Poverty and living standards in Severozapaden, Bulgaria: official figures
Disposable household income was 10,300 PPS per person in 2023; the lowest of 6 regions in Bulgaria.
How many people in Severozapaden are at risk of poverty?
The share of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion was 33.5% in 2025, against 29.0% for Bulgaria; 4th highest of 6 regions in Bulgaria.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in the North-West region of Bulgaria?
Police registered 8,559 crimes against persons and property in the Severozapaden (North-West) region in 2024, 13.1 per 1,000 residents (the highest of 6 statistical regions; national 11.6).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many pensioners are there in the North-West region of Bulgaria?
248,723 pensioners lived in Severozapaden (North-West) at the end of 2024, equal to 37.9% of its population against 31.5% nationally (the highest of 6 statistical regions).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many homes are there in the North-West region of Bulgaria?
The Severozapaden (North-West) region had 520,684 dwellings at the end of 2024, 794 per 1,000 residents, up 1.8% since 2019.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyIs there water rationing in the North-West region of Bulgaria?
In 2024, 27.28% of the population of Severozapaden (North-West) lived under a water-supply regime (rationed supply), against 5.77% nationally; 58.3% were connected to public sewerage and 51.4% to wastewater treatment plants.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow big are homes in the North-West region of Bulgaria?
Homes in Severozapaden (North-West) offered 49.3 square metres of living floor space per resident at the end of 2024, the most of 6 statistical regions (national 42.6).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many new homes are built in the North-West region of Bulgaria?
525 new dwellings were completed in Severozapaden (North-West) in 2024, 0.80 per 1,000 residents compared with 3.26 for Bulgaria.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the average household income in the North-West region of Bulgaria?
Households in the Severozapaden (North-West) region had a total income of 11,657 leva per person in 2024 (91% of the national 12,857 leva); wages made up 47.6% of it and pensions 35.4%.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate in Severozapaden?
The at-risk-of-poverty rate was 25.3% in 2025, measured against 60% of median income in Bulgaria, compared with 21.2% nationally; 3rd highest of 6 statistical regions in Bulgaria. In 2015 it was 30.4%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Severozapaden cannot afford basic necessities?
16.9% of people suffered severe material and social deprivation in 2025, meaning they could not afford at least 7 of 13 basic items such as heating, a week away or replacing worn-out furniture, compared with 15.0% nationally; 3rd lowest of 6 statistical regions in Bulgaria. In 2015 it was 33.0%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many households in Severozapaden have nobody in work?
13.9% of people under 65 lived in households where adults worked less than a fifth of their potential in 2025, compared with 7.7% nationally; the highest of 6 statistical regions in Bulgaria. In 2015 it was 19.0%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average income in Severozapaden?
Disposable household income averaged €6,100 per person in 2023, against €8,000 for Bulgaria as a whole and €21,000 across the EU; the lowest of 6 statistical regions in Bulgaria. In 2013 it was €2,700.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Severozapaden use the internet?
84.1% of people used the internet at least once a week in 2025, compared with 86.5% nationally; 3rd lowest of 6 statistical regions in Bulgaria. In 2015 it was 40.4%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- 74% of households had broadband in 2021. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- 50.4% of crimes against persons and property in Severozapaden (North-West) were solved in 2024 (national 49.5%), and police uncovered 659 economic crimes causing 4.4 million leva of damage. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- Courts imposed penalties for 3,131 crimes committed in the Severozapaden (North-West) region in 2024 and convicted 2,962 people, 45.2 per 10,000 residents (national 33.9); 9.3% of those convicted were women. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- Spending per household member in Severozapaden (North-West) was 10,798 leva in 2024, and food and non-alcoholic drinks took 26.1% of all household expenditure (national 28.7%). Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
How Severozapaden compares with other statistical regions
Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents (2024)
Severozapaden ranks 1 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Severozapaden | 13.1 |
| 2 | Severoiztochen | 12.8 |
| 3 | Yugoiztochen | 12.0 |
| 4 | Yugozapaden | 11.6 |
| 5 | Severen tsentralen | 11.2 |
| 6 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 8.5 |
Pensioners as a share of the population (%) (2024)
Severozapaden ranks 1 of 6, highest first. At 31 December 2024
| Rank | Region | Pensioners as a share of the population (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Severozapaden | 37.9% |
| 2 | Severen tsentralen | 37.0% |
| 3 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 32.6% |
| 4 | Severoiztochen | 30.3% |
| 5 | Yugoiztochen | 30.1% |
| 6 | Yugozapaden | 27.9% |
Population under a water-supply regime (%) (2024)
Severozapaden ranks 1 of 6, highest first. Share of residents with rationed public water supply
| Rank | Region | Population under a water-supply regime (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Severozapaden | 27.28% |
| 2 | Severoiztochen | 6.51% |
