GDP, salaries, and incomes in Pazardzhik district have continued to grow, but remain relatively low. The employment rate is falling and the unemployment rate is rising. Investment and business activity in the area are not particularly brisk. However, production value continues to rise. Pazardzhik is the district with the highest rating for infrastructural development. The average amount of local taxes is relatively low. The AIP active transparency rating of the local administration has been decreasing and remains relatively low.
Age dependency ratios in the district continue to worsen but remain more favorable than the national average. Students’ results again remain relatively low. Access to GPs in the district is better than the country average but there is an obvious shortage of specialist physicians. The number of crimes remains relatively small, and their detection rate is close to the country average. Connectivity to wastewater treatment plants lags significantly behind. Cultural life in the Pazardzhik region is among the least intense in the country.
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In 2020, GDP, salaries, and incomes in Pazardzhik district continued to grow and their rate of increase was higher than the national average, though remaining relatively low. GDP per capita reached 11,000 BGN, compared to 17,300 BGN in the country on average. The gross annual salary of employed persons was 13,100 BGN, compared to 16,700 BGN in the country. These developments account for the falling poverty levels of the local population. The share of people living with material deprivation has dropped to 23.3%, compared to 19.4% in the country, and those living below the national poverty line make up 30.6% of the residents, versus the national average of 22.1%.
Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (2021) |
11653.00 BGN >
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Statistical data in the past 10 years
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Average annual gross salary (2021) |
14842.00 BGN >
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Statistical data in the past 10 years
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Relative share of people living below the country’s poverty line (2022) |
27.00% >
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Statistical data in the past 5 years
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Average pension (2021) |
488.00BGN >
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Statistical data in the past 8 years
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Gini coefficient of income inequality (2022) |
37.40/100 >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Economic activity in Pazardzhik district is traditionally close to, but below the national average. In 2021, its rate decreased somewhat and reached 70.3%, versus 72.0% in the country. This drop was accompanied by a fall in employment and a rise in unemployment. The employment rate decreased to 64.9%, compared to 68.1% nationally, and that of unemployment went up to 7.7%, versus the national average of 5.3%. The educational profile of the workforce remains a persistent challenge facing the local labor market. In 2021, the share of people with a university degree continued to decrease and came down to 15.2%, against an average of 29.6% in the country, while those with primary or lower education increased to 27.2%, versus 16.6% nationally. The demographic replacement ratio of people aged 15–19 to those aged 60–64 is 67.4%, compared to the national average of 69.4%. This means that for every 100 people who are about to leave the workforce in the next few years, there are 67 young people who will join the labor market.
Unemployment rate of the population aged 15-64 (annual average) (2022) |
7.30% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Demographic replacement rate (2022) |
57.20% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Employment rate of the population aged 15-64 (annual average) (2022) |
68.70% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Relative share of the population aged 25-64 with tertiary education (2022) |
14.50% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Relative share of the population aged 25-64 with primary or lower education (2022) |
25.60% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Economic activity rate of the population aged 15-64 (annual average) (2022) |
72.70% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Share of the working-age population (2022) |
57.80% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Investment and business activity in Pazardzhik district were again not particularly brisk in 2020. The number of enterprises remained low – 44 per 1,000 persons, against the national average of 60 per 1,000 persons. There was an outflow of foreign and domestic direct investment. FTA acquisition expenditures in the same year marked a considerable decrease (by 15%) to 1,900 BGN/person, against the national figure of 3,300 BGN/person, and FDI fell by 10% to 1,700 EUR/person, compared to 3,900 EUR/person countrywide. In spite of that, production value in Pazardzhik district continued to rise and reached 17,000 BGN/person, against 27,200 BGN/person in the country. As regards utilization of EU funding, Pazardzhik district has recorded some increase yet the amounts remain relatively low. By 30 June 2022, payments made in the district to beneficiaries of EU operational programs amounted to 1,600 BGN/person. Within the district, the municipality with the highest rate of utilization was Panagyurishte.
Number of non-financial companies per 1,000 people (2021) |
44.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 16 years
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Expenditures for acquisition of fixed tangible assets per capita (2021) |
2372.00BGN >
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Statistical data in the past 13 years
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EU funds (for municipalities) per capita (2023) |
1903.00 BGN >
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Statistical data in the past 10 years
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Foreign direct investment in non-financial enterprises per capita (cumulative) (2021) |
1807.00 EUR >
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Statistical data in the past 14 years
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Research and development expenditure per capita (2021) |
63.00BGN >
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Statistical data in the past 9 years
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Production value per capita (2021) |
20367.00BGN >
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Statistical data in the past 10 years
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Pazardzhik is the district with the highest rating as regards infrastructural development. In 2021, the density of its railroad network again remained higher than the national average. The road network density and the share of motorways and first-class roads were lower than the respective national average figures but road surface quality remained relatively high. The share of the road surface in good condition increased to 55%, compared to 42% in the country. In 2019, the district population’s access to the internet continued its rapid rise and remained above the national average – 85.1% in the district, versus 83.5% nationwide. Pazardzhik district is the country’s leader in installed RES capacities – 4.2 kW/person, compared to 0.6 kW/person in the country.
