Vidin is the district with the worst indicators for incomes and quality of life in the country. The decline in employment and the increase in unemployment in 2020 were not as high as in the rest of the country, but overall labor market indicators remained significantly less favorable. Investment and business activity is relatively weak. The infrastructure indicators are the lowest in the country. Vidin is the district with the lowest average rates of the monitored local taxes for 2021, and Gramada is the municipality with the lowest taxes not only in Vidin district, but also in the whole country. The 2021 self-assessments of the administration on the development of their e-government and the provision of one-stop-shop services are among the lowest in the country. The transparency ratings of local administrations also remain extremely low.
In 2020, Vidin remained the district with the most unfavorable demographic trends in the country. The number of teachers in primary and secondary education increased in 2020 and for the first time in three years was higher than the national average. The number of GPs remains relatively high, but healthcare suffers from a shortage of specialist physicians and hospital beds. Despite the low and still decreasing workload of criminal judges, the speed of delivery of justice is low. The relatively low share of the population living in cities is a factor for the relatively limited share of households with a connection to a public sewerage network. The performance of Vidin district in the field of culture is good.
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Vidin is the district with the worst indicators for incomes and quality of life. GDP per capita in the district of Vidin went on rising in 2019, reaching 8,700 BGN, but in the last two decades its difference with the national average has kept increasing. Employed people’s salaries have been increasing faster than the national average rate, but remain among the lowest in the country, after only those in Blagoevgrad district. The average annual income per household member in 2019 was 3,400 BGN, compared to 6,000 BGN nationwide, and was the lowest in the country. These trends affect the poverty levels in the district, which remain quite high. In 2019, the share of population living below the national poverty line was 35.0%, against 22.6% in the country, and of the population living with material deprivation – 31.0%, versus 19.9% countrywide.
Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (2019) |
8734.00 BGN >
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Statistical data in the past 20 years
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Average annual income per household member (2019) |
3437.00 BGN >
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Statistical data in the past 19 years
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Average annual gross salary (2019) |
10302.00 BGN >
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Statistical data in the past 17 years
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Relative share of population living in material deprivation (2019) |
31.00% >
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Statistical data in the past 2 years
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Relative share of people living below the country’s poverty line (2019) |
35.00% >
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Statistical data in the past 2 years
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Economic activity in the district decreased slightly in 2020 to 75.0%, compared to 73.7% in the country, but for the third consecutive year remained at a relatively high level. The decline in employment and the increase in unemployment in 2020 were not as high as in the rest of the country, but those indicators remain significantly less favorable. The employment rate was 55.7%, compared to 68.5% in the country, and the unemployment rate was 19.3%, against 5.2% in the country. The educational structure of the workforce has continued to deteriorate in recent years. The share of the population aged 25–64 with higher education fell to 18% in 2020, compared to 29% in the country, and the share of people with primary or lower education increased to 19%, versus 17% nationwide. One of the major challenges facing the local labor market is population ageing. The demographic replacement rate as a ratio of the population aged 15–19 to that aged 60–64 rose significantly after 2013, but in 2020 it remained lower than the national average – 65%, compared to 67% nationwide. This means that for every 100 people who are about to leave the labor market in the next few years, there will be 65 young people joining the workforce.
