Idrija municipality in numbers
Idrija has 11,482 residents (1 Jan 2026) on 293 km², or 39 per km² (Slovenia: 105). The average age is 46.6, above the Slovenian average of 44.6. In 2025 the population fell by 192 (-16.6 per 1,000 residents; Slovenia 2.0).
About Idrija
The Municipality of Idrija is a municipality in the Gorizia region of western Slovenia. Located in the traditional region of the Slovenian Littoral and in the Gorizia Statistical Region, the municipality covers 293.7 km2 of mostly forested terrain at the meeting point of the Dinaric and Alpine mountain chains. The municipality's economy was historically dominated by its mercury mine from 1490 until its closure in 1977, but has since diversified through companies specializing in automotive components and climate systems, while more recently developing tourism initiatives based on its UNESCO-recognized mining heritage and the Idrija Geopark established in 2013. In addition to the municipal seat of Idrija, the municipality includes 37 other settlements and had a population of 11,990 as of 2002.
Population
Population 2019: 11,748, 2026: 11,482.
| Indicator | Idrija | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,482 | 2,135,107 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Men | 5,796 | 1,074,630 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Women | 5,686 | 1,060,477 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Area | 293 km² | 20,271 km² | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Population density | 39 /km² | 105 /km² | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Average age | 46.6 | 44.6 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Ageing index | 188.7 | 158.6 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Share aged under 15 | 13.7% | 14.2% | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Share aged 65 or over | 25.8% | 22.5% | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Share of foreign citizens | 8.9% | 10.5% | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Live births | 78 | 16,961 | 6.7 · SI 8.0 | 2025 |
| Deaths | 177 | 21,223 | 15.2 · SI 10.0 | 2025 |
| Natural increase | -99 | -4,262 | -8.5 · SI -2.0 | 2025 |
| Net migration with other countries | -15 | 8,519 | -1.3 · SI 4.0 | 2025 |
| Net migration between municipalities | -78 | 0 | -6.7 · SI 0.0 | 2025 |
| Total increase | -192 | 4,257 | 2025 | |
| Total increase per 1,000 residents | -16.6 | 2.0 | 2025 |
Births and deaths by year
Live births 2018: 81, 2025: 78. Deaths 2018: 137, 2025: 177.
Total increase per 1,000 residents, against Slovenia
Idrija 2018: -0.7, 2025: -16.6. Slovenia 2018: 6.8, 2025: 2.
Average age, against Slovenia
Idrija 2019: 44.9, 2026: 46.6. Slovenia 2019: 43.4, 2026: 44.6.
Kindergartens, schools and students
| Indicator | Idrija | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergartens and units | 5 | 982 | 2025/26 | |
| Children in kindergartens | 388 | 79,868 | 33.2 · SI 37.5 | 2025/26 |
| Primary schools and branches | 6 | 821 | 2025/26 | |
| Primary school pupils | 1,037 | 192,915 | 88.8 · SI 90.5 | 2025/26 |
| Secondary school pupils (by residence) | 474 | 86,624 | 40.6 · SI 40.7 | 2025/26 |
| Tertiary students (by residence) | 388 | 85,999 | 33.2 · SI 40.4 | 2025/26 |
| Adults with tertiary education | 24.7% | 26.6% | 2025 |
Children in kindergartens and pupils by year
Children in kindergartens 2018: 486, 2025: 388. Primary school pupils 2018: 1,081, 2025: 1,037.
Work, wages and income
The average net wage at employers in Idrija was €1,602.12 a month in 2025, about level with the Slovenian average of €1,602.05. The municipality has 5,260 jobs and 5,163 working residents; a labour migration index of 100 means more people commute into it than out of it. There are 1,160 companies (2024), 101 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 | Idrija | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persons in employment (by residence) | 5,163 | 940,987 | 442.3 · SI 441.6 | 2025 |
| Jobs in the municipality | 5,260 | 940,987 | 450.6 · SI 441.6 | 2025 |
| Employees (by workplace) | 4,658 | 836,620 | 399.0 · SI 392.6 | 2025 |
| Self-employed (by workplace) | 602 | 104,368 | 51.6 · SI 49.0 | 2025 |
| Commuting index | 100 | 100 | 2025 | |
| Average monthly gross wage | 2,534.36 € | 2,536.03 € | 2025 | |
| Average monthly net wage | 1,602.12 € | 1,602.05 € | 2025 | |
| Net income per resident (annual) | 14,917 € | 14,208 € | 2024 | |
| Median net income of residents (annual) | 13,664 € | 12,455 € | 2024 |
Companies and tourism
| Indicator | Idrija | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of companies | 1,160 | 234,446 | 99.1 · SI 110.4 | 2024 |
| Persons employed by companies | 6,616 | 1,008,213 | 565.2 · SI 474.7 | 2024 |
| Company turnover | 1,381,839 k€ | 166,401,581 k€ | 2024 | |
| Tourist arrivals | 12,306 | 6,993,930 | 1,054.2 · SI 3,282.2 | 2025 |
| Tourist overnight stays | 28,313 | 17,843,311 | 2,425.5 · SI 8,373.8 | 2025 |
| Overnight stays by foreign tourists | 18,811 | 13,358,792 | 1,611.5 · SI 6,269.2 | 2025 |
Number of companies by year
Number of companies 2017: 1,087, 2024: 1,160.
Tourist overnight stays by year
Tourist overnight stays 2018: 23,858, 2025: 28,313. Overnight stays by foreign tourists 2018: 13,815, 2025: 18,811.
Housing
At the 2021 census Idrija had 4,967 dwellings, with an average useful floor area of 81.4 m² (Slovenia 83.3 m²). 6,961 passenger cars are registered, 606 per 1,000 residents (Slovenia 603).
| Indicator | Idrija | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of dwellings | 4,967 | 864,323 | 2021 | |
| Dwellings per 1,000 residents | 423 | 410 | 2021 | |
| Occupied dwellings | 4,018 | 698,747 | 2021 | |
| Holiday dwellings | 146 | 18,411 | 12.4 · SI 8.7 | 2021 |
| Average usable floor area of a dwelling | 81.4 m² | 83.3 m² | 2021 |
Cars and waste
| Indicator | Idrija | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | 6,961 | 1,286,588 | 596.3 · SI 603.8 | 2025 |
| Municipal waste generated per resident | 401 kg | 526 kg | 2024 | |
| Municipal waste collected by public service, per resident | 306 kg | 376 kg | 2024 |
Passenger cars per 1,000 residents, against Slovenia
Idrija 2018: 549.3, 2025: 596.3. Slovenia 2018: 557.5, 2025: 603.8.
The area on the map
Property prices in in Idrija
What apartments and houses cost in in Idrija, 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 Idrija?
The municipality of Idrija had 11,482 residents on 1 Jan 2026 (SURS). It covers 293 km².
What is the average wage in Idrija?
In 2025 the average monthly net wage at legal persons in Idrija was €1,602.12 (gross €2,534.36), against €1,602.05 in Slovenia.
What is the average age in Idrija?
46.6 years (1 Jan 2026); the Slovenian average is 44.6. The ageing index is 188.7.
How many schools and kindergartens are there in Idrija?
In the 2025/26 school year Idrija had 6 primary schools and branches with 1,037 pupils; there are 5 kindergartens and units with 388 children.
How many companies are based in Idrija?
In 2024 1,160 companies were based in Idrija, employing 6,616 people with a turnover of €1,382 million.
How many tourists visit Idrija?
In 2025 Idrija recorded 28,313 tourist overnight stays from 12,306 arrivals; 18,811 of the nights were by foreign tourists.