04.03.2021

Where in our country the standard of living is three times lower than the European one

The standard of living in the North-Western region of Bulgaria, which includes cities such as Vidin, Vratsa and Montana, is three times lower than the EU average, according to Eurostat data.

The gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, measured by purchasing power, in the North-Western region of Bulgaria is only 32% of the EU average. This part of Bulgaria is the poorest region in the EU, sharing the last place with the island of Mayotte - overseas territory of France. The low GDP per capita in Mayotte is explained by demographic factors - 44% of the population there is under 15 years old, according to Eurostat.

The next places in terms of poverty are the other regions of Bulgaria, except the one in which Sofia is. GDP per capita in the North Central region is 35% of the EU average, followed by the South Central region (37%), the Southeast (40%) and the Northeast (41%).

They have the highest standard of living in Luxembourg, where the GDP per capita is 260% of the EU average, according to Eurostat data. The next places are the southern part of Ireland (240%), Prague (205%) in the Czech Republic, Brussels and the eastern and central part of Ireland (202% each).

Then there is Hamburg (195%) in Germany. The high GDP per capita in these regions can be partly explained by the high influx of workers traveling to the workplace (Luxembourg, Prague, Brussels and Hamburg) or by the large capital assets held by some multinational companies registered in the regions (Ireland).

Labor productivity in EU countries varies widely. The GDP per worker is the lowest in the North Central region of Bulgaria - 12,700 euros. Then there are two other regions in Bulgaria - South Central (13,000 euros) and Northwestern (13,400 euros).

The EU average GDP per worker is 66,800 euros. The highest GDP per worker is in Southern Ireland - 205,500 euros. This "labor productivity" measures the total productivity of regional economies without adjustment according to price levels or average hours worked, according to Eurostat.

In which professions do they get the highest salaries

People's salaries vary widely depending on which country and economic activity they work in, according to Eurostat.

Information and communication workers, including IT experts, are the highest paid in twelve of the 27 EU Member States and second in four other countries. Bulgaria is among the countries where IT specialists are in first place in terms of salaries. Other countries where IT experts are best paid are Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Cyprus, Hungary, Ireland and Estonia.

The salaries of those working in the field of finance and insurance are also high. Although they are the highest paid employees in only four EU countries (France, Hungary, Malta and Sweden), financiers are second in pay in sixteen and third in six Member States.

Another high-income sector is electricity, gas, heating and air conditioning, which is the highest paid industry in six Member States and second in two others.

At the other end of the ranking are those working in the field of "Accommodation and food service activities". Maids and waiters are the worst paid in 23 EU countries. Exceptions are Greece, Malta and Slovenia (where they are in second place with the lowest salaries) and Croatia (where they are in third place).

Those working in the field of "Administrative and support services" are in second place in terms of the lowest salaries in almost half of the EU countries (in 12 out of 27) and are the lowest paid in three countries (Greece, Croatia and Slovenia).

In one of the countries with the highest standard of living, Luxembourg, education workers are the highest. In Cyprus, teachers are second in salaries.