Banská Bystrica Region

Region of Slovakia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Banská Bystrica Region (Slovak: Banskobystrický kraj, pronounced [ˈbanskɔbistritskiː ˈkraj]; Hungarian: Besztercebányai kerület, pronounced [ˈbɛstɛrt͡sɛbaːɲɒi ˈkɛrylɛt]) is one of the eight regions of Slovakia. It is the largest of the eight regions by area, and has a lower population density than any other region. The Banská Bystrica Region was established in 1923; its borders were last adjusted in 1996. Banská Bystrica consists of 514 municipalities, 24 of which have town status. Its administrative center is the eponymous town of Banská Bystrica, which is also the region's largest town. Other important towns are Zvolen and Lučenec.

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Country Slovakia
CapitalBanská Bystrica
Highestelevation
2,046 m (6,713 ft)
Lowestelevation
135 m (443 ft)
Quick facts Banskobystrický kraj, Country ...
Banská Bystrica Region
Banskobystrický kraj
Region
Flag of Banská Bystrica Region
Flag
Coat of arms of Banská Bystrica Region
Coat of arms
Banská Bystrica Region
Banská Bystrica Region
Country Slovakia
CapitalBanská Bystrica
Government
 • BodyCounty Council of Banská Bystrica Region
 • GovernorOndrej Lunter (Independent)
Area
[1]
 • Total
9,453.96 km2 (3,650.19 sq mi)
Highest elevation
2,046 m (6,713 ft)
Lowest elevation
135 m (443 ft)
Population
 (2025)[2]
 • Total
607,581
GDP
[3]
 • Total€7.121 billion (2016)
 • Per capita€10,917 (2016)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
ISO 3166 codeSK-BC
Websitewww.vucbb.sk
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Geography

It is located in the central part of Slovakia and has an area of 9453.96 km2.[4] The region is prevailingly mountainous, with several ranges within the area. The highest of them are the Low Tatras in the north, where the highest point, Ďumbier, is located. Some of the mountain ranges in the west include Kremnica Mountains, Vtáčnik and Štiavnica Mountains. The Javorie and Krupina Plain ranges are located in the centre. The Slovak Ore Mountains are running from the central areas to the east, along with its subdivisions (e.g. Poľana, Veporské vrchy, Muránska planina and Spiš-Gemer Karst). Lower lying areas are located in the south, represented by the Southern Slovak Basin, running along the borders with Hungary. Major rivers are the Hron in the northern half, Ipeľ in the south and centre, Rimava and for short length Slaná in the east. As for administrative division, the region borders Žilina Region in the north, Prešov Region in the north-east, Košice Region in the east, Hungarian Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county in the south-east, Nógrád county in the south and Pest county in the south-west, Nitra Region in the west and Trenčín Region in the north-west.

Population

More information Year, Pop. ...
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1970598,697—    
1980636,192+6.3%
1991659,341+3.6%
2001662,121+0.4%
2011660,563−0.2%
2021625,601−5.3%
Source: Censuses[5][6]
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More information Year, Count ...
Population statistic (10 years)[7]
Year1995200520152025
Count663,992657,119653,024607,581
Difference −1.03% −0.62% −6.95%
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More information Year, Count ...
Population statistic[7]
Year20242025
Count611,124607,581
Difference−0.57%
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It has a population of 607,581 people (31 December 2025).[8] The population density in the region is 64.26/km2 (166.4/sq mi) (2025),[9][10] which is the lowest of all Slovak regions and much lower than the country's average (110 per km2). The largest towns are Banská Bystrica, Zvolen, Lučenec and Rimavská Sobota.