Road network density (2022) |
16.90 km/100 sq.km >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Railway network density (2022) |
4.10 km/100 sq.km >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Relative share of motorways and first class roads (2022) |
14.60% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Relative share of households with Internet access (2022) |
85.10% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Share of roads in good condition (2022) |
57.70% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Share of households with access to natural gas (2020) |
3.10% >
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Statistical data in the past 1 years
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The average level of local taxes in the municipalities of Pazardzhik district again remained relatively low in 2022. Out of the five monitored taxes, the only exception was the tax rate on non-gratuitous acquisition of property, which was higher, albeit slightly, than the national average. Considerably lower than the average ones in the country were the local tax rates on non-residential real estate of legal entities, motor vehicles, taxi transportation, and retail trade. Within the district, the municipalities of Sarnitsa and Bratsigovo levy the highest local taxes, while the lowest rates are in the municipalities of Pazardzhik, Velingrad, and Lesichovo.
Immovable property tax for legal entities (2022) |
1.92‰ >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Vehicle tax (commercial and passenger vehicles, 74 kW to 110 kW) (2022) |
1.45 leva/kW >
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Statistical data in the past 3 years
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Annual license tax for retailers (up to 100 sq.m. of retail space - for most favourable location of the site) (2022) |
8.95 leva/sq.m >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Local tax on the sale of immovable property (2022) |
2.77‰ >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Average annual taxi service patent tax (2022) |
294.00 BGN >
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Statistical data in the past 6 years
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Cadastral map coverage now includes practically the whole of the district’s territory. In 2022, the local authorities’ self-assessment on the development of e-government and on the provision of one-stop-shop services retained in general its level and remained considerably below the national average. The performance of the district’s e-government was rated at an average of 3.12 p. out of 4 p., versus the national average of 3.47 p., and the provision of one-stop-shop services – at 3.08 p. out of 4 p., compared to 3.37 p. nationally. The AIP Active transparency ratings of the local administration went down in 2022 to 65.3%, against the national average of 70.2%, and remained relatively low.
Level of development of local government e-services (2023) |
3.22/4 >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Level of development of one-stop shop services (2023) |
3.10/4 >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Transparency rating (2023) |
65.20% >
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Statistical data in the past 8 years
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Share of own income in total income (2022) |
22.60% >
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Statistical data in the past 8 years
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Municipal expenditure coverage with own income (2022) |
66.20% >
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Statistical data in the past 8 years
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In 2021, the natural population growth rate dropped considerably for the second year in a row, reaching –14.0‰ and thus settling below the national figure of –13.2‰. At the same time, Pazardzhik fails to attract new residents, and the net migration rate is also negative at –1.8‰. Age dependency ratios continue to deteriorate but remain more favorable than in the country on average. In 2021, the ratio of people aged 65+ to those aged 0–14 reached 139.7%, compared to 149.3% in the country, and of people aged 65+ to those aged 15–64 it was 33.2%, against 34.0% nationally. The urban population in Pazardzhik district remains relatively low – 62.7%, versus the national average of 73.1%, while the average density of the population living in urban settlements is relatively high – 2,041 persons/sq. km, against 1,489 persons/sq. km on average nationwide.
Old age dependancy ratio 65+ to 0-15 (2022) |
167.90% >
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Statistical data in the past 1 years
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Old age dependancy ratio 65+ to 15-64 (2022) |
38.50% >
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Statistical data in the past 1 years
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Share of urban population (2022) |
61.40% >
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Statistical data in the past 1 years
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Population density (calculated based on populated areas and other urban areas) (2022) |
1867.00people/sq.km >
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Statistical data in the past 1 years
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Natural growth rate (2022) |
-10.50‰ >
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Statistical data in the past 1 years
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Net migration rate (2022) |
4.20‰ >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Pazardzhik is among the districts with the worst performance in the indicators for the education category. In 2021, the rate of enrolment in 5th-8th grade dropped for the third year in a row, reaching 78.4%, against the national average of 85.9%. The percentages of repeaters and dropouts from primary and secondary education were also excessively high. The relative number of teachers has shrunk slightly but continues to exceed the national average. The figures for the average results of the district’s students in 2022 again remain relatively low. The average score in the external examination in mathematics at the end of 7th grade was 30.1 points, versus 35.3 points in the country. The average grade in the State matriculation exam in Bulgarian language and literature was “Good” 3.80 in the district, compared to 3.97 nationally. The share of “fail” grades (below 3.00) dropped by 1 p.p. to 21.2%, versus the average of 17% nationwide.
