Poverty and living standards in Shumen (Severoiztochen, Bulgaria): official figures
The at-risk-of-poverty rate in Shumen district was 19.7% in the 2025 survey (poverty line of the district itself), 12th highest of 28 districts; Bulgaria's rate was 21.2%.
What is the poverty line in Shumen district?
The at-risk-of-poverty threshold for a single person in Shumen was 9,062 leva a year in the 2025 survey (about 755 leva a month, based on 2024 incomes), 87% of the national threshold of 10,400 leva.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Shumen district?
The richest fifth of households in Shumen had 5.1 times the income of the poorest fifth in the 2025 survey, and the Gini coefficient was 30.9 (Bulgaria: 7.0 times and 37.7).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Shumen district?
Shumen district recorded 10.6 registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 people in 2024 (1,587 in all), 13th lowest of 28 districts against a national rate of 11.6.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many pensioners are there in Shumen district?
50,522 pensioners lived in Shumen at the end of 2024, equal to 33.8% of its population against 31.5% nationally (10th lowest of 28 districts).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many homes are there in Shumen district?
Shumen district had 90,001 dwellings at the end of 2024, 603 per 1,000 residents, up 1.1% since 2019.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyIs there water rationing in Shumen district?
In 2024, 10.79% of the population of Shumen lived under a water-supply regime (rationed supply), against 5.77% nationally; 59.0% were connected to public sewerage and 55.1% to wastewater treatment plants.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow big are homes in Shumen district?
Homes in Shumen offered 37.0 square metres of living floor space per resident at the end of 2024, 2nd least of 28 districts (national 42.6).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many new homes are built in Shumen district?
220 new dwellings were completed in Shumen in 2024, 1.47 per 1,000 residents compared with 3.26 for Bulgaria.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyMore figures
- The poverty rate in Shumen rose from 13.2% in the 2024 survey to 19.7% in 2025; in the 2019 survey it was 23.1%. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- 11.6% of the population of Shumen lived in severe material and social deprivation in 2025, and 23.3% were at risk of poverty or social exclusion (national 15.0% and 29.0%). Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- 58.3% of crimes against persons and property in Shumen were solved in 2024 (national 49.5%), and police uncovered 84 economic crimes causing 1.5 million leva of damage. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- Courts imposed penalties for 651 crimes committed in Shumen district in 2024 and convicted 533 people, 35.7 per 10,000 residents (national 33.9); 7.5% of those convicted were women. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
How Shumen compares with other provinces in Bulgaria
At-risk-of-poverty rate, regional poverty line (%) (2025)
Shumen ranks 12 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025 (2024 incomes); each district measured against its own poverty threshold
| Rank | Area | At-risk-of-poverty rate, regional poverty line (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Veliko Tarnovo | 20.4% |
| 10 | Varna | 20.3% |
| 11 | Dobrich | 19.8% |
| 12 | Shumen | 19.7% |
| 13 | Plovdiv | 19.7% |
| 14 | Kardzhali | 19.7% |
| 15 | Montana | 19.4% |
At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year) (2025)
Shumen ranks 17 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025 (2024 incomes)
| Rank | Area | At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Yambol | 9,283 |
| 15 | Dobrich | 9,232 |
| 16 | Smolyan | 9,102 |
| 17 | Shumen | 9,062 |
| 18 | Lovech | 9,006 |
| 19 | Pleven | 8,790 |
| 20 | Montana | 8,643 |
At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%) (2025)
Shumen ranks 23 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025
| Rank | Area | At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Lovech | 25.4% |
| 21 | Sofia (stolitsa) | 25.3% |
| 22 | Blagoevgrad | 25.1% |
| 23 | Shumen | 23.3% |
| 24 | Montana | 23.2% |
| 25 | Ruse | 22.0% |
| 26 | Smolyan | 20.7% |
Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents (2024)
Shumen ranks 16 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Pleven | 10.8 |
| 14 | Dobrich | 10.7 |
| 15 | Kyustendil | 10.7 |
| 16 | Shumen | 10.6 |
| 17 | Razgrad | 10.6 |
| 18 | Gabrovo | 10.5 |
| 19 | Haskovo | 10.1 |
Pensioners as a share of the population (%) (2024)
Shumen ranks 19 of 28, highest first. At 31 December 2024
| Rank | Area | Pensioners as a share of the population (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Targovishte | 34.4% |
| 17 | Dobrich | 34.2% |
| 18 | Haskovo | 34.1% |
| 19 | Shumen | 33.8% |
| 20 | Pazardzhik | 32.4% |
| 21 | Stara Zagora | 32.3% |
| 22 | Sofia | 30.2% |
Population under a water-supply regime (%) (2024)
Shumen ranks 6 of 28, highest first. Share of residents with rationed public water supply
| Rank | Area | Population under a water-supply regime (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Targovishte | 33.83% |
| 4 | Sliven | 17.80% |
| 5 | Pernik | 14.06% |
| 6 | Shumen | 10.79% |
| 7 | Gabrovo | 8.11% |
| 8 | Veliko Tarnovo | 6.77% |
| 9 | Kyustendil | 6.20% |
People convicted per 10,000 residents (2024)
Shumen ranks 17 of 28, highest first. By place where the crime was committed
| Rank | Area | People convicted per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Montana | 37.9 |
| 15 | Gabrovo | 37.5 |
| 16 | Burgas | 36.2 |
| 17 | Shumen | 35.7 |
| 18 | Ruse | 35.3 |
| 19 | Targovishte | 34.8 |
| 20 | Veliko Tarnovo | 34.2 |
Living floor space per resident (square metres) (2024)
Shumen ranks 27 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Living floor space per resident (square metres) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Silistra | 39.2 |
| 23 | Ruse | 38.6 |
| 24 | Sofia (stolitsa) | 37.9 |
| 25 | Plovdiv | 37.4 |
| 26 | Razgrad | 37.1 |
| 27 | Shumen | 37.0 |
| 28 | Sliven | 36.3 |
New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents (2024)
Shumen ranks 16 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Haskovo | 1.73 |
| 14 | Gabrovo | 1.59 |
| 15 | Pleven | 1.53 |
| 16 | Shumen | 1.47 |
| 17 | Yambol | 1.37 |
| 18 | Veliko Tarnovo | 1.30 |
| 19 | Sliven | 1.25 |
More on Shumen: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government and politics · Severoiztochen · Bulgaria
Sources
- 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…)
- National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI): Poverty and Social Inclusion Indicators by District, survey years 2008-2025 (EU-SILC), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cc02ad48dd42…)
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