The region

 

The South Central Region covers an area of 22,365.1 square kilometers, accounting for 20.1% of the country’s total territory. The territorial structure is as follows: agricultural land accounts for 48.1%, forest land for 45.1%, and urbanized areas for only 3.9%. The South Central Region is among the most biodiverse regions in the country. It encompasses a large part of the Central Balkan National Park, part of the Rila National Park, and the entire Rhodope Mountains range. The region is home to 11 nature reserves, 9 managed reserves, 155 protected areas, and 98 natural landmarks. The region also contains the largest number of Natura 2000 protected areas – 44.5% of the country’s total.

As of December 31, 2011, the region’s population was 1,471,107, accounting for 20.08% of the country’s total population, making it the second-most populated region in Bulgaria after the Southwest Region. Within the region, Plovdiv Province has the largest population – 680,884 people – while Smolyan Province has the smallest – 120,456 people.

The population density is 65.8 people per km², slightly lower than the national average of 66.01. The Plovdiv region has the highest population density – 114.0 people per km² – which is well above the national average.

The economic development in the South-Central Region is relatively stable. The service sector dominates, accounting for 54.22% of regional GDP, which is 9.82 percentage points lower than the national average of 63.82%, according to 2009 data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The industrial sector plays an important role and makes a significant contribution to the regional (and national) economy, with a share of 38.31%, compared to the national average of 31.33%. The agricultural sector accounts for 7.47% of the region’s GDP, which is significantly higher than the national average of 4.84%.

The development of tourism is becoming increasingly important for economic growth and employment in the region. Favorable natural conditions, as well as the region’s cultural and historical heritage, accumulated experience in providing tourism services, and the largely established tourism infrastructure and facilities, contribute to the expansion of the tourism industry and an increase in tourism revenue. Winter tourism still dominates the region. It is necessary to seek new forms and products in tourism that make fuller use of the region’s natural, cultural, agricultural, and business potential, and especially to offer a greater number of high-quality tourism products for international tourism.

The healthcare system in the South Central Region is relatively well-developed and meets the healthcare needs of the population in accordance with national standards. In 2010, the inpatient care sector comprised 69 hospitals with a total of 9,840 beds.

The availability of educational services and the provision of high-quality professional and specialized education to meet the needs of the regional economy are at levels close to the national average. In terms of its network of higher education institutions, the region is one of the leaders, ranking second only to the Southwest region. It is home to six universities and two colleges.

European transport corridors No. 4, No. 8, and No. 9 pass through the territory of the South Central Region. The following are of the greatest importance for the integration of the South Central Region into the national and European road networks: the Maritsa Motorway and Road E-80, as part of European Transport Corridor No. 4; the Trakia Motorway and Road E-773, as part of Corridor No. 8; and Road I-5, which is part of the road infrastructure of Corridor No. 9.

The total length of railway lines in the region as of December 31, 2011, was 776 km, accounting for 19.05% of the country’s railway network. Given that rail transport has a lower environmental impact than road transport, proper organization and efforts to increase the attractiveness of rail transport would contribute significantly to increasing the share of passengers and freight transported and enhancing the competitiveness of the regional economy.

Air transport is served by Plovdiv Airport EAD, which has international status. It has good transportation links to the capital, and there is a train station on the Sofia-Plovdiv-Burgas/Svilengrad railway line near the airport.

According to NSI data for 2010, 97.7% of the population in the region is connected to the public water supply system, and only 0.1% of the population is subject to water rationing. The South Central Region ranks first among the country’s regions in terms of reducing losses during the transmission of drinking water.

According to NSI data for 2010, the relative share of the population served by wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the South-Central Region is 31.9%. In 2010, this proportion was lower than the national average of 47.6%, with the region ranking fifth, ahead of only the North Central Region (27.5%).

The South Central Region has been identified as a polluted area in terms of air, water, and soil, due to the presence of a large number of areas with accumulated environmental problems – Plovdiv, Kardzhali, Dimitrovgrad, and Asenovgrad. The pollution consists primarily of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and fine particulate matter.

Despite the pollution in the area, numerous ecologically pristine areas have been identified, primarily in the mountainous regions.