Students in colleges and universities 1000 people (2022) |
0.00 students >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Net enrolment rate of the population (grades 5th through 8th) (2022) |
88.90% >
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Statistical data in the past 6 years
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Relative share of repeaters (2022) |
2.00% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Percent of failed students at state matriculation exams (2023) |
25.30 >
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Statistical data in the past 12 years
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Average grades at state matriculation exams (2023) |
3.54 >
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Statistical data in the past 12 years
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Share of children in kindergarten (2022) |
84.60% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Average grade in the National external examination in mathematics after 7th grade (2023) |
29.50points/100 >
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Statistical data in the past 6 years
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Match between vocational education and economic structure index (2023) |
40.20points/100 >
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Statistical data in the past 2 years
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The share of people with health insurance in Pazardzhik district again remained low in 2021 – 85.8%, against 88.7% in the country. Access to GPs in the district is better than the national average but there is a definite shortage of specialist physicians. The provision of beds in the local general hospitals is traditionally higher than average and in 2021 there were 6.68 beds per 1,000 persons, versus the national average of 5.62 beds per 1,000 persons. Hospitalization figures are extremely high – 277 per 1,000 persons, versus 222.6 per 1,000 persons nationally. Infant mortality in the district continues to decrease and for the first time in at least ten years is below the national average.
Number of people per general practitioner (2022) |
1598.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Health insured persons as share of the population (2022) |
93.00% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Number of beds in Multi-profile Hospitals for AMT per 1 000 people (2022) |
7.30 >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Cases of hospitalization in Multi-profile AMT Hospitals per 1 000 people (2022) |
302.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 4 years
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Infant mortality rate (2022) |
6.50‰ >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Access to specilist phisicians index (2022) |
11.90/100 >
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Statistical data in the past 5 years
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Average life expectancy at birth (2022) |
71.80years >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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The workloads of the local criminal judges are lower than the national average and this affects the speed of delivery of justice. In 2021, one local judge heard an average of 7.9 cases a month, compared to 9.0 cases nationally. The share of criminal cases closed within 3 months was 92%, against the national average of 89%, and pending cases amounted to 7%, compared to the national average of 12%. The number of crimes remains relatively small, while their detection rate is close to the country’s average. In 2021, the registered crimes against the person and property amounted to 7.3 per 1,000 persons, versus 9.8 per 1,000 persons nationwide. The detection rate was 52.7%, compared to the national figure of 51.7%.
Share of criminal cases closed in the first 3 months (2022) |
95.00% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Share of pending criminal cases (2022) |
6.60% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Actual workload of penal judges (2022) |
0.10 cases/judge/month >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Crimes against the person and property per 1000 people (2022) |
7.70 >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Clearance rate for crimes against the person and property, registered throughout the year (2022) |
52.41% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Although in districts with a relatively high share of rural population connectivity to public sewerage systems is usually limited, in Pazardzhik district such access in 2020 was close to the country’s average – 72.6%, compared to 76.3% nationally. However, connectivity to wastewater treatment plants lags significantly behind, with 43.7%, versus 66.7% nationally. The amount of household waste generated in the district remains relatively small – in 2020 it was 367 kg/person, compared to 409 kg/person in the country. At the same time, however, the share of waste handed over for treatment and recycling also remained extremely limited – 15.4%, versus 69.3% nationally. Pazardzhik is the district with the second highest share of forest areas, with only Smolyan outranking it – 54.9% in the district, versus 33.1% countrywide. The degraded land, for its part, is close to the national average – 0.42%.
Household waste generated per capita of serviced population (2020) |
367.00 кг./човек >
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Statistical data in the past 17 years
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Share of the population living in settlements with public sewerage systems, connected to WWTP (2020) |
43.70% >
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Statistical data in the past 15 years
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Share of population living in settlements with public sewerage systems (2020) |
72.60% >
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Statistical data in the past 12 years
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In 2021, cultural life in Pazardzhik district again remained among the least active in the country. Attendance to various cultural events went up somewhat but this was insufficient to make up for the huge shrinking in the year before, caused by the onset of the pandemic and the ensuing restrictions on all public events. Cinema visits reached 121 per 1,000 persons, with 351 per 1,000 persons nationwide. Visits to local theatres and museums were close to the respective national averages – 152 per 1,000 persons, compared to 129 per 1,000 persons, and 409 per 1,000 persons versus 426 per 1,000 persons nationwide. Visits to libraries remain relatively low – 204 per 1,000 people in the district, compared to 449 per 1,000 people in the country.
Number of visits to cinemas per 1,000 people of the average annual population (2021) |
121.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 13 years
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Number of visits to theatres per 1,000 people of the average annual population (2021) |
152.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 13 years
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Number of visits to museums per 1,000 people of the average annual population (2021) |
409.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 13 years
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Number of visits to libraries per 1,000 people of the average annual population (2021) |
204.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 13 years
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