Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling was 11.45 years in 2023. ▲ Rising
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Bulgaria, 1990–2023
Source: UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Bulgaria is 11.45 years, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Bulgaria peaked at 11.45 years in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.81 years, in 1990.
That places Bulgaria 56th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6.81 years | — |
| 1991 | 7.08 years | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 7.37 years | +4.0% |
| 1993 | 7.67 years | +4.0% |
| 1994 | 7.96 years | +3.9% |
| 1995 | 8.26 years | +3.7% |
| 1996 | 8.56 years | +3.6% |
| 1997 | 8.85 years | +3.5% |
| 1998 | 9.15 years | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 9.45 years | +3.2% |
| 2000 | 9.74 years | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 10.04 years | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 10.12 years | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 10.19 years | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 10.27 years | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 10.34 years | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 10.42 years | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 10.54 years | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 10.59 years | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 10.64 years | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 10.72 years | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 10.78 years | +0.6% |
| 2012 | 10.9 years | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 11.01 years | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 11.05 years | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 11.19 years | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 11.23 years | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 11.24 years | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 11.3 years | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 11.35 years | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 11.41 years | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 11.45 years | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 11.45 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 11.45 years | +0.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 11.45 years is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.39 years, 92% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 11.45 years is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.34 years, 93% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 8.12 years | 6.81 years | 9.45 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.29 years | 9.74 years | 10.64 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.08 years | 10.72 years | 11.35 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.44 years | 11.41 years | 11.45 years | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More education data for Bulgaria
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 43,834 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 1,173 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 111,576 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 105,281 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 485,226 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 234,521 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 0.7644 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0364 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Bulgaria?
- Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling in Bulgaria was 11.45 years in 2023, according to UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 11.45 years in 2021.
- What is the lowest average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.81 years in 1990.
- How does Bulgaria rank for average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling?
- Bulgaria ranks 56th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from UNDP, Human Development Report (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Average years of schooling vs. expected years of schooling. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average number of years (excluding years spent repeating individual grades) adults over 25 years participated in formal education.