Poverty and living standards in Stara Zagora (Yugoiztochen, Bulgaria): official figures
28.4% of people in Stara Zagora 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 Stara Zagora ranks the highest of 28 districts.
What is the poverty line in Stara Zagora district?
The at-risk-of-poverty threshold for a single person in Stara Zagora was 10,599 leva a year in the 2025 survey (about 883 leva a month, based on 2024 incomes), 102% of the national threshold of 10,400 leva.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Stara Zagora district?
The richest fifth of households in Stara Zagora had 9.9 times the income of the poorest fifth in the 2025 survey, and the Gini coefficient was 38.8 (Bulgaria: 7.0 times and 37.7).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Stara Zagora district?
Stara Zagora district recorded 11.7 registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 people in 2024 (3,377 in all), 9th 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 Stara Zagora district?
93,396 pensioners lived in Stara Zagora at the end of 2024, equal to 32.3% of its population against 31.5% nationally (8th lowest of 28 districts).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many homes are there in Stara Zagora district?
Stara Zagora district had 186,438 dwellings at the end of 2024, 646 per 1,000 residents, up 5.7% since 2019.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyIs there water rationing in Stara Zagora district?
In 2024, 3.84% of the population of Stara Zagora lived under a water-supply regime (rationed supply), against 5.77% nationally; 68.6% were connected to public sewerage and 65.4% to wastewater treatment plants.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow big are homes in Stara Zagora district?
Homes in Stara Zagora offered 40.7 square metres of living floor space per resident at the end of 2024, 11th least of 28 districts (national 42.6).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many new homes are built in Stara Zagora district?
937 new dwellings were completed in Stara Zagora in 2024, 3.25 per 1,000 residents compared with 3.26 for Bulgaria.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyMore figures
- The poverty rate in Stara Zagora rose from 26.3% in the 2024 survey to 28.4% in 2025; in the 2019 survey it was 26.9%. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- 24.1% of the population of Stara Zagora lived in severe material and social deprivation in 2025, and 37.7% were at risk of poverty or social exclusion (national 15.0% and 29.0%). Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- 50.1% of crimes against persons and property in Stara Zagora were solved in 2024 (national 49.5%), and police uncovered 429 economic crimes causing 3.6 million leva of damage. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- Courts imposed penalties for 1,462 crimes committed in Stara Zagora district in 2024 and convicted 1,406 people, 48.7 per 10,000 residents (national 33.9); 10.3% of those convicted were women. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
How Stara Zagora compares with other provinces in Bulgaria
At-risk-of-poverty rate, regional poverty line (%) (2025)
Stara Zagora ranks 1 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stara Zagora | 28.4% |
| 2 | Sliven | 23.9% |
| 3 | Targovishte | 23.7% |
| 4 | Lovech | 22.8% |
| 5 | Sofia | 21.9% |
| 6 | Pazardzhik | 21.9% |
| 7 | Sofia (stolitsa) | 21.5% |
At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year) (2025)
Stara Zagora ranks 4 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025 (2024 incomes)
| Rank | Area | At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sofia (stolitsa) | 15,644 |
| 2 | Varna | 11,728 |
| 3 | Ruse | 10,852 |
| 4 | Stara Zagora | 10,599 |
| 5 | Sofia | 10,548 |
| 6 | Pernik | 10,493 |
| 7 | Blagoevgrad | 10,383 |
At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%) (2025)
Stara Zagora ranks 3 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025
| Rank | Area | At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Razgrad | 42.7% |
| 2 | Sliven | 42.0% |
| 3 | Stara Zagora | 37.7% |
| 4 | Veliko Tarnovo | 36.9% |
| 5 | Pazardzhik | 34.2% |
| 6 | Pleven | 34.0% |
| 7 | Targovishte | 33.9% |
Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents (2024)
Stara Zagora ranks 9 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Ruse | 13.2 |
| 7 | Lovech | 13.1 |
| 8 | Sofia (stolitsa) | 12.5 |
| 9 | Stara Zagora | 11.7 |
| 10 | Pernik | 11.3 |
| 11 | Veliko Tarnovo | 11.3 |
| 12 | Sliven | 11.1 |
Pensioners as a share of the population (%) (2024)
Stara Zagora ranks 21 of 28, highest first. At 31 December 2024
| Rank | Area | Pensioners as a share of the population (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Haskovo | 34.1% |
| 19 | Shumen | 33.8% |
| 20 | Pazardzhik | 32.4% |
| 21 | Stara Zagora | 32.3% |
| 22 | Sofia | 30.2% |
| 23 | Blagoevgrad | 29.4% |
| 24 | Sliven | 29.4% |
Population under a water-supply regime (%) (2024)
Stara Zagora ranks 11 of 28, highest first. Share of residents with rationed public water supply
| Rank | Area | Population under a water-supply regime (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Veliko Tarnovo | 6.77% |
| 9 | Kyustendil | 6.20% |
| 10 | Blagoevgrad | 5.85% |
| 11 | Stara Zagora | 3.84% |
| 12 | Pazardzhik | 3.75% |
| 13 | Montana | 3.19% |
| 14 | Smolyan | 2.24% |
People convicted per 10,000 residents (2024)
Stara Zagora ranks 6 of 28, highest first. By place where the crime was committed
| Rank | Area | People convicted per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Vratsa | 56.6 |
| 4 | Sliven | 54.7 |
| 5 | Dobrich | 49.1 |
| 6 | Stara Zagora | 48.7 |
| 7 | Razgrad | 47.1 |
| 8 | Vidin | 46.4 |
| 9 | Silistra | 45.0 |
Living floor space per resident (square metres) (2024)
Stara Zagora ranks 18 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Living floor space per resident (square metres) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Pleven | 41.8 |
| 16 | Yambol | 41.2 |
| 17 | Haskovo | 41.0 |
| 18 | Stara Zagora | 40.7 |
| 19 | Pazardzhik | 40.5 |
| 20 | Varna | 40.4 |
| 21 | Kardzhali | 40.3 |
New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents (2024)
Stara Zagora ranks 7 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Kardzhali | 3.79 |
| 5 | Blagoevgrad | 3.71 |
| 6 | Plovdiv | 3.37 |
| 7 | Stara Zagora | 3.25 |
| 8 | Sofia | 2.91 |
| 9 | Pernik | 2.84 |
| 10 | Pazardzhik | 2.36 |
More on Stara Zagora: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government and politics · Yugoiztochen · 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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