The south-central planning region includes a lot of mountainous terrain, including large parts of the Balkan mountain and the Rhodope mountains

Large portion of the territories of Sredna Gora and Sakar mountains

It also contains a large amount of flats, including the Thracian plane, as well as the Trans-Balkan lowlands

These flats are mostly formed around the basins of the Maritsa and the Tundzha rivers.

The climate in the flats like Plovdiv is characterized by a warm and temperate atmosphere. The precipitation levels noteworthy, as there is a considerable amount of rainfall even during months that typically experience dry weather.

The mean yearly temperature amounts to 11.4 °C. Precipitation here is about 551 mm per year.
The onset of summer commences towards the conclusion of June and culminates by September. The months that constitute this season are referred to as June, July, August, September.

The mountainous regions are characterized by a colder climate with nuances influenced by the northern air masses, as well as the Mediterranean climate masses coming from the south. The annual temperatures of the region is 13°C, being 6 degrees higher than the western parts.

The southern-central region of Bulgaria boasts diverse water resources, including rivers like the Maritsa, Arda, Chepelarska, and Vacha in the Rhodope Mountains, complemented by dams like Dospat, Studen Kladenets, and Batak serving irrigation, power generation, and drinking water needs. Additionally, mineral springs in towns like Devin and Velingrad, karst springs like Devil's Throat Cave, and lakes such as Lake Batak, alongside groundwater reserves, further contribute to the region's water abundance and utility for various purposes.

Mining resources are abundant, with significant deposits of lead-zinc, marble, copper, and other minerals primarily found in the Rhodope Mountains. The region's mining industry, centered around areas like the Madan ore field, has historically played a vital role in the economy, though modern challenges include environmental concerns and technological modernization.

Agricultural resources are abundant, particularly in the fertile plains and valleys of the region. The Thracian Plain, known for its favorable climate and rich soil, supports the cultivation of staple crops such as wheat, barley, sunflower, and tobacco, with rice also being grown in some areas to diversify agricultural production.

In the southern-central region of Bulgaria, notable physical landmarks include the Old Town of Plovdiv, with its well-preserved architecture, and the Rhodope Mountains. Additionally, landmarks such as the Bachkovo Monastery and Devetashka Cave add cultural and natural richness to the region.

Humans have actively impacted the southern-central region of Bulgaria through urbanization, agricultural practices, industrialization, and infrastructure development. These activities have altered the landscape, affected natural habitats, and contributed to environmental challenges such as habitat fragmentation, soil degradation, and pollution.

starting your journey in Plovdiv and venturing into the nearby Rhodope Mountains, where you can hike through dense forests and visit natural wonders like the Wonderful Bridges. Journey through the fertile Thracian Plain, dotted with vineyards and orchards, before heading to historic sites like the Bachkovo Monastery and Asen's Fortress. Complete your adventure by exploring the Sredna Gora Mountains and Eastern Rhodope Mountains, where you'll discover hidden villages, unique rock formations, and breathtaking landscapes.

Centuries of agriculture have transformed the fertile plains of the Thracian Plain into productive farmland, supporting local communities and contributing to the region's agricultural economy. However, human activities have also had environmental impacts, including deforestation and soil degradation, which necessitate sustainable land management practices to preserve the region's natural resources for future generations. Historically, the extraction of minerals such as copper, zinc, and lead has resulted in environmental degradation, including soil and water pollution. This pollution can have detrimental effects on local ecosystems and human health, impacting biodiversity and contaminating water sources used for drinking and agriculture.

The diverse climate and terrain of the eastern Rhodope mountain have historically been beneficial for the farming of graze animals. Sheep wool and meat have historically been a beneficial resource for Bulgarians with the climate and terrain being key factors. Additionally talking about agriculture the Thracian plane is one of the most fertile regions for the farming of vegetables like rice, peppers and tomatoes due to the fertile soils, perfect terrain and proper water supply. Talking about mining and timber resources the eastern Rhodope mountain has been a great source of copper, zinc and lead, but they have been mostly deprived.

