Bistrica ob Sotli municipality in numbers
Bistrica ob Sotli has 1,334 residents (1 Jan 2026) on 31 km², or 43 per km² (Slovenia: 105). The average age is 46.6, above the Slovenian average of 44.6. In 2025 the population fell by 1 (-0.8 per 1,000 residents; Slovenia 2.0).
About Bistrica ob Sotli
The Municipality of Bistrica ob Sotli is a municipality in eastern Slovenia. It has been an independent municipality since 1999; before, it was part of the Municipality of Podčetrtek. The seat of the municipality is the town of Bistrica ob Sotli. The area belongs to the traditional region of Styria. It is now included in the Lower Sava Statistical Region; until January 2014, it was part of the Savinja Statistical Region. It borders Croatia.
Population
Population 2019: 1,327, 2026: 1,334.
| Indicator | Bistrica ob Sotli | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,334 | 2,135,107 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Men | 675 | 1,074,630 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Women | 659 | 1,060,477 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Area | 31 km² | 20,271 km² | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Population density | 43 /km² | 105 /km² | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Average age | 46.6 | 44.6 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Ageing index | 192.2 | 158.6 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Share aged under 15 | 12.4% | 14.2% | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Share aged 65 or over | 23.9% | 22.5% | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Share of foreign citizens | 3.4% | 10.5% | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Live births | 12 | 16,961 | 9.0 · SI 8.0 | 2025 |
| Deaths | 11 | 21,223 | 8.2 · SI 10.0 | 2025 |
| Natural increase | 1 | -4,262 | 0.7 · SI -2.0 | 2025 |
| Net migration with other countries | -2 | 8,519 | -1.5 · SI 4.0 | 2025 |
| Net migration between municipalities | 0 | 0 | 0.0 · SI 0.0 | 2025 |
| Total increase | -1 | 4,257 | 2025 | |
| Total increase per 1,000 residents | -0.8 | 2.0 | 2025 |
Births and deaths by year
Live births 2018: 7, 2025: 12. Deaths 2018: 15, 2025: 11.
Total increase per 1,000 residents, against Slovenia
Bistrica ob Sotli 2018: -14.1, 2025: -0.8. Slovenia 2018: 6.8, 2025: 2.
Average age, against Slovenia
Bistrica ob Sotli 2019: 44.3, 2026: 46.6. Slovenia 2019: 43.4, 2026: 44.6.
Kindergartens, schools and students
| Indicator | Bistrica ob Sotli | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergartens and units | 1 | 982 | 2025/26 | |
| Children in kindergartens | 46 | 79,868 | 34.5 · SI 37.5 | 2025/26 |
| Primary schools and branches | 1 | 821 | 2025/26 | |
| Primary school pupils | 116 | 192,915 | 86.9 · SI 90.5 | 2025/26 |
| Secondary school pupils (by residence) | 56 | 86,624 | 41.9 · SI 40.7 | 2025/26 |
| Tertiary students (by residence) | 56 | 85,999 | 41.9 · SI 40.4 | 2025/26 |
| Adults with tertiary education | 21.1% | 26.6% | 2025 |
Children in kindergartens and pupils by year
Children in kindergartens 2018: 52, 2025: 46. Primary school pupils 2018: 141, 2025: 116.
Work, wages and income
The average net wage at employers in Bistrica ob Sotli was €1,466.11 a month in 2025, 8% below the Slovenian average of €1,602.05. The municipality has 234 jobs and 585 working residents; a labour migration index of 35 means more people commute out of it than into it. There are 129 companies (2024), 97 per 1,000 residents (Slovenia 110).
Wages up to 2023 under the previous methodology (all wage earners), from 2023 under the current one (legal persons). The two series are drawn separately.