| 3 | Yugoiztochen | 5.27% |
| 4 | Severen tsentralen | 3.40% |
| 5 | Yugozapaden | 1.97% |
| 6 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 1.92% |
People convicted per 10,000 residents (2024)
Severozapaden ranks 2 of 6, highest first. By place where the crime was committed
| Rank | Region | People convicted per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugoiztochen | 48.5 |
| 2 | Severozapaden | 45.2 |
| 3 | Severen tsentralen | 38.4 |
| 4 | Severoiztochen | 36.0 |
| 5 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 32.9 |
| 6 | Yugozapaden | 21.5 |
Living floor space per resident (square metres) (2024)
Severozapaden ranks 1 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Living floor space per resident (square metres) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Severozapaden | 49.3 |
| 2 | Yugoiztochen | 44.9 |
| 3 | Severen tsentralen | 42.2 |
| 4 | Yugozapaden | 41.8 |
| 5 | Severoiztochen | 40.9 |
| 6 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 39.8 |
New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents (2024)
Severozapaden ranks 6 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugozapaden | 4.43 |
| 2 | Yugoiztochen | 4.38 |
| 3 | Severoiztochen | 3.67 |
| 4 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 2.78 |
| 5 | Severen tsentralen | 0.99 |
| 6 | Severozapaden | 0.80 |
Household total income per person (leva) (2024)
Severozapaden ranks 4 of 6, highest first. Household budget survey
| Rank | Region | Household total income per person (leva) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugozapaden | 15,703 |
| 2 | Yugoiztochen | 12,141 |
| 3 | Severoiztochen | 11,818 |
| 4 | Severozapaden | 11,657 |
| 5 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 11,400 |
| 6 | Severen tsentralen | 11,241 |
Share of household spending on food (%) (2024)
Severozapaden ranks 6 of 6, highest first. Household budget survey
| Rank | Region | Share of household spending on food (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 30.8% |
| 2 | Severoiztochen | 30.6% |
| 3 | Yugoiztochen | 30.5% |
| 4 | Yugozapaden | 27.4% |
| 5 | Severen tsentralen | 27.2% |
| 6 | Severozapaden | 26.1% |
At-risk-of-poverty rate (after social transfers) (2025)
Severozapaden ranks 3 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | At-risk-of-poverty rate (after social transfers) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugoiztochen | 27.0% |
| 2 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 25.6% |
| 3 | Severozapaden | 25.3% |
| 4 | Severen tsentralen | 23.5% |
| 5 | Severoiztochen | 21.3% |
| 6 | Yugozapaden | 13.6% |
Severe material and social deprivation rate (2025)
Severozapaden ranks 4 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Severe material and social deprivation rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugoiztochen | 21.1% |
| 2 | Severen tsentralen | 19.1% |
| 3 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 18.1% |
| 4 | Severozapaden | 16.9% |
| 5 | Severoiztochen | 14.1% |
| 6 | Yugozapaden | 8.4% |
People in households with very low work intensity (2025)
Severozapaden ranks 1 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People in households with very low work intensity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Severozapaden | 13.9% |
| 2 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 10.6% |
| 3 | Severen tsentralen | 9.8% |
| 4 | Yugoiztochen | 8.5% |
| 5 | Severoiztochen | 5.7% |
| 6 | Yugozapaden | 3.9% |
Disposable household income per person (euros) (2023)
Severozapaden ranks 6 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Disposable household income per person (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugozapaden | €11,300 |
| 2 | Yuzhen tsentralen | €6,700 |
| 3 | Severoiztochen | €6,700 |
| 4 | Severen tsentralen | €6,500 |
| 5 | Yugoiztochen | €6,200 |
| 6 | Severozapaden | €6,100 |
People who use the internet regularly (2025)
Severozapaden ranks 4 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People who use the internet regularly |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Severoiztochen | 90.4% |
| 2 | Yugozapaden | 89.8% |
| 3 | Severen tsentralen | 84.3% |
| 4 | Severozapaden | 84.1% |
| 5 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 83.7% |
| 6 | Yugoiztochen | 83.2% |
More on Severozapaden: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government and politics · Bulgaria
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2hhinc: Disposable household income per person (PPS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd6019768e9f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_peps11n: At risk of poverty or social exclusion, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 94dcf245d20e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset isoc_r_broad_h: Households with broadband, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b02c9a1ef222…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset isoc_r_iuse_i: Individuals regularly using the internet by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fb4ff8800853…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_li41: At-risk-of-poverty rate by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 27849ad61b9a…)
- 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 ilc_mdsd18: Severe material and social deprivation rate by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 62e6e6fba571…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_lvhl21n: People living in households with very low work intensity by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8b5e993ae943…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2hhinc: Income of households by NUTS 2 region (euros per inhabitant), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7441dafca51…)
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