The Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) is a geocode standard for referencing the subdivisions of Bulgaria for statistical purposes.[1] The standard is developed and regulated by the European Union.[2] The NUTS standard is instrumental in delivering the European Union's Structural Funds. The NUTS code for Bulgaria is BG and a hierarchy of three levels is established by Eurostat. Below these is a further levels of geographic organisation - the local administrative unit (LAU). In Bulgaria, the LAU 1 is municipalities and the LAU 2 is settlements.
Level | Subdivisions | # |
---|---|---|
NUTS 1 | Regions (Rayoni) | 2 |
NUTS 2 | Planning regions (Rayoni za planirane) | 6 |
NUTS 3 | Oblasts (Podregioni) | 28 |
Below the NUTS levels, the two LAU (Local Administrative Units) levels are:
Level | Subdivisions | # |
---|---|---|
LAU 1 | Municipalities (Obshtini) | 264 |
LAU 2 | Settlements (Naseleni mesta) | 5302 |
The LAU codes of Bulgaria can be downloaded here: [1]
NUTS 1 | Code | NUTS 2 | Code | NUTS 3 | Code |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northern and Eastern Bulgaria |
BG3 | Severozapaden
(Northwestern) |
BG31 | Vidin Province | BG311 |
Montana Province | BG312 | ||||
Vratsa Province | BG313 | ||||
Pleven Province | BG314 | ||||
Lovech Province | BG315 | ||||
Severen tsentralen
(Northern Central) |
BG32 | Veliko Tarnovo Province | BG321 | ||
Gabrovo Province | BG322 | ||||
Ruse Province | BG323 | ||||
Razgrad Province | BG324 | ||||
Silistra Province | BG325 | ||||
Severoiztochen
(Northeastern) |
BG33 | Varna Province | BG331 | ||
Dobrich Province | BG332 | ||||
Shumen Province | BG333 | ||||
Targovishte Province | BG334 | ||||
Yugoiztochen
(Southeastern) |
BG34 | Burgas Province | BG341 | ||
Sliven Province | BG342 | ||||
Yambol Province | BG343 | ||||
Stara Zagora Province | BG344 | ||||
South-Western and South-Central Bulgaria |
BG4 | Yugozapaden
(Southwestern) |
BG41 | Sofia City | BG411 |
Sofia Province | BG412 | ||||
Blagoevgrad Province | BG413 | ||||
Pernik Province | BG414 | ||||
Kyustendil Province | BG415 | ||||
Yuzhen tsentralen
(Southern Central) |
BG42 | Plovdiv Province | BG421 | ||
Haskovo Province | BG422 | ||||
Pazardzhik Province | BG423 | ||||
Smolyan Province | BG424 | ||||
Kardzhali Province | BG425 |
In the 2003 version, the codes were as follows:
Some of the present NUTS II regions of Bulgaria no longer meet the relevant technical requirements, mostly due to general population decline and increasing regional disproportion. A 2013 study by FLGR Consult commissioned by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works analyzed the state and trends of change in the characteristics of these regions to identify several options for the pending redrawing of the NUTS II map of the country. The process was restarted in 2017 with certain modified versions considered, and final decision due by the end of 2018.[3][4] The relevant Regional Development (Amendment) Bill, released for public consultation by the Council of Ministers in October 2018, is based on a four-regions version chosen from the shortlist of three options developed by an inter-ministerial working group led by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.[5]