Smolyan district - good education and low crime rate, but ageing population
Gross domestic product, wages and pensions in Smolyan continue to increase. The poverty rate is decreasing. Employment and unemployment are rising, both remaining relatively unfavourable. Business and investment activity has improved. The district lacks railways, motorways and first class roads. Local taxes are relatively low. Smolyan is among the three districts with the lowest share of own revenues in total municipal revenues and has the second lowest coverage of municipal expenditures by local revenues. The district's population is among the oldest in the country. Smolyan continues to be one of the districts with the best educational performance. The health insurance system practically covers the entire population of the district. The workload of local courts is relatively low, which affects the speed of justice. Smolyan is the district with the lowest number of registered crimes. It also ranks first in terms of the highest proportion of forested territory and the lowest in terms of disturbed territory. The intensity of cultural life remains low, but tourism is strong.