Žalec municipality in numbers
Žalec has 21,737 residents (1 Jan 2026) on 117 km², or 186 per km² (Slovenia: 105). The average age is 45.3, above the Slovenian average of 44.6. In 2025 the population fell by 87 (-4.0 per 1,000 residents; Slovenia 2.0).
About Žalec
The Municipality of Žalec is a municipality in Slovenia in the traditional region of Styria. The seat of the municipality is the town of Žalec. The municipality was established in its current form on 7 August 1998, when the former larger municipality of Žalec was divided into six smaller municipalities.
Population
Population 2019: 21,340, 2026: 21,737.
| Indicator | Žalec | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 21,737 | 2,135,107 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Men | 11,055 | 1,074,630 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Women | 10,682 | 1,060,477 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Area | 117 km² | 20,271 km² | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Population density | 186 /km² | 105 /km² | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Average age | 45.3 | 44.6 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Ageing index | 174.7 | 158.6 | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Share aged under 15 | 13.5% | 14.2% | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Share aged 65 or over | 23.6% | 22.5% | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Share of foreign citizens | 9.9% | 10.5% | 1 Jan 2026 | |
| Live births | 163 | 16,961 | 7.5 · SI 8.0 | 2025 |
| Deaths | 175 | 21,223 | 8.0 · SI 10.0 | 2025 |
| Natural increase | -12 | -4,262 | -0.5 · SI -2.0 | 2025 |
| Net migration with other countries | 54 | 8,519 | 2.5 · SI 4.0 | 2025 |
| Net migration between municipalities | -129 | 0 | -5.9 · SI 0.0 | 2025 |
| Total increase | -87 | 4,257 | 2025 | |
| Total increase per 1,000 residents | -4.0 | 2.0 | 2025 |
Births and deaths by year
Live births 2018: 178, 2025: 163. Deaths 2018: 175, 2025: 175.
Total increase per 1,000 residents, against Slovenia
Žalec 2018: 4.6, 2025: -4. Slovenia 2018: 6.8, 2025: 2.
Average age, against Slovenia
Žalec 2019: 43.9, 2026: 45.3. Slovenia 2019: 43.4, 2026: 44.6.
Kindergartens, schools and students
| Indicator | Žalec | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kindergartens and units | 13 | 982 | 2025/26 | |
| Children in kindergartens | 771 | 79,868 | 35.3 · SI 37.5 | 2025/26 |
| Primary schools and branches | 10 | 821 | 2025/26 | |
| Primary school pupils | 2,094 | 192,915 | 96.0 · SI 90.5 | 2025/26 |
| Secondary school pupils (by residence) | 912 | 86,624 | 41.8 · SI 40.7 | 2025/26 |
| Tertiary students (by residence) | 775 | 85,999 | 35.5 · SI 40.4 | 2025/26 |
| Adults with tertiary education | 24.0% | 26.6% | 2025 |
Children in kindergartens and pupils by year
Children in kindergartens 2018: 921, 2025: 771. Primary school pupils 2018: 2,089, 2025: 2,094.
Work, wages and income
The average net wage at employers in Žalec was €1,474.33 a month in 2025, 8% below the Slovenian average of €1,602.05. The municipality has 9,224 jobs and 9,662 working residents; a labour migration index of 96 means more people commute out of it than into it. There are 2,408 companies (2024), 111 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 | Žalec | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persons in employment (by residence) | 9,662 | 940,987 | 442.7 · SI 441.6 | 2025 |
| Jobs in the municipality | 9,224 | 940,987 | 422.7 · SI 441.6 | 2025 |
| Employees (by workplace) | 8,092 | 836,620 | 370.8 · SI 392.6 | 2025 |
| Self-employed (by workplace) | 1,131 | 104,368 | 51.8 · SI 49.0 | 2025 |
| Commuting index | 96 | 100 | 2025 | |
| Average monthly gross wage | 2,309.37 € | 2,536.03 € | 2025 | |
| Average monthly net wage | 1,474.33 € | 1,602.05 € | 2025 | |
| Net income per resident (annual) | 13,779 € | 14,208 € | 2024 | |
| Median net income of residents (annual) | 12,298 € | 12,455 € | 2024 |
Companies and tourism
| Indicator | Žalec | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of companies | 2,408 | 234,446 | 110.5 · SI 110.4 | 2024 |
| Persons employed by companies | 9,039 | 1,008,213 | 414.9 · SI 474.7 | 2024 |
| Company turnover | 1,354,253 k€ | 166,401,581 k€ | 2024 | |
| Tourist arrivals | 19,010 | 6,993,930 | 871.1 · SI 3,282.2 | 2025 |
| Tourist overnight stays | 33,422 | 17,843,311 | 1,531.5 · SI 8,373.8 | 2025 |
| Overnight stays by foreign tourists | 27,807 | 13,358,792 | 1,274.2 · SI 6,269.2 | 2025 |
Number of companies by year
Number of companies 2017: 1,995, 2024: 2,408.
Tourist overnight stays by year
Tourist overnight stays 2018: 13,574, 2025: 33,422. Overnight stays by foreign tourists 2018: 10,867, 2025: 27,807.
Housing
At the 2021 census Žalec had 8,590 dwellings, with an average useful floor area of 84.3 m² (Slovenia 83.3 m²). 13,679 passenger cars are registered, 629 per 1,000 residents (Slovenia 603).
| Indicator | Žalec | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of dwellings | 8,590 | 864,323 | 2021 | |
| Dwellings per 1,000 residents | 399 | 410 | 2021 | |
| Occupied dwellings | 7,128 | 698,747 | 2021 | |
| Holiday dwellings | 168 | 18,411 | 7.8 · SI 8.7 | 2021 |
| Average usable floor area of a dwelling | 84.3 m² | 83.3 m² | 2021 |
Cars and waste
| Indicator | Žalec | Slovenia | Per 1,000 residents | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars | 13,679 | 1,286,588 | 626.8 · SI 603.8 | 2025 |
| Municipal waste generated per resident | 509 kg | 526 kg | 2024 | |
| Municipal waste collected by public service, per resident | 404 kg | 376 kg | 2024 |
Passenger cars per 1,000 residents, against Slovenia
Žalec 2018: 569.8, 2025: 626.8. Slovenia 2018: 557.5, 2025: 603.8.
The area on the map
Property prices in in Žalec
What apartments and houses cost in in Žalec, 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 Žalec?
The municipality of Žalec had 21,737 residents on 1 Jan 2026 (SURS). It covers 117 km².
What is the average wage in Žalec?
In 2025 the average monthly net wage at legal persons in Žalec was €1,474.33 (gross €2,309.37), against €1,602.05 in Slovenia.
What is the average age in Žalec?
45.3 years (1 Jan 2026); the Slovenian average is 44.6. The ageing index is 174.7.
How many schools and kindergartens are there in Žalec?
In the 2025/26 school year Žalec had 10 primary schools and branches with 2,094 pupils; there are 13 kindergartens and units with 771 children.
How many companies are based in Žalec?
In 2024 2,408 companies were based in Žalec, employing 9,039 people with a turnover of €1,354 million.
How many tourists visit Žalec?
In 2025 Žalec recorded 33,422 tourist overnight stays from 19,010 arrivals; 27,807 of the nights were by foreign tourists.