Vratsa Province

Vratsa Province is a Bulgarian province located in the northwestern part of the country, between Danube river in the north and Stara Planina mountain in the south. It is named after its main town - Vratsa. As of December 2009, the province has a population of 196,829 inhabitants, on territory of 3,619.7 km².

Population

The Vratsa province had a population of 243,036 according to a 2001 census, of which 7001491000000000000♠49.1% were male and 7001509000000000000♠50.9% were female. As of the end of 2009, the population of the province, announced by the Bulgarian National Statistical Institute, numbered 196,829 of which 7001272000000000000♠27.2% are inhabitants aged over 60 years.

The following table represents the change of the population in the province after World War II:

Vratsa Province Year 1946 1956 1965 1975 1985 1992 2001 2005 2007 2009 2011 Population 289,811 292,555 294,090 275,428 267,403 252,039 243,036 212,656 202,711 196,829 186 848 Sources: National Statistical Institute, „Census 2001“, „Census 2011“, „pop-stat.mashke.org“,??

Ethnic groups

Ethnic groups in Vratsa Province (2011 census) Ethnic group Percentage Bulgarians   92.7% Gypsies   6.2% others and indefinable   1.1%

Total population (2011 census): 186 848

Ethnic groups (2011 census): Identified themselves: 163 035 persons:

• Bulgarians: 151 183 (92,73%)
• Gypsies: 10 082 (6,18%)
• Others and indefinable: 1 770 (1,09%)

A further 23 000 persons in Vratsa Province did not declare their ethnic group at the 2011 census.

Religion

Religions in Vratsa Province (2001 census) Religious group Percentage Orthodox Christian   94.4% Muslim   1.7% Roman Catholic Christian   0.5% Protestant Christian   0.2% others and indefinable   3.2%

Religious adherence in the province according to 2001 census:

Census 2001 religious adherence population % Orthodox Christians 229,452 94.41% Muslims 4,223 1.74% Roman Catholics 1,116 0.46% Protestants 394 0.16% Other 995 0.41% Religion not mentioned 6,856 2.82% total 243,036 100%

Workforce

The economically active population is 48,892, employed as follows: in the services sector - 27,685, in the industry - 19,020, in the agriculture - 2,187. The population has increased since the year 2000, and are mostly in private labour employment. The rate of unemployment is higher than the Bulgarian average, and the aim of the provincial policy is to implement programs to resolve this problem. The labour force distribution in the basic economic sectors is the following - in the industry - 38.9%, in the agriculture - 4.5% and in services - 56.6%. The decrease of the number and relative share of the employees in the public sector is matched by an increase in the private sector. The proportion of workforce in state and private sectors is 44.2% to 55.8%. The higher level of education stipulates a higher employment rate. In the province predominates the number of employees of secondary education. On the labour market, the number of specialists of higher education decreases in favour of those without education. The average salary level for the province is 297 levs.

Current priority industry sectors

The natural peculiarities of Vratsa Province contribute to the development of agriculture, lumber industry and electricity production. Major companies are the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, of national importance; Chimco AD - fertilizer factory, Beloizvorski cement - cement factory and brewery; Ledenika AD - joint stock company; Centromet AD - centrifugal casting; Vratitsa LTD - yarns, raw and finished fabrics, sewing articles; OMK Holding - machining and machinery, tooling equipment, foundry, special production; Hemus-M AD - limestone, slabs, tiles, blocks, columns; Sunnytex AD - production of household linen, weaving etc.; Metizi AD - steel wires, ropes and their products, spare parts; Variana LTD - concrete articles, greyiron cast, metal safes; Enemona Holding - civil engineering.

Sectors for development

The main projects are related to the development of the transport infrastructure, water supply and sewerage, agriculture - vegetables, cattle breeding, silk-worm breeding, mushroom cultivation, development and strengthening of the existing industrial plants, development of alternative forms of tourism - rural, ecotourism, cultural, religious, spaeology, mountaineering, hang gliding etc. The long-term strategy for the regional economy is to promote small and medium enterprises as an alternative way to develop the industry.

Schools, universities and job training

Because of the close distance to the capital Sofia (site of the main universities in Bulgaria), only one local centre of New Bulgarian University, one pedagogical college - branch of the Veliko Tarnovo University and one medical college exists in the province. The vocational schools have their main disciplines mostly in agricultural techniques, mechanics and electrotechnics, chemical technologies, civil engineering and construction, language school and mathematical secondary school. The total number of primary schools in the province is 54, 14 of them situated in the municipality of Vratsa and all state-owned. There is only one private school, Europe Schools for English Language and Management.

Financial institutions

At present, there are 15 branches of Bulgarian banks. The insurance companies have their 12 branches in the province.

Hospitals

The medical services are provided in 6 hospitals - 2 of them in the main city of the province, Vratsa. As a result of the reforms in health care, there are also private medical services available, as well as stomatological services.

Culture, recreation and resources

Three hotels are available within the province - Valdi Palace, Hotel Tourist in the town and Vratsa, and Hotel Istar in the town of Kozloduy. In the surroundings of Vratsa - 12 kilometres inside the mountain there is a modern centre for recreation with facilities such as sauna, fitness suite and others. Within the territory of the province is the Vrachanski Balkan Natural Park that offers excellent opportunities for recreation; there is Vrachanski Karst reserve, the cave Ledenika of international importance, and the Vratsa Gorge near the town of Vratsa.