Kočevje municipality in numbers
Kočevje has 15,595 residents (1 Jan 2026) on 556 km², or 28 per km² (Slovenia: 105). The average age is 45.9, above the Slovenian average of 44.6. In 2025 the population grew by 35 (2.2 per 1,000 residents; Slovenia 2.0).
About Kočevje
The Municipality of Kočevje is a municipality in southern Slovenia. The seat of the municipality is the city of Kočevje. Today it is part of the Southeast Slovenia Statistical Region. In terms of area, it is the largest municipality in Slovenia. It borders Croatia.
Population
Population 2019: 15,686, 2026: 15,595.
| Indicator | Kočevje | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,595 | 2,135,107 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Men | 7,812 | 1,074,630 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Women | 7,783 | 1,060,477 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Area | 556 km² | 20,271 km² | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Population density | 28 /km² | 105 /km² | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Average age | 45.9 | 44.6 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Ageing index | 180.1 | 158.6 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Share aged under 15 | 14.1% | 14.2% | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Share aged 65 or over | 25.3% | 22.5% | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Share of foreign citizens | 7.5% | 10.5% | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Live births | 121 | 16,961 | 7.8 · SI 8.0 | 2025 |
| Deaths | 174 | 21,223 | 11.2 · SI 10.0 | 2025 |
| Natural increase | -53 | -4,262 | -3.4 · SI -2.0 | 2025 |
| Net migration with other countries | 50 | 8,519 | 3.2 · SI 4.0 | 2025 |
| Net migration between municipalities | 38 | 0 | 2.4 · SI 0.0 | 2025 |
| Total increase | 35 | 4,257 | 2025 | |
| Total increase per 1,000 residents | 2.2 | 2.0 | 2025 |
Births and deaths by year
Live births 2018: 132, 2025: 121. Deaths 2018: 179, 2025: 174.
Total increase per 1,000 residents, against Slovenia
Kočevje 2018: -5.5, 2025: 2.2. Slovenia 2018: 6.8, 2025: 2.
Average age, against Slovenia
Kočevje 2019: 44.5, 2026: 45.9. Slovenia 2019: 43.4, 2026: 44.6.
Kindergartens, schools and students
| Indicator | Kočevje | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergartens and units | 5 | 982 | 2025/26 | |
| Children in kindergartens | 457 | 79,868 | 29.4 · SI 37.5 | 2025/26 |
| Primary schools and branches | 7 | 821 | 2025/26 | |
| Primary school pupils | 1,389 | 192,915 | 89.3 · SI 90.5 | 2025/26 |
| Secondary school pupils (by residence) | 558 | 86,624 | 35.9 · SI 40.7 | 2025/26 |
| Tertiary students (by residence) | 458 | 85,999 | 29.4 · SI 40.4 | 2025/26 |
| Adults with tertiary education | 18.1% | 26.6% | 2025 |
Children in kindergartens and pupils by year
Children in kindergartens 2018: 546, 2025: 457. Primary school pupils 2018: 1,363, 2025: 1,389.
Work, wages and income
The average net wage at employers in Kočevje was €1,453.32 a month in 2025, 9% below the Slovenian average of €1,602.05. The municipality has 4,783 jobs and 6,258 working residents; a labour migration index of 77 means more people commute out of it than into it. There are 1,092 companies (2024), 70 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 | Kočevje | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persons in employment (by residence) | 6,258 | 940,987 | 402.3 · SI 441.6 | 2025 |
| Jobs in the municipality | 4,783 | 940,987 | 307.5 · SI 441.6 | 2025 |
| Employees (by workplace) | 4,311 | 836,620 | 277.1 · SI 392.6 | 2025 |
| Self-employed (by workplace) | 472 | 104,368 | 30.3 · SI 49.0 | 2025 |
| Commuting index | 77 | 100 | 2025 | |
| Average monthly gross wage | 2,263.71 € | 2,536.03 € | 2025 | |
| Average monthly net wage | 1,453.32 € | 1,602.05 € | 2025 | |
| Net income per resident (annual) | 13,103 € | 14,208 € | 2024 | |
| Median net income of residents (annual) | 11,535 € | 12,455 € | 2024 |
Companies and tourism
| Indicator | Kočevje | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of companies | 1,092 | 234,446 | 69.7 · SI 110.4 | 2024 |
| Persons employed by companies | 4,488 | 1,008,213 | 286.6 · SI 474.7 | 2024 |
| Company turnover | 547,745 k€ | 166,401,581 k€ | 2024 | |
| Tourist arrivals | 12,393 | 6,993,930 | 796.7 · SI 3,282.2 | 2025 |
| Tourist overnight stays | 32,058 | 17,843,311 | 2,060.9 · SI 8,373.8 | 2025 |
| Overnight stays by foreign tourists | 11,108 | 13,358,792 | 714.1 · SI 6,269.2 | 2025 |
Number of companies by year
Number of companies 2017: 960, 2024: 1,092.
Tourist overnight stays by year
Tourist overnight stays 2018: 28,907, 2025: 32,058. Overnight stays by foreign tourists 2018: 6,955, 2025: 11,108.
Housing
At the 2021 census Kočevje had 6,369 dwellings, with an average useful floor area of 81.3 m² (Slovenia 83.3 m²). 8,844 passenger cars are registered, 567 per 1,000 residents (Slovenia 603).
| Indicator | Kočevje | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of dwellings | 6,369 | 864,323 | 2021 | |
| Dwellings per 1,000 residents | 407 | 410 | 2021 | |
| Occupied dwellings | 5,182 | 698,747 | 2021 | |
| Holiday dwellings | 98 | 18,411 | 6.3 · SI 8.7 | 2021 |
| Average usable floor area of a dwelling | 81.3 m² | 83.3 m² | 2021 |
Cars and waste
| Indicator | Kočevje | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | 8,844 | 1,286,588 | 568.6 · SI 603.8 | 2025 |
| Municipal waste generated per resident | 451 kg | 526 kg | 2024 | |
| Municipal waste collected by public service, per resident | 352 kg | 376 kg | 2024 |
Passenger cars per 1,000 residents, against Slovenia
Kočevje 2018: 508.6, 2025: 568.6. Slovenia 2018: 557.5, 2025: 603.8.
The area on the map
Property prices in in Kočevje
What apartments and houses cost in in Kočevje, 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 Kočevje?
The municipality of Kočevje had 15,595 residents on 1 Jan 2026 (SURS). It covers 556 km².
What is the average wage in Kočevje?
In 2025 the average monthly net wage at legal persons in Kočevje was €1,453.32 (gross €2,263.71), against €1,602.05 in Slovenia.
What is the average age in Kočevje?
45.9 years (1 Jan 2026); the Slovenian average is 44.6. The ageing index is 180.1.
How many schools and kindergartens are there in Kočevje?
In the 2025/26 school year Kočevje had 7 primary schools and branches with 1,389 pupils; there are 5 kindergartens and units with 457 children.
How many companies are based in Kočevje?
In 2024 1,092 companies were based in Kočevje, employing 4,488 people with a turnover of €548 million.
How many tourists visit Kočevje?
In 2025 Kočevje recorded 32,058 tourist overnight stays from 12,393 arrivals; 11,108 of the nights were by foreign tourists.