Economy, jobs and prices in Yugozapaden, Bulgaria: official figures
GDP per person was 42,600 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 107% of the EU average; the highest of 6 regions in Bulgaria. PPS adjust for price differences between countries.
How big is the economy of Yugozapaden?
The regional economy produced €53.2 billion of output (GDP at market prices) in 2024, 50.7% of Bulgaria's GDP.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Yugozapaden?
The unemployment rate (age 15 to 74) was 1.9% in 2025, against 3.5% for Bulgaria and 6.0% across the EU; the lowest of 6 regions in Bulgaria.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is youth unemployment in Yugozapaden?
Youth unemployment (age 15 to 24) was 6.6% in 2025, against 13.1% for Bulgaria; the lowest of 4 regions in Bulgaria.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does Yugozapaden spend on research and development?
Spending on research and development came to 1.18% of GDP in 2024 (0.77% nationally).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average salary in the South-West region of Bulgaria?
The average annual wage in the Yugozapaden (South-West) region was 35,117 leva in 2024, roughly 2,926 leva a month; that is the highest of 6 statistical regions and 126% of the Bulgarian average (27,898 leva).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhich jobs pay most in the South-West region of Bulgaria?
In Yugozapaden (South-West) the best-paid sector in 2024 was information and communication at 68,310 leva a year, and the lowest-paid was agriculture, forestry and fishing at 18,789 leva.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the GDP per capita of the South-West region of Bulgaria?
Gross domestic product per person in Yugozapaden (South-West) was 51,451 leva in 2024, 162% of the national figure; industry produced 16.2% of its gross value added and services 83.0%.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow much foreign investment does the South-West region of Bulgaria have?
Foreign direct investment in non-financial enterprises in Yugozapaden (South-West) stood at 21,788 million euro at the end of 2024, or 10,770 euro per resident, the highest of 6 statistical regions (national average 5,267 euro).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many companies are there in the South-West region of Bulgaria?
There were 184,135 non-financial enterprises in Yugozapaden (South-West) in 2024 (91 per 1,000 residents, national 73), employing 987,986 people and reporting net sales of 292,106 million leva.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in the South-West region of Bulgaria?
Labour offices in the Yugozapaden (South-West) region had 31,327 registered unemployed people on average in 2024, a registered unemployment level of 3.2% against 5.2% nationally, the lowest of 6 statistical regions.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many hotels are there in the South-West region of Bulgaria?
The Yugozapaden (South-West) region had 651 accommodation establishments with 48,706 bed-places in 2024, and they welcomed 2,343,521 overnight visitors.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many people in Yugozapaden are long-term unemployed?
Long-term unemployment (people out of work for a year or more) stood at 0.9% of the labour force in 2025 (Bulgaria: 1.5%; EU: 1.9%); the lowest of 6 statistical regions in Bulgaria. In 2015 it was 4.3%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Yugozapaden?
The unemployment rate for women in Yugozapaden was 1.8% in 2025 (Bulgaria: 3.4%; EU: 6.2%); the lowest of 6 statistical regions in Bulgaria. In 2015 it was 5.4%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many women in Yugozapaden are in work?
79.8% of women aged 20 to 64 were in work in 2025 (Bulgaria: 73.2%; EU: 71.3%); the highest of 6 statistical regions in Bulgaria. In 2015 it was 70.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs the economy of Yugozapaden growing?
In real terms the economy of Yugozapaden grew by 4.5% in 2024 (gross value added), against 2.8% for Bulgaria as a whole; 3rd highest of 6 statistical regions in Bulgaria. In 2014 it was 0.5%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Yugozapaden?
Residents of Yugozapaden owned 525 cars per 1,000 people in 2024, against 484 for Bulgaria as a whole; the highest of 6 statistical regions in Bulgaria. In 2014 it was 481.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Yugozapaden?
