Poverty and living standards in Sofia (Yugozapaden, Bulgaria): official figures

The at-risk-of-poverty rate in Sofia Province was 21.9% in the 2025 survey (poverty line of the district itself), 5th highest of 28 districts; Bulgaria's rate was 21.2%.

What is the poverty line in Sofia Province?

The at-risk-of-poverty threshold for a single person in Sofia Province was 10,548 leva a year in the 2025 survey (about 879 leva a month, based on 2024 incomes), 101% of the national threshold of 10,400 leva.

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

How unequal is income in Sofia Province?

The richest fifth of households in Sofia Province had 6.7 times the income of the poorest fifth in the 2025 survey, and the Gini coefficient was 34.3 (Bulgaria: 7.0 times and 37.7).

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

What is the crime rate in Sofia Province?

Sofia Province recorded 10.1 registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 people in 2024 (2,262 in all), 9th lowest of 28 districts against a national rate of 11.6.

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

How many pensioners are there in Sofia Province?

67,859 pensioners lived in Sofia Province at the end of 2024, equal to 30.2% of its population against 31.5% nationally (7th lowest of 28 districts).

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

How many homes are there in Sofia Province?

Sofia Province had 178,930 dwellings at the end of 2024, 796 per 1,000 residents, up -0.1% since 2019.

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

Is there water rationing in Sofia Province?

In 2024, 0.40% of the population of Sofia Province lived under a water-supply regime (rationed supply), against 5.77% nationally; 82.6% were connected to public sewerage and 38.3% to wastewater treatment plants.

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

How big are homes in Sofia Province?

Homes in Sofia Province offered 51.8 square metres of living floor space per resident at the end of 2024, 7th most of 28 districts (national 42.6).

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

How many new homes are built in Sofia Province?

654 new dwellings were completed in Sofia Province in 2024, 2.91 per 1,000 residents compared with 3.26 for Bulgaria.

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

More figures

The poverty rate in Sofia Province rose from 16.8% in the 2024 survey to 21.9% in 2025; in the 2019 survey it was 16.8%. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
7.0% of the population of Sofia Province lived in severe material and social deprivation in 2025, and 25.6% were at risk of poverty or social exclusion (national 15.0% and 29.0%). Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
56.5% of crimes against persons and property in Sofia Province were solved in 2024 (national 49.5%), and police uncovered 54 economic crimes causing 42 thousand leva of damage. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
Courts imposed penalties for 1,100 crimes committed in Sofia Province in 2024 and convicted 989 people, 44.0 per 10,000 residents (national 33.9); 5.0% of those convicted were women. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

How Sofia compares with other provinces in Bulgaria

At-risk-of-poverty rate, regional poverty line (%) (2025)

Sofia ranks 5 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 (%)
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%
8	Yambol	21.1%

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year) (2025)

Sofia ranks 5 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025 (2024 incomes)

Rank	Area	At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year)
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
8	Kyustendil	10,294

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%) (2025)

Sofia ranks 19 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025

Rank	Area	At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%)
16	Vratsa	26.8%
17	Silistra	26.0%
18	Varna	25.7%
19	Sofia	25.6%
20	Lovech	25.4%
21	Sofia (stolitsa)	25.3%
22	Blagoevgrad	25.1%

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents (2024)

Sofia ranks 20 of 28, highest first.

Rank	Area	Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents
17	Razgrad	10.6
18	Gabrovo	10.5
19	Haskovo	10.1
20	Sofia	10.1
21	Pazardzhik	10.0
22	Targovishte	9.9
23	Yambol	9.4

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

Pensioners as a share of the population (%) (2024)

Sofia ranks 22 of 28, highest first. At 31 December 2024

Rank	Area	Pensioners as a share of the population (%)
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%
25	Plovdiv	28.9%

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

Population under a water-supply regime (%) (2024)

Sofia ranks 23 of 28, highest first. Share of residents with rationed public water supply

Rank	Area	Population under a water-supply regime (%)
20	Varna	1.26%
21	Yambol	0.90%
22	Haskovo	0.52%
23	Sofia	0.40%
24	Vidin	0.00%
25	Ruse	0.00%
26	Silistra	0.00%

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

People convicted per 10,000 residents (2024)

Sofia ranks 10 of 28, highest first. By place where the crime was committed

Rank	Area	People convicted per 10,000 residents
7	Razgrad	47.1
8	Vidin	46.4
9	Silistra	45.0
10	Sofia	44.0
11	Lovech	42.6
12	Pleven	42.2
13	Kyustendil	38.9

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

Living floor space per resident (square metres) (2024)

Sofia ranks 7 of 28, highest first.

Rank	Area	Living floor space per resident (square metres)
4	Pernik	52.8
5	Burgas	52.7
6	Montana	51.8
7	Sofia	51.8
8	Smolyan	51.7
9	Gabrovo	51.0
10	Vratsa	45.9

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents (2024)

Sofia ranks 8 of 28, highest first.

Rank	Area	New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents
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
11	Dobrich	1.81

Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy

More on Sofia: 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…)

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