Ethnicity

More information Ethnicity, Number ...
Census 2021 (1+ %)[11][12]
EthnicityNumberFraction
Slovak518,25882.84%
Hungarian72,17311.53%
Not found out35,7225.71%
Romani22,2273.55%
Total625,601
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In year 2021 was 625,601 people by ethnicity 518,258 as Slovak, 72,173 as Hungarian, 35,722 as Not found out, 22,227 as Romani, 4249 as Czech, 1688 as Other, 813 as Russian, 704 as German, 666 as Ukrainian, 598 as Rusyn, 406 as Polish, 235 as Italian, 225 as Vietnamese, 183 as Moravian, 172 as English, 151 as Chinese, 151 as Romanian, 140 as Jewish, 116 as Serbian, 116 as Austrian, 93 as Croatian, 92 as French, 89 as Turkish, 82 as Irish, 78 as Bulgarian, 70 as Albanian, 55 as Canadian, 51 as Greek, 15 as Silesian, 9 as Iranian and 2 as Korean.

Note on population: The difference values of population numbers in the table "Population statistic" and in the sections "Ethnicity" & "Religion" is caused by the use of various statistical methods.

Religion

More information Religion, Number ...
Census 2021 (1+ %)[13]
ReligionNumberFraction
Roman Catholic Church314,32650.24%
None180,06728.78%
Evangelical Church59,4829.51%
Not found out40,6546.5%
Calvinist Church91531.46%
Greek Catholic Church70261.12%
Total625,601
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In year 2021 was 625,601 people by religion 314,326 from Roman Catholic Church, 180,067 from None, 59,482 from Evangelical Church, 40,654 from Not found out, 9153 from Calvinist Church, 7026 from Greek Catholic Church, 2145 from Christian Congregations in Slovakia, 2111 from Jehovah's Witnesses, 1761 from Ad hoc movements, 1560 from Other, 1413 from Other and not ascertained christian church, 1122 from Eastern Orthodox Church, 959 from Baptists Church, 699 from Buddhism, 596 from Seventh-day Adventist Church, 560 from Paganism and natural spirituality, 458 from United Methodist Church, 372 from Islam, 281 from Apostolic Church, 243 from Church of the Brethren, 224 from Old Catholic Church, 138 from Jewish community, 116 from Hinduism, 59 from Czechoslovak Hussite Church, 45 from Bahá'i Community, 24 from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and 7 from New Apostolic Church.

Politics

The governor of Banská Bystrica region is Ondrej Lunter (Independent). He won with 48.5 %. In election 2022 was elected also regional parliament:

Quick facts County Council of Banská Bystrica region, Type ...
County Council of Banská Bystrica region
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
HousesCounty Council
Leadership
Governor
Ondrej Lunter, Independent
Structure
Seats49
Political groups
  Independent group (14)
  Centre-right group (11)[14]
  Voice (11)
  Alliance (9)
  Non-affiliated (4)
Elections
Last election
29 October 2022
Meeting place

Governor's office, Banská Bystrica
Website
Council of Banská Bystrica region
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In 2013, Marian Kotleba of the Far Right People's Party Our Slovakia won the election of Governor of Banská Bystrica Region. Kotleba's win was described as a "shock" by political analysts, who attributed it to deep anti-Romani sentiments in the region.[15][16][17] Kotleba was defeated in the Slovak regional elections of 2017 by an independent candidate, Ján Lunter.[18]

Administrative division

The Banská Bystrica Region consists of 13 districts (okresy).

There are 514 municipalities, of which 24 are towns, where 56% of the region's population lives.

More information District, Area [km2] ...
DistrictArea [km2][19]Population[20]
Banská Bystrica809.44106,000
Banská Štiavnica292.2915,258
Brezno1265.2457,517
Detva449.1430,199
Krupina584.8921,129
Lučenec825.5568,259
Poltár476.2819,951
Revúca730.0937,528
Rimavská Sobota1471.0779,222
Veľký Krtíš848.1440,235
Zvolen759.0265,001
Žarnovica425.0824,327
Žiar nad Hronom517.6542,955
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Population and area values are current for year 2025.

Places of interest

Photo gallery

See also

References

External links

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