About the province
Silistra at a Glance
The economy in figures
| Indicator | Silistra Province | Bulgaria |
|---|---|---|
| Average gross pay, second quarter of 2026 | €1,056 | €1,444 |
| Registered unemployment, August 2026 | 10.63% | 5.47% |
| GDP per person in purchasing power, 2024 (EU = 100) | 30 | 66 |
| GDP per person, 2024 | €7,301 | – |
| Foreign investment per person, 2024 | €456 | – |
| Exports, share of company sales, 2024 | 13.23% | – |
| Residents aged 25–64 with a degree, 2025 | 24.6% | – |
| Residents aged 65 and over, 2025 | 28.59% | – |
Source: Institute for Market Economics: Regional Profiles 2026, Silistra Province; WageCentre: Average salary in Bulgaria by province, second quarter of 2026 (NSI preliminary data); Employment Agency: Registered unemployment by province, August 2026; Eurostat: Gross domestic product by NUTS 3 region (nama_10r_3gdp)1,2,3,4
IME says GDP per person in Silistra Province keeps rising, but employment is falling and remains among the lowest in the country, and the education level of the workforce has deteriorated sharply. Foreign investment is growing but remains limited per person. IME counts Silistra among the five provinces with the lowest rating for administration.1
Industry and investment
English Wikipedia says about 50% of the province is arable, with cereals, vegetables and apricots, and names machine tools, electronics, woodworking, textiles and food processing as the main industries.6
Siloma’s saws, the private Danube Industrial Park and the planned municipal zone are covered in the Silistra city guide. Bulgarian Wikipedia says the industries that remain in Dulovo mostly process farm produce.9
Transport and borders
The September 2026 plan of Bulgaria, Greece and Romania includes design of a Silistra–Călărași bridge over the Danube, with financing to 2034. Today the province has a road border crossing to Romania.8,6
Tutrakan has a port, but the ferry to Oltenița no longer runs. Motorways and first-class roads made up 11.1% of the province’s road network in 2025.7,1
Municipalities and towns
| Municipality | 2021 census | End of 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Silistra | 41,766 | 38,980 |
| Dulovo | 24,201 | 23,435 |
| Tutrakan | 12,178 | 11,259 |
| Glavinitsa | 8,864 | 8,417 |
| Sitovo | 4,533 | 4,283 |
| Kaynardzha | 3,950 | 3,842 |
| Alfatar | 2,278 | 2,149 |
Source: City Population, from NSI data: Bulgaria, provinces and municipalities5
Silistra and Dulovo together hold more than two-thirds of the province’s residents. The Dulovo town guide covers the Ludogorie town.5
Education and skills
24.6% of residents aged 25–64 had a university degree in 2025, and IME records 2.43 university students per 1,000 residents. The University of Ruse has a branch in Silistra.1
28.59% of residents were aged 65 or over in 2025.1
Tourism and nature
- Srebarna Nature Reserve
- Silistra museum and Medzhidi Tabia
- Srebarna Natural History Museum
- Tutrakan museums
Tourist accommodation recorded 544 nights per 1,000 residents in 2025, and forests cover 14.56% of the province.1
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary in Silistra Province?
Preliminary NSI data put the average gross salary at €1,056 a month in the second quarter of 2026, against €1,444 for Bulgaria.
How high is unemployment in Silistra Province?
Registered unemployment was 10.63% in August 2026, against 5.47% nationally.
Will there be a bridge from Silistra to Romania?
A Silistra–Călărași bridge is at the design stage in the 2026 trilateral plan, with financing to 2034.
What is grown in Silistra Province?
Mainly cereals, vegetables and apricots.
How many people live in Silistra Province?
92,365 at the end of 2025, in seven municipalities.
Sources
- Institute for Market Economics: Regional Profiles 2026, Silistra Province (in Bulgarian)
- WageCentre: Average salary in Bulgaria by province, second quarter of 2026 (NSI preliminary data)
- Employment Agency: Registered unemployment by province, August 2026 (in Bulgarian)
- Eurostat: Gross domestic product by NUTS 3 region (nama_10r_3gdp)
- City Population, from NSI data: Bulgaria, provinces and municipalities
- Wikipedia: Silistra Province
- Wikipedia: Tutrakan
- Railfreight.com: Bulgaria, Greece and Romania prioritise €22.8bn of corridor projects
- Wikipedia (Bulgarian): Дулово
Figures checked 11 November 2026. Information only, not investment, tax or legal advice.
