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Wages and pensions continue to increase, but are still relatively low. The poverty rate in the district is shrinking but remains high. The development of the local labour market is unsatisfactory. Domestic investment has increased significantly, but external investment has lagged behind. As a consequence of the low level of urbanisation, a relatively small proportion of the population lives in settlements with public sanitation. The average level of local taxes in Silistra District is relatively low. The share of own revenue from municipal revenue is extremely low. Silistra is among the districts with the worst demographic picture. Student performance is relatively poor. The match between vocational education and the profile of the local economy is high. Health care suffers from a lack of doctors. The workload of local judges is significantly below average. The number of crimes is rising but remains relatively low and the detection rate is high. Silistra is also among the lowest performing districts in environmental indicators. Tourism in the district is not well developed.

The gross domestic product per capita in the district is growing and is the ninth highest in the country. Both employment and unemployment remain relatively favorable. A significant increase, which puts Ruse in first place, is observed in the share of export revenues in net sales revenues. Ruse is among the districts with the highest density of the railway network in the country. The average amount of local taxes is above the average levels in the country. The transparency rating of local government bodies is decreasing slightly, but remains above the average. The natural population growth has deteriorated significantly. The performance of students is approaching the average. The number of students compared to the population ranks the district among the leaders in this indicator. Healthcare continues to suffer from a lack of general practitioners. The number of crimes is increasing, but remains relatively low, and their detection rate is above the average for the country. The installed RES capacities are extremely small. Ruse is among the districts with an intensive cultural life, but the tourism sector is not very well represented.

The gross domestic product in the district continues to grow, but at a lower than average rate, and its value per capita remains relatively low. Employment and unemployment are increasing simultaneously. Investment and business activity in the district are reporting some improvement. The share of motorways and first-class roads, as well as that of road surfaces in good condition, are extremely low. The average level of local taxes in the municipalities of Razgrad district is significantly lower than the national average. Self-assessment of the development of e-government is increasing.

Over the past 10 years, Haskovo and Stara Zagora have followed a trajectory of moderate growth, followed by an energy-driven explosion in Stara Zagora after the pandemic. Haskovo, on the other hand, is gradually falling behind national trends, and in 2023 is already the least developed district in the country. Investment has seen gradual growth, doubling in both districts within a decade. Labour market trends are similar, but Stara Zagora comes out on top in both employment and unemployment at the end of the period. Both districts have enjoyed positive migration in recent years, but ageing processes continue.

The Institute for Market Economics held a special presentation for the international community of the latest edition of Regional Profiles: Indicators of Development on March 12 at the International Center of UniCredit Bulbank in Sofia. The event showcased key findings from the publication and offered insights into regional challenges and Bulgaria’s prospects for adopting the euro in 2026.

The gross domestic product per capita is slowing down and lagging behind the average values ​​for the country. Employment is increasing and unemployment is decreasing, but both indicators are relatively unfavorable. The value of manufactured goods and the share of export revenues have shown significant growth. The share of households with Internet access is increasing, but remains relatively low. The average tax rate on non-residential real estate of legal entities is the highest in the country. The coverage of municipal expenses with local revenues is higher than the average. The natural growth rate continues to be strongly negative. The district is also failing to attract population. The representation of students remains weak. Pleven is a district with strong traditions in the field of healthcare and ranks first in this category. The workload of local criminal judges is relatively low, which also affects the speed of justice. Pleven is the district with the lowest share of forest territory, but the share of disturbed territory is also small. Cultural and tourist life are of low intensity.

The problem of limited access to medicines in many settlements across the country is not recent and at this stage is very far from being solved. But are we at least moving in the right direction and is the state taking actions that help overcome it?