Poverty and living standards in Plovdiv (Yuzhen tsentralen, Bulgaria): official figures
The at-risk-of-poverty rate in Plovdiv district was 19.7% in the 2025 survey (poverty line of the district itself), 13th highest of 28 districts; Bulgaria's rate was 21.2%.
What is the poverty line in Plovdiv district?
The at-risk-of-poverty threshold for a single person in Plovdiv was 9,806 leva a year in the 2025 survey (about 817 leva a month, based on 2024 incomes), 94% of the national threshold of 10,400 leva.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow unequal is income in Plovdiv district?
The richest fifth of households in Plovdiv had 7.3 times the income of the poorest fifth in the 2025 survey, and the Gini coefficient was 37.6 (Bulgaria: 7.0 times and 37.7).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in Plovdiv district?
Plovdiv district recorded 8.4 registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 people in 2024 (5,355 in all), 4th 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 Plovdiv district?
183,959 pensioners lived in Plovdiv at the end of 2024, equal to 28.9% of its population against 31.5% nationally (4th lowest of 28 districts).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many homes are there in Plovdiv district?
Plovdiv district had 362,874 dwellings at the end of 2024, 571 per 1,000 residents, up 11.1% since 2019.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyIs there water rationing in Plovdiv district?
In 2024, 1.82% of the population of Plovdiv lived under a water-supply regime (rationed supply), against 5.77% nationally; 75.6% were connected to public sewerage and 75.5% to wastewater treatment plants.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow big are homes in Plovdiv district?
Homes in Plovdiv offered 37.4 square metres of living floor space per resident at the end of 2024, 4th least of 28 districts (national 42.6).
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyHow many new homes are built in Plovdiv district?
2,145 new dwellings were completed in Plovdiv in 2024, 3.37 per 1,000 residents compared with 3.26 for Bulgaria.
Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copyMore figures
- The poverty rate in Plovdiv fell from 19.9% in the 2024 survey to 19.7% in 2025; in the 2019 survey it was 21.0%. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- 19.7% of the population of Plovdiv lived in severe material and social deprivation in 2025, and 29.5% were at risk of poverty or social exclusion (national 15.0% and 29.0%). Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- 52.2% of crimes against persons and property in Plovdiv were solved in 2024 (national 49.5%), and police uncovered 390 economic crimes causing 97.0 million leva of damage. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
- Courts imposed penalties for 2,119 crimes committed in Plovdiv district in 2024 and convicted 1,890 people, 29.7 per 10,000 residents (national 33.9); 8.0% of those convicted were women. Source: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria (NSI) · saved copy
How Plovdiv compares with other provinces in Bulgaria
At-risk-of-poverty rate, regional poverty line (%) (2025)
Plovdiv ranks 13 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Varna | 20.3% |
| 11 | Dobrich | 19.8% |
| 12 | Shumen | 19.7% |
| 13 | Plovdiv | 19.7% |
| 14 | Kardzhali | 19.7% |
| 15 | Montana | 19.4% |
| 16 | Burgas | 18.7% |
At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year) (2025)
Plovdiv ranks 10 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025 (2024 incomes)
| Rank | Area | At-risk-of-poverty threshold, single person (leva a year) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Blagoevgrad | 10,383 |
| 8 | Kyustendil | 10,294 |
| 9 | Gabrovo | 9,985 |
| 10 | Plovdiv | 9,806 |
| 11 | Vratsa | 9,627 |
| 12 | Burgas | 9,549 |
| 13 | Pazardzhik | 9,341 |
At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%) (2025)
Plovdiv ranks 10 of 28, highest first. Survey year 2025
| Rank | Area | At risk of poverty or social exclusion (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Targovishte | 33.9% |
| 8 | Kardzhali | 32.5% |
| 9 | Dobrich | 30.2% |
| 10 | Plovdiv | 29.5% |
| 11 | Haskovo | 29.0% |
| 12 | Burgas | 28.5% |
| 13 | Pernik | 28.5% |
Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents (2024)
Plovdiv ranks 25 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Registered crimes against persons and property per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Targovishte | 9.9 |
| 23 | Yambol | 9.4 |
| 24 | Blagoevgrad | 9.2 |
| 25 | Plovdiv | 8.4 |
| 26 | Silistra | 8.4 |
| 27 | Kardzhali | 6.0 |
| 28 | Smolyan | 5.4 |
Pensioners as a share of the population (%) (2024)
Plovdiv ranks 25 of 28, highest first. At 31 December 2024
| Rank | Area | Pensioners as a share of the population (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Sofia | 30.2% |
| 23 | Blagoevgrad | 29.4% |
| 24 | Sliven | 29.4% |
| 25 | Plovdiv | 28.9% |
| 26 | Burgas | 27.5% |
| 27 | Varna | 26.9% |
| 28 | Sofia (stolitsa) | 25.4% |
Population under a water-supply regime (%) (2024)
Plovdiv ranks 17 of 28, highest first. Share of residents with rationed public water supply
| Rank | Area | Population under a water-supply regime (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Smolyan | 2.24% |
| 15 | Burgas | 2.04% |
| 16 | Vratsa | 1.85% |
| 17 | Plovdiv | 1.82% |
| 18 | Razgrad | 1.72% |
| 19 | Kardzhali | 1.34% |
| 20 | Varna | 1.26% |
People convicted per 10,000 residents (2024)
Plovdiv ranks 23 of 28, highest first. By place where the crime was committed
| Rank | Area | People convicted per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | Veliko Tarnovo | 34.2 |
| 21 | Varna | 32.0 |
| 22 | Pazardzhik | 30.8 |
| 23 | Plovdiv | 29.7 |
| 24 | Pernik | 29.5 |
| 25 | Blagoevgrad | 24.8 |
| 26 | Smolyan | 20.8 |
Living floor space per resident (square metres) (2024)
Plovdiv ranks 25 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Living floor space per resident (square metres) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Silistra | 39.2 |
| 23 | Ruse | 38.6 |
| 24 | Sofia (stolitsa) | 37.9 |
| 25 | Plovdiv | 37.4 |
| 26 | Razgrad | 37.1 |
| 27 | Shumen | 37.0 |
| 28 | Sliven | 36.3 |
New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents (2024)
Plovdiv ranks 6 of 28, highest first.
| Rank | Area | New dwellings completed per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 9 | Pernik | 2.84 |
More on Plovdiv: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government and politics · Yuzhen tsentralen · 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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