Severen Tsentralen Planning Region

43°15′N 26°0′E / 43.250°N 26.000°E / 43.250; 26.000

Severen Tsentralen Planning Region
Северен централен район за планиране
Planning region
Country Bulgaria
SeatRuse
Area
  Total
14,974.0 km2 (5,781.5 sq mi)
Population
 (2018)
  Total
794,998
GDP
  Total€5.362 billion (2021)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
NUTS codeBG32
GDP per capita
  • €5,000 (2017)
  • 10,200 (PPS, 2017)
HDI (2021) 0.797
high · 4rd of 6

Severen Tsentralen Planning Region (Bulgarian: Северен централен район за планиране) is a planning region of Bulgaria, encompassing five Bulgarian provinces: Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Targovishte and Razgrad.

The region is mostly inhabited by Bulgarians, Turkish and Romani people. Its largest cities are Ruse (population 143,000), Gabrovo (48,000) and Veliko Tarnovo (130,000, including hinterland).

Severen Tsentralen has a GDP per capita (PPS) of 10,200 (34% of the EU28 average) making it one of the least developed regions of Europe. The two main economic centres are Veliko Turnovo, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire and Ruse, Bulgaria's largest fluvial port.