Agriculture - the Thracian plane is located on the Martiza river and is one of the most fertile places in the country

Tourism - Plovdiv is the culturally richest city in Bulgaria, being also one of the oldest and historically dense it is a magnet for tourists from both in and outside of the country

Manufacturing - Plovdiv is known for large scale manufacturing activities - including the textiles and food industry

183009 /1,304,630 - 14% of the population is ranged between 0 and 14

805847/1,304,630 - 61% of the population is between the age range of 15 and 64

estimated at approximately 70-80%, followed by ethnic Turks at 10-15%, with Roma and Pomaks each representing roughly 5-10%.

Internal migration, particularly from rural to urban areas within the region, has contributed to the growth of cities like Plovdiv, affecting population distribution and urbanization trends

The population density of southern-central Bulgaria varies, with urban centers like Plovdiv having densities ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 people per square kilometer, while rural areas typically range from 50 to 200 people per square kilometer, averaging around 100 to 200 people per square kilometer for the region.

The fertility rate in southern-central Bulgaria is approximately 1.5 to 1.7 births per woman, while the mortality rate is around 13 to 15 deaths per 1,000 people, resulting in a population growth rate close to zero or slightly negative due to low birth rates and an aging population.

Urban areas in southern-central Bulgaria, such as Plovdiv, exhibit higher population densities, with approximately 70-80% of the population residing in urban settings, enjoying better access to amenities, education, and employment, compared to rural areas, where population densities range from 50 to 200 people per square kilometer.

Education levels in southern-central Bulgaria vary, with urban populations, representing approximately 70-80% of the region's population, generally exhibiting higher levels of education attainment compared to rural areas, where population densities range from 50 to 200 people per square kilometer. Similarly to the distribution among rural and urban areas.

Urban areas like Plovdiv experiencing lower unemployment rates, around 5-7%, compared to rural regions where rates can reach 10-15%. Additionally, occupations in urban centers often lean towards service-based industries such as tourism, commerce, and healthcare, while rural areas may see more employment in agriculture, with approximately 20-30% of the workforce engaged in farming-related activities

Pazardzhik:
Population in 2011: Approximately 71,979 Population in 2021: Approximately 65,671

Plovdiv:
Population in 2011: Approximately 338,153 Population in 2021: Approximately 343,000

Haskovo:
Population in 2011: Approximately 76,397 Population in 2021: Approximately 67,086

Corruption in the largest city in the province, Plovdiv, is stated to be minimal with the Municipality of Plovdiv posting a register of the different politicians and their declarations against corruption, however there was some debate surrounding the head of the Municipality regarding the use of the Roman theatre, but it was mostly cow poop

If a tourist wanted to visit my region I would suggest that they visit Plovdiv, due to its rich culture, despite not being the biggest or richest city in Bulgaria - Plovdiv holds the title for most culturally rich city with a wide range of ethnicities and architectural styles

The age of the population in southern-central Bulgaria impacts the region's economic productivity, with an aging population potentially leading to labor shortages and hindering economic growth. Additionally, healthcare and social services may face strain due to increased demand from an aging population, posing challenges for healthcare systems and social welfare programs.

Southern-central Bulgaria is experiencing an aging population, evidenced by low birth rates and a rising number of elderly citizens, posing potential challenges such as labor shortages and increased demand for healthcare and social services. This is influenced by factors like declining fertility rates, outmigration of younger individuals, and improved healthcare leading to longer lifespans. A way to fix such problems is to increase the birth rates and limit the internal and external migration away from those territories.

The age distribution of the population in southern-central Bulgaria features a higher proportion of elderly individuals, potentially exceeding 20-25% of the total population, compared to national averages around 20% and global averages around 9%. This disparity could reflect the region's demographic aging trends driven by declining birth rates, emigration of younger individuals, and improvements in healthcare leading to longer life expectancies.

The main factors that drive population decline is migration - both internal and external with urban areas having an overly dense population, while rural areas have a low density of about 50 people per square kilometer, meaning that over time parts of the region will become overcrowded, and others will be ghosted * couldn't think of a better word

The percentage of the agriculture sector is at arround 40%, manifacturing at around 20-30 percent and services at around 40%
During recent years there was a shift away from agriculture and increase of the service factor.