| Indicator | Bistrica ob Sotli | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persons in employment (by residence) | 585 | 940,987 | 438.2 · SI 441.6 | 2025 |
| Jobs in the municipality | 234 | 940,987 | 175.3 · SI 441.6 | 2025 |
| Employees (by workplace) | 120 | 836,620 | 89.9 · SI 392.6 | 2025 |
| Self-employed (by workplace) | 114 | 104,368 | 85.4 · SI 49.0 | 2025 |
| Commuting index | 35 | 100 | 2025 | |
| Average monthly gross wage | 2,293.15 € | 2,536.03 € | 2025 | |
| Average monthly net wage | 1,466.11 € | 1,602.05 € | 2025 | |
| Net income per resident (annual) | 12,504 € | 14,208 € | 2024 | |
| Median net income of residents (annual) | 10,309 € | 12,455 € | 2024 |
Companies and tourism
| Indicator | Bistrica ob Sotli | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of companies | 129 | 234,446 | 95.7 · SI 110.4 | 2024 |
| Persons employed by companies | 212 | 1,008,213 | 157.3 · SI 474.7 | 2024 |
| Company turnover | 15,634 k€ | 166,401,581 k€ | 2024 | |
| Tourist arrivals | 1,652 | 6,993,930 | 1,237.5 · SI 3,282.2 | 2025 |
| Tourist overnight stays | 3,909 | 17,843,311 | 2,928.1 · SI 8,373.8 | 2025 |
| Overnight stays by foreign tourists | 2,588 | 13,358,792 | 1,938.6 · SI 6,269.2 | 2025 |
Number of companies by year
Number of companies 2017: 93, 2024: 129.
Tourist overnight stays by year
Tourist overnight stays 2018: 219, 2025: 3,909. Overnight stays by foreign tourists 2018: 92, 2025: 2,588.
Housing
At the 2021 census Bistrica ob Sotli had 620 dwellings, with an average useful floor area of 81.0 m² (Slovenia 83.3 m²). 913 passenger cars are registered, 684 per 1,000 residents (Slovenia 603).
| Indicator | Bistrica ob Sotli | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of dwellings | 620 | 864,323 | 2021 | |
| Dwellings per 1,000 residents | 457 | 410 | 2021 | |
| Occupied dwellings | 442 | 698,747 | 2021 | |
| Holiday dwellings | 28 | 18,411 | 20.6 · SI 8.7 | 2021 |
| Average usable floor area of a dwelling | 81.0 m² | 83.3 m² | 2021 |
Cars and waste
| Indicator | Bistrica ob Sotli | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | 913 | 1,286,588 | 683.9 · SI 603.8 | 2025 |
| Municipal waste generated per resident | 279 kg | 526 kg | 2024 | |
| Municipal waste collected by public service, per resident | 223 kg | 376 kg | 2024 |
Passenger cars per 1,000 residents, against Slovenia
Bistrica ob Sotli 2018: 602.2, 2025: 683.9. Slovenia 2018: 557.5, 2025: 603.8.
The area on the map
Property prices in in Bistrica ob Sotli
What apartments and houses cost in in Bistrica ob Sotli, what rents are and how much is being built is on the property prices and rental prices pages and on the interactive map.
Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SURS), SiStat database, tables 05E1022S, 05C4010S, 05C4008S, 05I1002S, 05I3002S, 05G2014S, 0952570S, 0952752S, 0953236S, 0955069S, 0775365S, 0775341S, 0772750S, 0701024S, 0772615S, 0883206S, 1418807S, 2164525S, 0861101S, 2222105S, 2700020S. Licence CC BY 4.0. Every row carries the year or date it is for; half-yearly population figures are as at 1 January or 1 July.
Frequently asked questions
How many people live in Bistrica ob Sotli?
The municipality of Bistrica ob Sotli had 1,334 residents on 1 Jan 2026 (SURS). It covers 31 km².
What is the average wage in Bistrica ob Sotli?
In 2025 the average monthly net wage at legal persons in Bistrica ob Sotli was €1,466.11 (gross €2,293.15), against €1,602.05 in Slovenia.
What is the average age in Bistrica ob Sotli?
46.6 years (1 Jan 2026); the Slovenian average is 44.6. The ageing index is 192.2.
How many schools and kindergartens are there in Bistrica ob Sotli?
In the 2025/26 school year Bistrica ob Sotli had 1 primary schools and branches with 116 pupils; there are 1 kindergartens and units with 46 children.
How many companies are based in Bistrica ob Sotli?
In 2024 129 companies were based in Bistrica ob Sotli, employing 212 people with a turnover of €16 million.
How many tourists visit Bistrica ob Sotli?
In 2025 Bistrica ob Sotli recorded 3,909 tourist overnight stays from 1,652 arrivals; 2,588 of the nights were by foreign tourists.