For the first time a Bulgarian region tops the EU GDP growth rankings

Yuzhen Tsentralen (South Central) region, one of the 6 planning regions in Bulgaria, had the most significant growth in real gross domestic product (GDP) in the EU in 2024, Eurostat announced. The volume of economic growth in the region covering the districts of Plovdiv, Pazardzhik, Smolyan, Kardzhali and Haskovo in 2024, adjusted for inflation, reached 11.6 percent compared to 2023.

The 11.6 percent growth is the largest recorded by the economy of the region since 2001, when data started to be collected. Also, for the first time in 2024, a Bulgarian region took the lead in economic growth in Europe. After the South Central region in Bulgaria, the region with the largest GDP growth in 2024 was the Eastern and Midland region of Ireland - 8.5 percent. In third position is another Bulgarian region - North Central with 8.4 percent.

Editor: Ivo Ivanov