national level was 5.2%.
How many hotels are there in Stara Zagora?
Stara Zagora municipality had 33 accommodation establishments with 2,238 bed-places in 2024, and they welcomed 94,761 overnight visitors.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Stara Zagora?
The unemployment rate in Stara Zagora was 2.1% in 2022 (1.9% for women, 2.3% for men).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat are the main jobs in Stara Zagora?
55,976 jobs were based in Stara Zagora in 2023; the biggest employers were trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (29% of jobs) and industry and energy (25%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Stara Zagora?
Tourist accommodation in Stara Zagora recorded 61,071 nights in 2020, 17% by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Of the registered unemployed in Stara Zagora in 2024, 11.1% were aged 29 or under and 4.2% 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 Stara Zagora earned 12.1 million leva from 177,966 nights spent in 2024, about 68 leva per night against 87 leva across Bulgaria. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- People of working age made up 58.7% of the population of Stara Zagora municipality at the end of 2024, compared with 58.5% nationally. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
How Stara Zagora compares with other cities in Bulgaria
Registered unemployment level (%) (2024)
Stara Zagora ranks 4 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)
Stara Zagora ranks 6 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)
Stara Zagora ranks 6 of 6, highest first.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyTourist nights (2020)
Stara Zagora ranks 6 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 Stara Zagora: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.