According to the Gini coefficient the income inequality of my region is about 0.345/1 being below the national average at 0.4/1

All provinces in the region have an employment rate higher than 65% in 2022, but only at about 69% for the lowest

The Plovdiv region's strategic location along Transeuropean Transport Corridors IV and VIII, complemented by extensive road and rail networks, fosters efficient trade and transportation within Europe. Access to Black Sea ports further bolsters regional connectivity and trade opportunities.

The percentage of graduates in Plovdiv region are 25.2%, compared to 67% employment rate

Based on the region's strategic connectivity along key Transeuropean Transport Corridors, coupled with access to Black Sea ports, one hypothesis about the region's economic situation could be its potential as a logistical and distribution hub within Europe. The presence of efficient trade routes and transportation infrastructure likely attracts businesses seeking to capitalize on the region's advantageous position for accessing markets across Europe and beyond. Additionally, investments in logistics and related industries could further stimulate economic growth and employment opportunities in the Plovdiv region. Having also a very high university education percentage it has a lot of poetical regarding human activity

I would say that due to the rapid change in the region one can't say concretely how the ratio matters, because in the future the service sphere will expand, requiring more university graduates, but with the dense percentage of agriculture and manufacturing in the region that percentage doesn't apply much pressure on the situation

Based on the region's strategic connectivity along key Transeuropean Transport Corridors, coupled with access to Black Sea ports, one hypothesis about the region's economic situation could be its potential as a logistical and distribution hub within Europe. The presence of efficient trade routes and transportation infrastructure likely attracts businesses seeking to capitalize on the region's advantageous position for accessing markets across Europe and beyond. Additionally, investments in logistics and related industries could further stimulate economic growth and employment opportunities in the Plovdiv region. A copy paste of the answer to the previous question

The information that I have explored here doesn't influence tourism, but the early explored information regarding the region's social and geographical structure is of highest importance. The service spheres are rapidly expanding in the region, but still the most important locations remain the nature of the region and the culturally dense history of some of the old cities.

The factor that I have found to be directly proportional to unemployment rate is the transition to the service industry, since a lot of the people in the region are directly tied to the agriculture, the shift away from it has caused a larger unemployment rate.

The increase of the regions GDP can be attributed to the increased percentage of people working in the more advanced sectors and higher university education - even though the unemployment rates have increased by a magnitude of 2 percent, the GDP has increased wit the shift towards digital industries and services instead of agriculture and manufacturing - the industries of the past.

Over time the region's workforce has transitioned from traditional sectors like manufacturing and agriculture towards service-based industries and higher-skilled occupations. While this shift can drive economic growth through increased productivity, it also underscores the importance of ongoing education and training to maintain competitiveness and adapt to global trends, while a diversified workforce can enhance resilience to economic fluctuations.

Additionally Pazardzhik has unemployment rate of 7.5% and Plovdiv has unemployment rate of 2.6%

The fertility and mortality rates in Plovdiv, Pazardzhik and Smolyan are:
1.81/1000 and 20.6/1000
2.16/1000 and 22.3/1000
1.45/1000 and 22.6/1000

Smolyan has direct foreign investments of 273,015M Euro

In total the region has direct foreign investments of 3653781M Euro

Pazardzhik has direct foreign investments of 591,526M Euro

Transportation comparison in Smolyan where the 1'st calss roads and highways are 0 and the 3rd class roads are 430 km, twice as much as the 2nd class roads

Transportation comparison in Kardzhali - 73km 1'st class roads, no motorways and over almost 500 km 3rd class roads at 495

Talking about the other regions we see that the conditions there are below any threshold with 3rd class roads being the primary transportation method and first class roads and highways are often at 0

The percentage of graduates in Pazardzhik region are 15.2%, compared to 64.9% employment rate, but the education rates and employment rates have shown a significant decline for the past years and in 2022 they are once again lower

The percentage of graduates in Smolyan region are 24.3%, compared to 64.6% employment rate

The percentage of graduates in the region are 21.54%, compared to 66.76% employment rate, the constant fluctuation of the employed personnel with higher education is alarming and with the constant fluctuation of employment in the region it is important to find a way in which this could be stabilized in order to promote growth in the modern era