Classification of Territorial Units for Statistics in Bulgaria (NUTS)

NUTS is a hierarchical classification that divides the European Union's economic territory into three territorial levels - NUTS 1, NUTS 2, and NUTS 3. Its application introduces uniform standards for the collection, compilation and dissemination of data and ensures comparability across different levels. The structure, the criteria for classifying territorial units and the rules for amending the classification are laid down in Regulation (EC) No. 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Following the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU, the annexes to Regulation No. 1059/2003 were amended by Regulation (EC) No. 176/2008, which included the newly acceded Member States in the classification. Until 2007, NUTS was applied in Bulgaria based on an informal agreement between Eurostat and the National Statistical Institute.

he current version of the classification was adopted by the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/195 of November 13, 2025, and its section on Bulgaria was approved by Order No. RD-05-111, February 18, 2026 of the President of NSI. Under this regulation, the entire country forms a single NUTS level 1 region, which is subdivided into four NUTS level 2 regions and 28 NUTS level 3 regions.

Fig. 1. NUTS classification (version 2027)

Classification:

Current version

NUTS_v2027_BG (xlxs) NUTS_v2027_BG (gpkg)

NUTS_v2027_BG (csv) NUTS_v2027_BG (png)

Previous versions

NUTS_v2006_BG (xlxs) NUTS_v2006_BG (png)

NUTS_v2003_BG (xlxs) NUTS_v2003_BG (png)

Regulatory documents:

2026 - Order approving NUTS classification in Bulgaria (No. RD-05-111/18.02.2026, published in the State Gazette, Issue 23, 27 February 2026, in force);
2025 - Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 197 of March 27, 2025, granting NSI a mandate to conduct negotiations with Eurostat to change the scope of level 2 regions in the Republic of Bulgaria;
2013 - Order approving NUTS classification in Bulgaria (No. RD 07-34/17.01.2013, published in State Gazette, Issue 13, 8 February 2013, repealed);
2008 - Order approving NUTS classification in Bulgaria (No. RD 07-421/11.12.08, published in State Gazette, Issue 11, 10 February 2009, repealed);
2005 - Order approving NUTS classification in Bulgaria (No. RD 07-140/25.06.2005, published in State Gazette, Issue 58, 15 July 2005, repealed).

European legislation:

2026 - Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/195 of the Commission of November 13, 2025, amending Regulation (EC) No. 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding NUTS classification and the lists of existing administrative units and local administrative units;
2008 - Regulation (EC) No. 176/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of February 20, 2008, amending Regulation (EC) No. 1059/2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union;
2003 - Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) (base regulation).