Unemployment rate of the population aged 15-64 (annual average) (2020) |
19.30% >
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Statistical data in the past 21 years
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Demographic replacement rate (2020) |
65.20% >
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Statistical data in the past 18 years
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Employment rate of the population aged 15-64 (annual average) (2020) |
55.70% >
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Statistical data in the past 21 years
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Relative share of the population aged 25-64 with tertiary education (2020) |
18.00% >
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Statistical data in the past 12 years
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Relative share of the population aged 25-64 with primary or lower education (2020) |
18.50% >
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Statistical data in the past 12 years
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Economic activity rate of the population aged 15-64 (annual average) (2020) |
75.00% >
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Statistical data in the past 13 years
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Investment and business activity in Vidin district remained relatively low in 2019. The number of non-financial enterprises relative to the population grew, but again remained among the lowest in the country. Vidin recorded the lowest values (almost four times lower than the average ones) for the volumes of FTA acquisition expenditures – 839 BGN/person, compared to 3,155 BGN/person in the country, and production value - 7,600 BGN/person, against 28,000 BGN/person nationwide. FDI in the district was in a similar situation. After a three-year steady increase, by the end of 2019 it had reached 1,052 EUR/person, but still remained considerably lower than the national average of 3,655 EUR/person. By 15 June 2021, payments made to beneficiaries of EU operational programs were close to the national average, with the municipalities of Belogradchik and Vidin taking the top places within the district.
Number of non-financial companies per 1,000 people (2019) |
37.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 20 years
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Expenditures for acquisition of fixed tangible assets per capita (2019) |
839.00BGN >
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Statistical data in the past 20 years
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EU funds (for municipalities) per capita (2021) |
2228.00 BGN >
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Statistical data in the past 8 years
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Foreign direct investment in non-financial enterprises per capita (cumulative) (2019) |
1052.00 EUR >
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Statistical data in the past 18 years
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Vidin is the district with the worst infrastructure indicators in the country. The density of the road and railway networks is close to the national average. However, the share of first-class roads and highways (11.6%, compared to 18.5% in the country in 2020), and that of the road surfaces in good condition (28.4%, compared to 41.4% in the country in 2019) are considerably lower than the national averages. Household access to the Internet remains low and in 2020 it even dropped to 44.8%, compared to 78.9% nationwide. Vidin is one of the two districts (along with Smolyan) without any household gas supply infrastructure.
Road network density (2020) |
20.20 km/100 sq.km >
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Statistical data in the past 21 years
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Railway network density (2020) |
3.60 km/100 sq.km >
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Statistical data in the past 21 years
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Relative share of motorways and first class roads (2020) |
11.60% >
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Statistical data in the past 12 years
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Relative share of households with Internet access (2020) |
44.80% >
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Statistical data in the past 15 years
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Relative share of people (aged 16 to 74) that have used Internet in the past 12 months (2017) |
62.60% >
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Statistical data in the past 12 years
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Share of roads in good condition (2019) |
28.40% >
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Statistical data in the past 14 years
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In 2021, Vidin was the district with the lowest rates for the monitored local taxes. In general, the averaged total rate of the taxes in the district was lower than the national average. The difference was especially big as regards the taxation on retail trade – 4.46 BGN/sq. m on average for the district, against 12.99 BGN/sq. m in the country. The level of taxation on motor vehicles was also extremely low. Gramada is the municipality with the lowest taxes not only in Vidin district, but also in the whole country.
Immovable property tax for legal entities (2021) |
1.75‰ >
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Statistical data in the past 10 years
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Vehicle tax (commercial and passenger vehicles, 74 kW to 110 kW) (2021) |
1.25 leva/kW >
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Statistical data in the past 2 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) (2021) |
4.46 leva/sq.m >
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Statistical data in the past 10 years
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Annual waste collection charge for properties of legal entities (2018) |
8.00‰ >
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Statistical data in the past 7 years
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Local tax on the sale of immovable property (2021) |
2.58‰ >
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Statistical data in the past 10 years
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Average annual taxi service patent tax (2021) |
275.00 BGN >
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Statistical data in the past 5 years
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Vidin is also the district with the worst performance of the local administrations. In 2021 the district municipalities’ self-assessments on the development of their e-government and the provision of one-stop-shop services were among the lowest in the country. The AIP active transparency rating of the local administrations also remains extremely low and has even decreased in the past two years, moving down to 60% versus 73% in the country. Within the district, the highest result was recorded by Belogradchik municipality (93%), and the lowest – by the municipalities of Boynitsa and Gramada (44%).