Employers paid an average of €11,324 per employee in 2023, counting wages, salaries and employer social contributions, against €9,184 across Bulgaria; the highest of 6 statistical regions in Bulgaria.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Yugozapaden?
Hotels, campsites and other tourist accommodation recorded 5.3 million nights in 2025, 49% of them by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Yugozapaden?
The largest part of the economy of Yugozapaden in 2024 was trade, transport, hospitality and communications, at 40.1% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (27.4%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Yugozapaden?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 11.3% of output in 2024, against 19.4% for Bulgaria.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Yugozapaden growing?
Gross value added rose from €19.0 billion in 2015 to €46.4 billion in 2024 in current prices, an increase of 144% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Yugozapaden?
Of the 1,334,600 jobs located in Yugozapaden in 2024, 21% in public services, education, health and other services, 13% in industry and 5.3% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Yugozapaden?
The number of people working in Yugozapaden rose by 9.1% between 2015 and 2024, to 1,334,600.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- The Yugozapaden (South-West) region had an average of 995,091 employees on labour or civil-service contracts in 2024; 11.2% of them worked in manufacturing (national share 19.1%). Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- Measured in current prices, GDP per person in Yugozapaden (South-West) rose from 29,593 leva in 2019 to 51,451 leva in 2024, a gain of 74% (Bulgaria: 76%). Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- Businesses and public bodies in Yugozapaden (South-West) spent 20,802 million leva on acquiring tangible fixed assets in 2024, 10,283 leva per resident against 5,793 leva nationally; the private sector accounted for 78%. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- Of the registered unemployed in Yugozapaden (South-West) in 2024, 10.6% were aged 29 or under and 13.1% had been registered for more than a year (national shares 11.1% and 20.4%). Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- Accommodation in Yugozapaden (South-West) earned 523 million leva from 5,040,870 nights spent in 2024, about 104 leva per night against 87 leva across Bulgaria. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
How Yugozapaden compares with other statistical regions
Registered unemployment level (%) (2024)
Yugozapaden ranks 6 of 6, highest first. Average annual number of unemployed registered at labour offices as a share of the labour force
| Rank | Region | Registered unemployment level (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Severozapaden | 9.5% |
| 2 | Severen tsentralen | 6.5% |
| 3 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 5.9% |
| 4 | Severoiztochen | 5.6% |
| 5 | Yugoiztochen | 5.2% |
| 6 | Yugozapaden | 3.2% |
Accommodation revenue per night spent (leva) (2024)
Yugozapaden ranks 1 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Accommodation revenue per night spent (leva) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugozapaden | 104 |
| 2 | Severoiztochen | 92 |
| 3 | Yugoiztochen | 83 |
| 4 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 76 |
| 5 | Severozapaden | 64 |
| 6 | Severen tsentralen | 62 |
Average annual wage of employees (leva) (2024)
Yugozapaden ranks 1 of 6, highest first. Employees under labour and civil-service contracts
| Rank | Region | Average annual wage of employees (leva) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugozapaden | 35,117 |
| 2 | Severoiztochen | 24,147 |
| 3 | Yugoiztochen | 22,544 |
| 4 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 22,060 |
| 5 | Severozapaden | 21,981 |
| 6 | Severen tsentralen | 21,801 |
Foreign direct investment per resident (euro) (2024)
Yugozapaden ranks 1 of 6, highest first. Stock in non-financial enterprises at 31 December 2024
| Rank | Region | Foreign direct investment per resident (euro) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugozapaden | 10,770 |
| 2 | Yugoiztochen | 3,454 |
| 3 | Severoiztochen | 3,025 |
| 4 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 2,929 |
| 5 | Severen tsentralen | 2,604 |
| 6 | Severozapaden | 1,137 |
Non-financial enterprises per 1,000 residents (2024)
