Poverty and living standards in Blagoevgrad (Yugozapaden, Bulgaria): official figures
The at-risk-of-poverty rate in Blagoevgrad district was 18.5% in the 2025 survey (poverty line of the district itself), 12th lowest of 28 districts; Bulgaria's rate was 21.2%.
What is the poverty line in Blagoevgrad district?
The at-risk-of-poverty threshold for a single person in Blagoevgrad was 10,383 leva a year in the 2025 survey (about 865 leva a month, based on 2024 incomes), 100% of the national threshold of 10,400 leva.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Blagoevgrad district?
The richest fifth of households in Blagoevgrad had 4.6 times the income of the poorest fifth in the 2025 survey, and the Gini coefficient was 29.3 (Bulgaria: 7.0 times and 37.7).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Blagoevgrad district?
Blagoevgrad district recorded 9.2 registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 people in 2024 (2,632 in all), 5th lowest of 28 districts against a national rate of 11.6.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many pensioners are there in Blagoevgrad district?
84,275 pensioners lived in Blagoevgrad at the end of 2024, equal to 29.4% of its population against 31.5% nationally (6th lowest of 28 districts).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many homes are there in Blagoevgrad district?
Blagoevgrad district had 165,917 dwellings at the end of 2024, 579 per 1,000 residents, up 17.7% since 2019.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyIs there water rationing in Blagoevgrad district?
In 2024, 5.85% of the population of Blagoevgrad lived under a water-supply regime (rationed supply), against 5.77% nationally; 79.2% were connected to public sewerage and 34.5% to wastewater treatment plants.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow big are homes in Blagoevgrad district?
Homes in Blagoevgrad offered 42.1 square metres of living floor space per resident at the end of 2024, 14th most of 28 districts (national 42.6).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many new homes are built in Blagoevgrad district?
1,062 new dwellings were completed in Blagoevgrad in 2024, 3.71 per 1,000 residents compared with 3.26 for Bulgaria.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyMore figures
- The poverty rate in Blagoevgrad rose from 17.4% in the 2024 survey to 18.5% in 2025; in the 2019 survey it was 16.5%. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- 8.4% of the population of Blagoevgrad lived in severe material and social deprivation in 2025, and 25.1% were at risk of poverty or social exclusion (national 15.0% and 29.0%). Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- 54.0% of crimes against persons and property in Blagoevgrad were solved in 2024 (national 49.5%), and police uncovered 178 economic crimes causing 24 thousand leva of damage. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- Courts imposed penalties for 777 crimes committed in Blagoevgrad district in 2024 and convicted 709 people, 24.8 per 10,000 residents (national 33.9); 9.0% of those convicted were women. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
How Blagoevgrad compares with other provinces in Bulgaria
At-risk-of-poverty rate, regional poverty line (%) (2025)
Blagoevgrad ranks 17 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Kardzhali | 19.7% |
| 15 | Montana | 19.4% |
| 16 | Burgas | 18.7% |
| 17 | Blagoevgrad | 18.5% |
| 18 | Vidin | 18.3% |
| 19 | Smolyan | 18.2% |
| 20 | Pleven | 17.8% |
At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year) (2025)
Blagoevgrad ranks 7 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025 (2024 incomes)
| Rank | Area | At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Stara Zagora | 10,599 |
| 5 | Sofia | 10,548 |
| 6 | Pernik | 10,493 |
| 7 | Blagoevgrad | 10,383 |
| 8 | Kyustendil | 10,294 |
| 9 | Gabrovo | 9,985 |
| 10 | Plovdiv | 9,806 |
At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%) (2025)
Blagoevgrad ranks 22 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025
| Rank | Area | At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Sofia | 25.6% |
| 20 | Lovech | 25.4% |
| 21 | Sofia (stolitsa) | 25.3% |
| 22 | Blagoevgrad | 25.1% |
| 23 | Shumen | 23.3% |
| 24 | Montana | 23.2% |
| 25 | Ruse | 22.0% |
Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents (2024)
Blagoevgrad ranks 24 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Pazardzhik | 10.0 |
| 22 | Targovishte | 9.9 |
| 23 | Yambol | 9.4 |
| 24 | Blagoevgrad | 9.2 |
| 25 | Plovdiv | 8.4 |
| 26 | Silistra | 8.4 |
| 27 | Kardzhali | 6.0 |
Pensioners as a share of the population (%) (2024)
Blagoevgrad ranks 23 of 28, highest first. At 31 December 2024
| Rank | Area | Pensioners as a share of the population (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Pazardzhik | 32.4% |
| 21 | Stara Zagora | 32.3% |
| 22 | Sofia | 30.2% |
| 23 | Blagoevgrad | 29.4% |
| 24 | Sliven | 29.4% |
| 25 | Plovdiv | 28.9% |
| 26 | Burgas | 27.5% |
Population under a water-supply regime (%) (2024)
Blagoevgrad ranks 10 of 28, highest first. Share of residents with rationed public water supply
| Rank | Area | Population under a water-supply regime (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Gabrovo | 8.11% |
| 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% |
People convicted per 10,000 residents (2024)
Blagoevgrad ranks 25 of 28, highest first. By place where the crime was committed
| Rank | Area | People convicted per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Pazardzhik | 30.8 |
| 23 | Plovdiv | 29.7 |
| 24 | Pernik | 29.5 |
| 25 | Blagoevgrad | 24.8 |
| 26 | Smolyan | 20.8 |
| 27 | Kardzhali | 18.0 |
| 28 | Sofia (stolitsa) | 14.8 |
Living floor space per resident (square metres) (2024)
Blagoevgrad ranks 14 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Living floor space per resident (square metres) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Veliko Tarnovo | 45.3 |
| 12 | Dobrich | 44.7 |
| 13 | Targovishte | 43.7 |
| 14 | Blagoevgrad | 42.1 |
| 15 | Pleven | 41.8 |
| 16 | Yambol | 41.2 |
| 17 | Haskovo | 41.0 |
New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents (2024)
Blagoevgrad ranks 5 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Varna | 5.46 |
| 3 | Sofia (stolitsa) | 5.32 |
| 4 | Kardzhali | 3.79 |
| 5 | Blagoevgrad | 3.71 |
| 6 | Plovdiv | 3.37 |
| 7 | Stara Zagora | 3.25 |
| 8 | Sofia | 2.91 |
More on Blagoevgrad: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government and politics · Yugozapaden · 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.