Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) was 234,521 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
234,521
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
136th
of 218 countries
All-time high
579,356
in 1985
All-time low
232,742
in 2023
Years of data
54
1971–2024
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Bulgaria, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Bulgaria is 234,521, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 0.8% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Bulgaria peaked at 579,356 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 232,742, in 2023.
Bulgaria ranks 136th of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 542,445 | — |
| 1972 | 528,247 | -2.6% |
| 1973 | 514,002 | -2.7% |
| 1974 | 501,299 | -2.5% |
| 1975 | 484,590 | -3.3% |
| 1976 | 495,645 | +2.3% |
| 1977 | 507,375 | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 522,639 | +3.0% |
| 1979 | 528,362 | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 521,279 | -1.3% |
| 1981 | 523,156 | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 543,644 | +3.9% |
| 1983 | 556,037 | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 571,611 | +2.8% |
| 1985 | 579,356 | +1.4% |
| 1986 | 567,615 | -2.0% |
| 1987 | 570,809 | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 552,520 | -3.2% |
| 1989 | 529,094 | -4.2% |
| 1990 | 478,887 | -9.5% |
| 1991 | 455,888 | -4.8% |
| 1992 | 439,637 | -3.6% |
| 1993 | 429,594 | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 423,818 | -1.3% |
| 1995 | 425,286 | +0.3% |
| 1996 | 433,926 | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 431,790 | -0.5% |
| 1998 | 425,511 | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 411,726 | -3.2% |
| 2000 | 392,876 | -4.6% |
| 2001 | 374,361 | -4.7% |
| 2002 | 349,616 | -6.6% |
| 2003 | 333,016 | -4.7% |
| 2004 | 314,221 | -5.6% |
| 2005 | 290,017 | -7.7% |
| 2006 | 273,045 | -5.9% |
| 2007 | 267,584 | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 262,701 | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 261,007 | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 260,340 | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 255,086 | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 252,372 | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 253,675 | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 258,840 | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 261,793 | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 261,969 | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 264,503 | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 262,735 | -0.7% |
| 2019 | 256,857 | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 248,354 | -3.3% |
| 2021 | 237,737 | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 233,548 | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 232,742 | -0.3% |
| 2024 | 234,521 | +0.8% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 234,521 is below the median for high income countries, which is 236,668, 99% of the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 234,521 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 432,238, 54% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 513,845 | 484,590 | 542,445 | 9 |
| 1980s | 551,512 | 521,279 | 579,356 | 10 |
| 1990s | 435,606 | 411,726 | 478,887 | 10 |
| 2000s | 311,844 | 261,007 | 392,876 | 10 |
| 2010s | 258,817 | 252,372 | 264,503 | 10 |
| 2020s | 237,380 | 232,742 | 248,354 | 5 |
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 enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Bulgaria?
- Enrolment in primary education, both sexes in Bulgaria was 234,521 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 579,356 in 1985.
- What is the lowest enrolment in primary education, both sexes recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 232,742 in 2023.
- How does Bulgaria rank for enrolment in primary education, both sexes?
- Bulgaria ranks 136th out of 218 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in primary education, both sexes rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in primary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release