According to the total area, Jugovzhodna Slovenija is the largest region in Slovenia. It covers 2,675 square kilometres and is about six times larger than our smallest region Zasavska. Jugovzhodna Slovenija had 7% of Slovenia’s population in 2021. With 55 people per square kilometre, it was the third least densely populated region. The age structure of the population in this region was favourable as the share of young people (aged 0–14) was the highest among regions, namely 16.4%. The mean age of the population was the second lowest with 43 years. This region recorded the second highest natural increase in 2021. It was -0.4 per 1.000 population. Almost 11 children per 1,000 people were born here in 2021, the most in the country. The mean age of mothers was the lowest here and in Koroška (30.3 years). The mean age of first-time mothers was the lowest here and in Posavska (28.7 years). The educational structure of the population in Jugovzhodna Slovenija was less favourable than in other regions. 25.2% of the population aged 14+ in this region had basic education or less. In 2021, this region stood out in terms of the highest number of convicted persons (adults and juveniles) per 1,000 population (4.6).
The employment rate in Jugovzhodna Slovenija in 2021 was 69.1%, meaning that 69% of working age population in this region was in employment, i.e. in paid employment or self-employed. In addition to Osrednjeslovenska, Jugovzhodna Slovenija was the only region with average monthly net earnings higher than the national average; in 2021, they amounted to EUR 1,284. In Jugovzhodna Slovenija it was higher by 1% and in Osrednjeslovenska by 9%. GDP per capita was the second highest in the country (EUR 23,914). The region’s GDP represented 7% of the national GDP. Around 11,200 enterprises operated in the region, each employing on average 4.9 people. The region had the lowest at-risk-of-poverty rate, with 8% of people living on incomes below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold. On average, 482 kg of municipal waste per capita was generated in the region, 36 less than on average in Slovenia.