Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number) was 485,226 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
485,226
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
108th
of 219 countries
All-time high
940,260
in 1989
All-time low
472,538
in 2020
Years of data
54
1971–2024
Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Bulgaria, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Bulgaria is 485,226, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.1% on the previous year and down 6.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Bulgaria peaked at 940,260 in 1989 and was at its lowest, 472,538, in 2020.
Bulgaria ranks 108th of 219 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 secondary education, both sexes (number) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 843,894 | — |
| 1972 | 845,445 | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 848,718 | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 854,039 | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 856,582 | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 809,823 | -5.5% |
| 1977 | 828,214 | +2.3% |
| 1978 | 809,785 | -2.2% |
| 1979 | 782,951 | -3.3% |
| 1980 | 782,819 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 785,615 | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 792,343 | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 802,465 | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 809,919 | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 828,736 | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 887,929 | +7.1% |
| 1987 | 907,595 | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 930,465 | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 940,260 | +1.1% |
| 1990 | 910,101 | -3.2% |
| 1991 | 896,343 | -1.5% |
| 1992 | 864,882 | -3.5% |
| 1993 | 822,109 | -4.9% |
| 1994 | 778,739 | -5.3% |
| 1995 | 771,800 | -0.9% |
| 1996 | 756,549 | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 733,362 | -3.1% |
| 1998 | 711,634 | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 699,957 | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 696,073 | -0.6% |
| 2001 | 695,474 | -0.1% |
| 2002 | 693,289 | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 707,251 | +2.0% |
| 2004 | 704,678 | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 685,640 | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 662,510 | -3.4% |
| 2007 | 633,343 | -4.4% |
| 2008 | 593,321 | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 554,835 | -6.5% |
| 2010 | 531,980 | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 523,355 | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 503,786 | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 519,569 | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 518,914 | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 501,398 | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 487,087 | -2.9% |
| 2017 | 485,586 | -0.3% |
| 2018 | 489,665 | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 480,957 | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 472,538 | -1.8% |
| 2021 | 476,175 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 483,516 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | 484,824 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 485,226 | +0.1% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 485,226 is above the median for high income countries, which is 307,015, 1.6× the median. (78 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 485,226 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 543,350, 89% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 831,050 | 782,951 | 856,582 | 9 |
| 1980s | 846,815 | 782,819 | 940,260 | 10 |
| 1990s | 794,548 | 699,957 | 910,101 | 10 |
| 2000s | 662,641 | 554,835 | 707,251 | 10 |
| 2010s | 504,230 | 480,957 | 531,980 | 10 |
| 2020s | 480,456 | 472,538 | 485,226 | 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 secondary education, both sexes in Bulgaria?
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes in Bulgaria was 485,226 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 940,260 in 1989.
- What is the lowest enrolment in secondary education, both sexes recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 472,538 in 2020.
- How does Bulgaria rank for enrolment in secondary education, both sexes?
- Bulgaria ranks 108th out of 219 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in secondary education, both sexes rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 6.5%. 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 secondary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release