Poverty and living standards in Montana (Severozapaden, Bulgaria): official figures
19.4% of people in Montana district were at risk of poverty in the 2025 survey, measured against the district's own poverty line; the national rate was 21.2% and Montana ranks 14th lowest of 28 districts.
What is the poverty line in Montana district?
The at-risk-of-poverty threshold for a single person in Montana was 8,643 leva a year in the 2025 survey (about 720 leva a month, based on 2024 incomes), 83% of the national threshold of 10,400 leva.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Montana district?
The richest fifth of households in Montana had 7.1 times the income of the poorest fifth in the 2025 survey, and the Gini coefficient was 34.9 (Bulgaria: 7.0 times and 37.7).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Montana district?
Police registered 1,557 crimes against persons and property in Montana district in 2024, 13.8 per 1,000 residents (4th highest of 28 districts; national 11.6).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many pensioners are there in Montana district?
40,395 pensioners lived in Montana at the end of 2024, equal to 35.8% of its population against 31.5% nationally (12th highest of 28 districts).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many homes are there in Montana district?
Montana district had 92,748 dwellings at the end of 2024, 823 per 1,000 residents, up 1.8% since 2019.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyIs there water rationing in Montana district?
In 2024, 3.19% of the population of Montana lived under a water-supply regime (rationed supply), against 5.77% nationally; 58.8% were connected to public sewerage and 36.7% to wastewater treatment plants.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow big are homes in Montana district?
Homes in Montana offered 51.8 square metres of living floor space per resident at the end of 2024, 6th most of 28 districts (national 42.6).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many new homes are built in Montana district?
39 new dwellings were completed in Montana in 2024, 0.35 per 1,000 residents compared with 3.26 for Bulgaria.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyMore figures
- The poverty rate in Montana rose from 13.1% in the 2024 survey to 19.4% in 2025; in the 2019 survey it was 23.1%. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- 7.5% of the population of Montana lived in severe material and social deprivation in 2025, and 23.2% were at risk of poverty or social exclusion (national 15.0% and 29.0%). Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- 46.4% of crimes against persons and property in Montana were solved in 2024 (national 49.5%), and police uncovered 221 economic crimes causing 2.8 million leva of damage. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- Courts imposed penalties for 428 crimes committed in Montana district in 2024 and convicted 427 people, 37.9 per 10,000 residents (national 33.9); 8.4% of those convicted were women. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
How Montana compares with other provinces in Bulgaria
At-risk-of-poverty rate, regional poverty line (%) (2025)
Montana ranks 15 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Shumen | 19.7% |
| 13 | Plovdiv | 19.7% |
| 14 | Kardzhali | 19.7% |
| 15 | Montana | 19.4% |
| 16 | Burgas | 18.7% |
| 17 | Blagoevgrad | 18.5% |
| 18 | Vidin | 18.3% |
At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year) (2025)
Montana ranks 20 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025 (2024 incomes)
| Rank | Area | At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Shumen | 9,062 |
| 18 | Lovech | 9,006 |
| 19 | Pleven | 8,790 |
| 20 | Montana | 8,643 |
| 21 | Targovishte | 8,558 |
| 22 | Sliven | 8,402 |
| 23 | Haskovo | 8,340 |
At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%) (2025)
Montana ranks 24 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025
| Rank | Area | At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 27 | Gabrovo | 20.6% |
Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents (2024)
Montana ranks 4 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vratsa | 15.2 |
| 2 | Varna | 14.9 |
| 3 | Vidin | 14.2 |
| 4 | Montana | 13.8 |
| 5 | Burgas | 13.4 |
| 6 | Ruse | 13.2 |
| 7 | Lovech | 13.1 |
Pensioners as a share of the population (%) (2024)
Montana ranks 12 of 28, highest first. At 31 December 2024
| Rank | Area | Pensioners as a share of the population (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Lovech | 37.4% |
| 10 | Pleven | 37.3% |
| 11 | Pernik | 36.5% |
| 12 | Montana | 35.8% |
| 13 | Yambol | 34.7% |
| 14 | Veliko Tarnovo | 34.7% |
| 15 | Ruse | 34.7% |
Population under a water-supply regime (%) (2024)
Montana ranks 13 of 28, highest first. Share of residents with rationed public water supply
| Rank | Area | Population under a water-supply regime (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Blagoevgrad | 5.85% |
| 11 | Stara Zagora | 3.84% |
| 12 | Pazardzhik | 3.75% |
| 13 | Montana | 3.19% |
| 14 | Smolyan | 2.24% |
| 15 | Burgas | 2.04% |
| 16 | Vratsa | 1.85% |
People convicted per 10,000 residents (2024)
Montana ranks 14 of 28, highest first. By place where the crime was committed
| Rank | Area | People convicted per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Lovech | 42.6 |
| 12 | Pleven | 42.2 |
| 13 | Kyustendil | 38.9 |
| 14 | Montana | 37.9 |
| 15 | Gabrovo | 37.5 |
| 16 | Burgas | 36.2 |
| 17 | Shumen | 35.7 |
Living floor space per resident (square metres) (2024)
Montana ranks 6 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Living floor space per resident (square metres) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Lovech | 54.9 |
| 4 | Pernik | 52.8 |
| 5 | Burgas | 52.7 |
| 6 | Montana | 51.8 |
| 7 | Sofia | 51.8 |
| 8 | Smolyan | 51.7 |
| 9 | Gabrovo | 51.0 |
New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents (2024)
Montana ranks 26 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Razgrad | 0.46 |
| 23 | Kyustendil | 0.45 |
| 24 | Lovech | 0.45 |
| 25 | Smolyan | 0.44 |
| 26 | Montana | 0.35 |
| 27 | Silistra | 0.28 |
| 28 | Vidin | 0.20 |
More on Montana: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government and politics · Severozapaden · 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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