Yugozapaden ranks 1 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Non-financial enterprises per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugozapaden | 91 |
| 2 | Severoiztochen | 72 |
| 3 | Yugoiztochen | 70 |
| 4 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 67 |
| 5 | Severen tsentralen | 62 |
| 6 | Severozapaden | 50 |
Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) (2025)
Yugozapaden ranks 6 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Severozapaden | 3.4% |
| 2 | Severen tsentralen | 2.1% |
| 3 | Severoiztochen | 1.8% |
| 4 | Yugoiztochen | 1.6% |
| 5 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 1.0% |
| 6 | Yugozapaden | 0.9% |
Unemployment rate, women (2025)
Yugozapaden ranks 6 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, women |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Severozapaden | 6.8% |
| 2 | Yugoiztochen | 5.1% |
| 3 | Severoiztochen | 4.4% |
| 4 | Severen tsentralen | 3.8% |
| 5 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 2.3% |
| 6 | Yugozapaden | 1.8% |
Employment rate, women aged 20-64 (2025)
Yugozapaden ranks 1 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, women aged 20-64 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugozapaden | 79.8% |
| 2 | Severoiztochen | 72.4% |
| 3 | Severen tsentralen | 71.5% |
| 4 | Severozapaden | 70.0% |
| 5 | Yugoiztochen | 69.1% |
| 6 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 68.5% |
Real growth in gross value added (2024)
Yugozapaden ranks 3 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real growth in gross value added |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 11.0% |
| 2 | Severen tsentralen | 7.7% |
| 3 | Yugozapaden | 4.5% |
| 4 | Severoiztochen | 3.6% |
| 5 | Severozapaden | -2.5% |
| 6 | Yugoiztochen | -13.2% |
Passenger cars per 1,000 people (2024)
Yugozapaden ranks 1 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Passenger cars per 1,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugozapaden | 525 |
| 2 | Severen tsentralen | 492 |
| 3 | Severoiztochen | 472 |
| 4 | Severozapaden | 472 |
| 5 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 457 |
| 6 | Yugoiztochen | 450 |
Compensation per employee (euros) (2023)
Yugozapaden ranks 1 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Compensation per employee (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugozapaden | €11,324 |
| 2 | Severoiztochen | €8,071 |
| 3 | Yugoiztochen | €7,570 |
| 4 | Severozapaden | €7,507 |
| 5 | Severen tsentralen | €7,484 |
| 6 | Yuzhen tsentralen | €7,458 |
Nights spent in tourist accommodation (2025)
Yugozapaden ranks 3 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Nights spent in tourist accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugoiztochen | 10.9 million |
| 2 | Severoiztochen | 7.0 million |
| 3 | Yugozapaden | 5.3 million |
| 4 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 4.0 million |
| 5 | Severen tsentralen | 862,260 |
| 6 | Severozapaden | 747,226 |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2024)
Yugozapaden ranks 6 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugoiztochen | 40.6% |
| 2 | Severozapaden | 31.3% |
| 3 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 25.6% |
| 4 | Severen tsentralen | 21.8% |
| 5 | Severoiztochen | 16.4% |
| 6 | Yugozapaden | 11.3% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2024)
Yugozapaden ranks 1 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yugozapaden | 27.4% |
| 2 | Severoiztochen | 20.2% |
| 3 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 15.9% |
| 4 | Severen tsentralen | 15.8% |
| 5 | Severozapaden | 15.6% |
| 6 | Yugoiztochen | 14.0% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2024)
Yugozapaden ranks 6 of 6, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Severozapaden | 27.6% |
| 2 | Severen tsentralen | 25.9% |
| 3 | Yuzhen tsentralen | 23.2% |
| 4 | Severoiztochen | 21.7% |
| 5 | Yugoiztochen | 17.4% |
| 6 | Yugozapaden | 15.5% |
More on Yugozapaden: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government and politics · Bulgaria
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP per person (purchasing power standards), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c21f724d14a6…)
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- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu2ltu: Long-term unemployment (12 months and more) by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3d5d17a32863…)
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