Share of territory included in cadastral map (2019) |
89.30% >
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Statistical data in the past 12 years
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Level of development of local government e-services (2021) |
2.75/5 >
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Statistical data in the past 10 years
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Level of development of one-stop shop services (2021) |
2.26/5 >
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Statistical data in the past 9 years
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Transparency rating (2021) |
60.20% >
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Statistical data in the past 8 years
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Local Integrity System Index (2016) |
2.84/5.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 1 years
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Vidin remains the district with the most unfavorable demographic picture in the country for 2020. The natural population growth rate fell rapidly and reached its lowest value of –21.9‰, compared to –9.5‰ in the country. At the same time, however, 2020 was the first year in at least two decades in which the district managed to attract population. The net migration rate was 2.1‰. The long period of rapid population ageing is also reflected in the extremely unfavorable age dependency ratios in the district. The ratio of the population 65+ to those aged 0–14 reached 251.2%, compared to 150.6% in the country, and to those aged 15–64 it was 51.5%, versus 34.1% in the country. The share of urban population remained relatively low in 2020, while population density was almost twice as low as the national average.
Old age dependancy ratio 65+ to 0-15 (2020) |
251.20% >
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Statistical data in the past 20 years
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Old age dependancy ratio 65+ to 15-64 (2020) |
51.50% >
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Statistical data in the past 20 years
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Share of urban population (2020) |
64.60% >
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Statistical data in the past 20 years
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Population density (calculated based on populated areas and other urban areas) (2020) |
837.00people/sq.km >
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Statistical data in the past 21 years
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Natural growth rate (2020) |
-21.90‰ >
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Statistical data in the past 20 years
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Net migration rate (2020) |
2.10‰ >
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Statistical data in the past 20 years
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The performance of Vidin district in the field of education is unsatisfactory. In 2020, the district was once again among those with the lowest net enrollment rate in 5th–8th grade – 80.8%, compared to 86.5% in the country. The share of repeaters remained double the national average. The performance of students in the 2021 national external examination in mathematics after 7th grade was again extremely poor. With an average score of 28.4 points (against 37.9 points in the country) the district occupied the second lowest place in the country, followed only by Sliven district. The performance of high school graduates was better but also below the national average. The average grade in the State matriculation exam in Bulgarian language and literature was 4.12, compared to 4.21 nationally, while the share of “fail” grades (below 3.00) was lower – 6%, against 7% nationwide. The number of teachers in primary and secondary education relative to student numbers went up in 2020 and for the first time in three years was higher than the national average. Positive trends can be observed in higher education. In the academic year 2020/2021, the branch of the University of Ruse, which opened in Vidin in 2017, already had an enrolment of nearly 450 students.
Students in colleges and universities 1000 people (2020) |
6.00 students >
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Statistical data in the past 18 years
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Net enrolment rate of the population (grades 5th through 8th) (2020) |
80.80% >
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Statistical data in the past 3 years
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Relative share of repeaters (2020) |
1.06% >
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Statistical data in the past 10 years
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Share of dropouts from primary and secondary education (2019) |
2.30% >
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Statistical data in the past 20 years
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Percent of failed students at state matriculation exams (2021) |
6.40 >
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Statistical data in the past 14 years
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Average grades at state matriculation exams (2021) |
4.12 >
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Statistical data in the past 14 years
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Teachers in primary and secondary education per 1000 pupils (2020) |
90.00 teachers >
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Statistical data in the past 21 years
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Relative share of the population aged 25-64 with tertiary education (2014) |
17.20% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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The share of people with health insurance dropped in 2020 to 91.2% but still exceeded the national average of 88.7%. The proportion of GPs remains relatively high but healthcare in the district suffers from a shortage of specialist physicians and hospital beds. The number of beds in the local general hospitals has been rising in the past few years but it still remains relatively low – 4.08 beds per 1,000 persons, compared to 5.52 beds per 1,000 persons in the country. This probably explains the relatively low hospitalization figures in 2020 – 105 per 1,000 persons, versus 138 per 1,000 persons countrywide. The infant mortality rate in Vidin district dropped sharply in 2020, after a significant rise over the previous two years, and came down to 4.2‰, compared to 5.1‰ in the country. In 2019, infant mortality figures rose considerably for the second consecutive year, reaching 9.1‰, compared to 5.6‰ as the national average.
