Poverty and living standards in Pleven (Severozapaden, Bulgaria): official figures
17.8% of people in Pleven 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 Pleven ranks 9th lowest of 28 districts.
What is the poverty line in Pleven district?
The at-risk-of-poverty threshold for a single person in Pleven was 8,790 leva a year in the 2025 survey (about 732 leva a month, based on 2024 incomes), 85% of the national threshold of 10,400 leva.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Pleven district?
The richest fifth of households in Pleven had 6.3 times the income of the poorest fifth in the 2025 survey, and the Gini coefficient was 32.2 (Bulgaria: 7.0 times and 37.7).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Pleven district?
Pleven district recorded 10.8 registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 people in 2024 (2,331 in all), 13th highest of 28 districts against a national rate of 11.6.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many pensioners are there in Pleven district?
80,314 pensioners lived in Pleven at the end of 2024, equal to 37.3% of its population against 31.5% nationally (10th highest of 28 districts).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many homes are there in Pleven district?
Pleven district had 144,752 dwellings at the end of 2024, 672 per 1,000 residents, up -1.4% since 2019.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyIs there water rationing in Pleven district?
In 2024, 51.14% of the population of Pleven lived under a water-supply regime (rationed supply), against 5.77% nationally; 60.5% were connected to public sewerage and 57.2% to wastewater treatment plants.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow big are homes in Pleven district?
Homes in Pleven offered 41.8 square metres of living floor space per resident at the end of 2024, 14th least of 28 districts (national 42.6).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many new homes are built in Pleven district?
329 new dwellings were completed in Pleven in 2024, 1.53 per 1,000 residents compared with 3.26 for Bulgaria.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyMore figures
- The poverty rate in Pleven rose from 14.4% in the 2024 survey to 17.8% in 2025; in the 2019 survey it was 14.3%. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- 26.0% of the population of Pleven lived in severe material and social deprivation in 2025, and 34.0% were at risk of poverty or social exclusion (national 15.0% and 29.0%). Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- 45.6% of crimes against persons and property in Pleven were solved in 2024 (national 49.5%), and police uncovered 193 economic crimes causing 836 thousand leva of damage. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- Courts imposed penalties for 965 crimes committed in Pleven district in 2024 and convicted 909 people, 42.2 per 10,000 residents (national 33.9); 10.3% of those convicted were women. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
How Pleven compares with other provinces in Bulgaria
At-risk-of-poverty rate, regional poverty line (%) (2025)
Pleven ranks 20 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Blagoevgrad | 18.5% |
| 18 | Vidin | 18.3% |
| 19 | Smolyan | 18.2% |
| 20 | Pleven | 17.8% |
| 21 | Pernik | 17.6% |
| 22 | Razgrad | 17.3% |
| 23 | Haskovo | 16.1% |
At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year) (2025)
Pleven ranks 19 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025 (2024 incomes)
| Rank | Area | At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Smolyan | 9,102 |
| 17 | Shumen | 9,062 |
| 18 | Lovech | 9,006 |
| 19 | Pleven | 8,790 |
| 20 | Montana | 8,643 |
| 21 | Targovishte | 8,558 |
| 22 | Sliven | 8,402 |
At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%) (2025)
Pleven ranks 6 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025
| Rank | Area | At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Stara Zagora | 37.7% |
| 4 | Veliko Tarnovo | 36.9% |
| 5 | Pazardzhik | 34.2% |
| 6 | Pleven | 34.0% |
| 7 | Targovishte | 33.9% |
| 8 | Kardzhali | 32.5% |
| 9 | Dobrich | 30.2% |
Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents (2024)
Pleven ranks 13 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Pernik | 11.3 |
| 11 | Veliko Tarnovo | 11.3 |
| 12 | Sliven | 11.1 |
| 13 | Pleven | 10.8 |
| 14 | Dobrich | 10.7 |
| 15 | Kyustendil | 10.7 |
| 16 | Shumen | 10.6 |
Pensioners as a share of the population (%) (2024)
Pleven ranks 10 of 28, highest first. At 31 December 2024
| Rank | Area | Pensioners as a share of the population (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Vratsa | 38.7% |
| 8 | Razgrad | 38.6% |
| 9 | Lovech | 37.4% |
| 10 | Pleven | 37.3% |
| 11 | Pernik | 36.5% |
| 12 | Montana | 35.8% |
| 13 | Yambol | 34.7% |
Population under a water-supply regime (%) (2024)
Pleven ranks 2 of 28, highest first. Share of residents with rationed public water supply
| Rank | Area | Population under a water-supply regime (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lovech | 56.34% |
| 2 | Pleven | 51.14% |
| 3 | Targovishte | 33.83% |
| 4 | Sliven | 17.80% |
| 5 | Pernik | 14.06% |
| 6 | Shumen | 10.79% |
| 7 | Gabrovo | 8.11% |
People convicted per 10,000 residents (2024)
Pleven ranks 12 of 28, highest first. By place where the crime was committed
| Rank | Area | People convicted per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Silistra | 45.0 |
| 10 | Sofia | 44.0 |
| 11 | Lovech | 42.6 |
| 12 | Pleven | 42.2 |
| 13 | Kyustendil | 38.9 |
| 14 | Montana | 37.9 |
| 15 | Gabrovo | 37.5 |
Living floor space per resident (square metres) (2024)
Pleven ranks 15 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Living floor space per resident (square metres) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Dobrich | 44.7 |
| 13 | Targovishte | 43.7 |
| 14 | Blagoevgrad | 42.1 |
| 15 | Pleven | 41.8 |
| 16 | Yambol | 41.2 |
| 17 | Haskovo | 41.0 |
| 18 | Stara Zagora | 40.7 |
New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents (2024)
Pleven ranks 15 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Targovishte | 1.75 |
| 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 |
More on Pleven: 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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