Novo mesto municipality in numbers
Novo mesto has 38,678 residents (1 Jan 2026) on 236 km², or 164 per km² (Slovenia: 105). The average age is 43.0, below the Slovenian average of 44.6. In 2025 the population fell by 2 (-0.1 per 1,000 residents; Slovenia 2.0).
About Novo mesto
Novo Mesto is the seventh-largest city of Slovenia. It is the economic and cultural centre of the traditional region of Lower Carniola and the seat of the City Municipality of Novo Mesto. It lies on a bend of the Krka River, close to the border with Croatia.
Population
Population 2019: 37,063, 2026: 38,678.
| Indicator | Novo mesto | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,678 | 2,135,107 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Men | 19,484 | 1,074,630 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Women | 19,194 | 1,060,477 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Area | 236 km² | 20,271 km² | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Population density | 164 /km² | 105 /km² | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Average age | 43.0 | 44.6 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Ageing index | 126.4 | 158.6 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Share aged under 15 | 16.1% | 14.2% | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Share aged 65 or over | 20.3% | 22.5% | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Share of foreign citizens | 13.0% | 10.5% | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Live births | 378 | 16,961 | 9.8 · SI 8.0 | 2025 |
| Deaths | 357 | 21,223 | 9.2 · SI 10.0 | 2025 |
| Natural increase | 21 | -4,262 | 0.5 · SI -2.0 | 2025 |
| Net migration with other countries | 57 | 8,519 | 1.5 · SI 4.0 | 2025 |
| Net migration between municipalities | -80 | 0 | -2.1 · SI 0.0 | 2025 |
| Total increase | -2 | 4,257 | 2025 | |
| Total increase per 1,000 residents | -0.1 | 2.0 | 2025 |
Births and deaths by year
Live births 2018: 429, 2025: 378. Deaths 2018: 358, 2025: 357.
Total increase per 1,000 residents, against Slovenia
Novo mesto 2018: 14.6, 2025: -0.1. Slovenia 2018: 6.8, 2025: 2.
Average age, against Slovenia
Novo mesto 2019: 41.8, 2026: 43. Slovenia 2019: 43.4, 2026: 44.6.
Kindergartens, schools and students
| Indicator | Novo mesto | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergartens and units | 23 | 982 | 2025/26 | |
| Children in kindergartens | 1,662 | 79,868 | 43.0 · SI 37.5 | 2025/26 |
| Primary schools and branches | 13 | 821 | 2025/26 | |
| Primary school pupils | 3,903 | 192,915 | 100.9 · SI 90.5 | 2025/26 |
| Secondary school pupils (by residence) | 1,591 | 86,624 | 41.1 · SI 40.7 | 2025/26 |
| Tertiary students (by residence) | 1,469 | 85,999 | 38.0 · SI 40.4 | 2025/26 |
| Adults with tertiary education | 29.1% | 26.6% | 2025 |
Children in kindergartens and pupils by year
Children in kindergartens 2018: 1,788, 2025: 1,662. Primary school pupils 2018: 3,731, 2025: 3,903.
Work, wages and income
The average net wage at employers in Novo mesto was €1,784.13 a month in 2025, 11% above the Slovenian average of €1,602.05. The municipality has 25,157 jobs and 17,460 working residents; a labour migration index of 147 means more people commute into it than out of it. There are 3,687 companies (2024), 95 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 | Novo mesto | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persons in employment (by residence) | 17,460 | 940,987 | 451.5 · SI 441.6 | 2025 |
| Jobs in the municipality | 25,157 | 940,987 | 650.6 · SI 441.6 | 2025 |
| Employees (by workplace) | 23,528 | 836,620 | 608.4 · SI 392.6 | 2025 |
| Self-employed (by workplace) | 1,629 | 104,368 | 42.1 · SI 49.0 | 2025 |
| Commuting index | 147 | 100 | 2025 | |
| Average monthly gross wage | 2,841.30 € | 2,536.03 € | 2025 | |
| Average monthly net wage | 1,784.13 € | 1,602.05 € | 2025 | |
| Net income per resident (annual) | 15,431 € | 14,208 € | 2024 | |
| Median net income of residents (annual) | 13,656 € | 12,455 € | 2024 |
Companies and tourism
| Indicator | Novo mesto | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of companies | 3,687 | 234,446 | 96.1 · SI 110.4 | 2024 |
| Persons employed by companies | 24,790 | 1,008,213 | 646.4 · SI 474.7 | 2024 |
| Company turnover | 5,136,469 k€ | 166,401,581 k€ | 2024 | |
| Tourist arrivals | 37,715 | 6,993,930 | 975.3 · SI 3,282.2 | 2025 |
| Tourist overnight stays | 71,919 | 17,843,311 | 1,859.9 · SI 8,373.8 | 2025 |
| Overnight stays by foreign tourists | 60,472 | 13,358,792 | 1,563.8 · SI 6,269.2 | 2025 |
Number of companies by year
Number of companies 2017: 3,031, 2024: 3,687.
Tourist overnight stays by year
Tourist overnight stays 2018: 117,425, 2025: 71,919. Overnight stays by foreign tourists 2018: 88,090, 2025: 60,472.
Housing
At the 2021 census Novo mesto had 14,041 dwellings, with an average useful floor area of 86.3 m² (Slovenia 83.3 m²). 24,086 passenger cars are registered, 623 per 1,000 residents (Slovenia 603).
| Indicator | Novo mesto | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of dwellings | 14,041 | 864,323 | 2021 | |
| Dwellings per 1,000 residents | 375 | 410 | 2021 | |
| Occupied dwellings | 11,864 | 698,747 | 2021 | |
| Holiday dwellings | 157 | 18,411 | 4.2 · SI 8.7 | 2021 |
| Average usable floor area of a dwelling | 86.3 m² | 83.3 m² | 2021 |
Cars and waste
| Indicator | Novo mesto | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | 24,086 | 1,286,588 | 622.9 · SI 603.8 | 2025 |
| Municipal waste generated per resident | 587 kg | 526 kg | 2024 | |
| Municipal waste collected by public service, per resident | 336 kg | 376 kg | 2024 |
Passenger cars per 1,000 residents, against Slovenia
Novo mesto 2018: 579.5, 2025: 622.9. Slovenia 2018: 557.5, 2025: 603.8.
The area on the map
Property prices in in Novo mesto
What apartments and houses cost in in Novo mesto, 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 Novo mesto?
The municipality of Novo mesto had 38,678 residents on 1 Jan 2026 (SURS). It covers 236 km².
What is the average wage in Novo mesto?
In 2025 the average monthly net wage at legal persons in Novo mesto was €1,784.13 (gross €2,841.30), against €1,602.05 in Slovenia.
What is the average age in Novo mesto?
43.0 years (1 Jan 2026); the Slovenian average is 44.6. The ageing index is 126.4.
How many schools and kindergartens are there in Novo mesto?
In the 2025/26 school year Novo mesto had 13 primary schools and branches with 3,903 pupils; there are 23 kindergartens and units with 1,662 children.
How many companies are based in Novo mesto?
In 2024 3,687 companies were based in Novo mesto, employing 24,790 people with a turnover of €5,136 million.
How many tourists visit Novo mesto?
In 2025 Novo mesto recorded 71,919 tourist overnight stays from 37,715 arrivals; 60,472 of the nights were by foreign tourists.