Number of people per general practitioner (2020) |
1465.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 20 years
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Number of people per doctor of a leading medical specialty (2018) |
576.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 9 years
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Health insured persons as share of the population (2020) |
91.20% >
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Statistical data in the past 18 years
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Number of beds in Multi-profile Hospitals for AMT per 1 000 people (2020) |
4.08 >
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Statistical data in the past 20 years
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Cases of hospitalization in Multi-profile AMT Hospitals per 1 000 people (2020) |
105.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 2 years
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Infant mortality rate (2020) |
4.20‰ >
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Statistical data in the past 17 years
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Despite the low and still decreasing workload of the criminal judges in Vidin district, the speed of delivery of justice remained low in 2020, with the number of cases closed within 3 months at 88%, compared to 90% in the country. Vidin is also among the districts with the highest crime rate. In 2020, the registered crimes against the person and property were 12.5 per 1,000 persons, against 9.9 per 1,000 persons in the country. At the same time, however, the detection rate was slightly higher than the national average – 54.5%, versus 52.1% countrywide.
Share of criminal cases closed in the first 3 months (2020) |
88.00% >
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Statistical data in the past 12 years
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Share of pending criminal cases (2020) |
15.20% >
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Statistical data in the past 12 years
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Actual workload of penal judges (2020) |
4.30 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 (2020) |
12.50 >
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Statistical data in the past 17 years
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Clearance rate for crimes against the person and property, registered throughout the year (2020) |
54.50% >
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Statistical data in the past 17 years
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Carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere in the district remained extremely low in 2019. The amount of generated household waste in 2018 was also low – 339 kg/person per year, compared to the national average of 409 kg/person. At the same time, however, the share of household waste handed over for treatment and recycling remained very small – less than 10%, with over 70% countrywide. The relatively low share of population living in urban areas is a factor for the relatively limited share of households connected to a public sewerage system in 2019 (57.9% of the population, compared to 76.4% in the country) and to wastewater treatment plants (49.5%, against 64.6% in the country). It should be noted, however, that great progress was recorded in the district after the opening of the new wastewater treatment plant in Vidin in October 2019 – previously the share of the treated sewage amounted to only 0.5%.
Household waste generated per capita of serviced population (2018) |
339.00 кг./човек >
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Statistical data in the past 15 years
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Share of the population living in settlements with public sewerage systems, connected to WWTP (2019) |
49.50% >
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Statistical data in the past 14 years
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Share of population living in settlements with public sewerage systems (2019) |
57.90% >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Emissions of carbon dioxide per sq. km. of the territory (2019) |
2.50 tonnes/sq.km >
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Statistical data in the past 18 years
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In 2020 Vidin again performed well in the category of culture. The pandemic and restrictions on cultural events throughout the country affected the district as well. The drop in museum visits was less dramatic and their number remained significantly higher than the national average – 1,139 per 1,000 persons, compared to 322 per 1,000 persons in the country. Nevertheless, the decrease in visits to cinemas and libraries in the district was higher than the respective national averages, and their number remained considerably lower.
Number of visits to cinemas per 1,000 people of the average annual population (2020) |
102.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 7 years
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Number of visits to theatres per 1,000 people of the average annual population (2019) |
423.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 11 years
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Number of visits to museums per 1,000 people of the average annual population (2020) |
1139.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 12 years
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Number of visits to libraries per 1,000 people of the average annual population (2020) |
370.00 >
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Statistical data in the past 12 years
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(tbc)