Poverty and living standards in Vratsa (Severozapaden, Bulgaria): official figures
10.5% of people in Vratsa 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 Vratsa ranks the lowest of 28 districts.
What is the poverty line in Vratsa district?
The at-risk-of-poverty threshold for a single person in Vratsa was 9,627 leva a year in the 2025 survey (about 802 leva a month, based on 2024 incomes), 93% of the national threshold of 10,400 leva.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Vratsa district?
The richest fifth of households in Vratsa had 5.6 times the income of the poorest fifth in the 2025 survey, and the Gini coefficient was 32.4 (Bulgaria: 7.0 times and 37.7).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Vratsa district?
Vratsa district recorded 15.2 registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 people in 2024 (2,218 in all), the 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 Vratsa district?
56,551 pensioners lived in Vratsa at the end of 2024, equal to 38.7% of its population against 31.5% nationally (7th highest of 28 districts).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many homes are there in Vratsa district?
Vratsa district had 116,612 dwellings at the end of 2024, 799 per 1,000 residents, up 5.4% since 2019.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyIs there water rationing in Vratsa district?
In 2024, 1.85% of the population of Vratsa lived under a water-supply regime (rationed supply), against 5.77% nationally; 55.9% were connected to public sewerage and 52.7% to wastewater treatment plants.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow big are homes in Vratsa district?
Homes in Vratsa offered 45.9 square metres of living floor space per resident at the end of 2024, 10th most of 28 districts (national 42.6).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many new homes are built in Vratsa district?
93 new dwellings were completed in Vratsa in 2024, 0.64 per 1,000 residents compared with 3.26 for Bulgaria.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyMore figures
- The poverty rate in Vratsa fell from 16.8% in the 2024 survey to 10.5% in 2025; in the 2019 survey it was 27.7%. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- 21.5% of the population of Vratsa lived in severe material and social deprivation in 2025, and 26.8% were at risk of poverty or social exclusion (national 15.0% and 29.0%). Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- 58.4% of crimes against persons and property in Vratsa were solved in 2024 (national 49.5%), and police uncovered 94 economic crimes causing 75 thousand leva of damage. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- Courts imposed penalties for 895 crimes committed in Vratsa district in 2024 and convicted 827 people, 56.6 per 10,000 residents (national 33.9); 9.4% of those convicted were women. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
How Vratsa compares with other provinces in Bulgaria
At-risk-of-poverty rate, regional poverty line (%) (2025)
Vratsa ranks 28 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Razgrad | 17.3% |
| 23 | Haskovo | 16.1% |
| 24 | Ruse | 15.5% |
| 25 | Silistra | 14.8% |
| 26 | Gabrovo | 12.3% |
| 27 | Kyustendil | 12.1% |
| 28 | Vratsa | 10.5% |
At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year) (2025)
Vratsa ranks 11 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025 (2024 incomes)
| Rank | Area | At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Kyustendil | 10,294 |
| 9 | Gabrovo | 9,985 |
| 10 | Plovdiv | 9,806 |
| 11 | Vratsa | 9,627 |
| 12 | Burgas | 9,549 |
| 13 | Pazardzhik | 9,341 |
| 14 | Yambol | 9,283 |
At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%) (2025)
Vratsa ranks 16 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025
| Rank | Area | At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Pernik | 28.5% |
| 14 | Yambol | 27.8% |
| 15 | Vidin | 27.0% |
| 16 | Vratsa | 26.8% |
| 17 | Silistra | 26.0% |
| 18 | Varna | 25.7% |
| 19 | Sofia | 25.6% |
Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents (2024)
Vratsa ranks 1 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)
Vratsa ranks 7 of 28, highest first. At 31 December 2024
| Rank | Area | Pensioners as a share of the population (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Smolyan | 40.7% |
| 5 | Kyustendil | 40.4% |
| 6 | Silistra | 39.6% |
| 7 | Vratsa | 38.7% |
| 8 | Razgrad | 38.6% |
| 9 | Lovech | 37.4% |
| 10 | Pleven | 37.3% |
Population under a water-supply regime (%) (2024)
Vratsa ranks 16 of 28, highest first. Share of residents with rationed public water supply
| Rank | Area | Population under a water-supply regime (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Montana | 3.19% |
| 14 | Smolyan | 2.24% |
| 15 | Burgas | 2.04% |
| 16 | Vratsa | 1.85% |
| 17 | Plovdiv | 1.82% |
| 18 | Razgrad | 1.72% |
| 19 | Kardzhali | 1.34% |
People convicted per 10,000 residents (2024)
Vratsa ranks 3 of 28, highest first. By place where the crime was committed
| Rank | Area | People convicted per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yambol | 82.9 |
| 2 | Haskovo | 60.7 |
| 3 | Vratsa | 56.6 |
| 4 | Sliven | 54.7 |
| 5 | Dobrich | 49.1 |
| 6 | Stara Zagora | 48.7 |
| 7 | Razgrad | 47.1 |
Living floor space per resident (square metres) (2024)
Vratsa ranks 10 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Living floor space per resident (square metres) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Sofia | 51.8 |
| 8 | Smolyan | 51.7 |
| 9 | Gabrovo | 51.0 |
| 10 | Vratsa | 45.9 |
| 11 | Veliko Tarnovo | 45.3 |
| 12 | Dobrich | 44.7 |
| 13 | Targovishte | 43.7 |
New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents (2024)
Vratsa ranks 21 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Veliko Tarnovo | 1.30 |
| 19 | Sliven | 1.25 |
| 20 | Ruse | 0.99 |
| 21 | Vratsa | 0.64 |
| 22 | Razgrad | 0.46 |
| 23 | Kyustendil | 0.45 |
| 24 | Lovech | 0.45 |
More on Vratsa: 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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