Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) was 195,697 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
195,697
Change on year
down 11.6%
World rank
97th
of 200 countries
All-time high
287,086
in 2010
All-time low
95,723
in 1983
Years of data
54
1971–2024
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
In 2024, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria stood at 195,697.
That represents a change of down 11.6% on the previous year and down 30.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria peaked at 287,086 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 95,723, in 1983.
Bulgaria ranks 97th of 200 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 54 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 99,596 | — |
| 1972 | 107,296 | +7.7% |
| 1973 | 117,103 | +9.1% |
| 1974 | 121,798 | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 127,319 | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 128,593 | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 129,507 | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 142,644 | +10.1% |
| 1979 | 117,028 | -18.0% |
| 1980 | 108,308 | -7.5% |
| 1981 | 101,359 | -6.4% |
| 1982 | 97,785 | -3.5% |
| 1983 | 95,723 | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 98,612 | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 104,333 | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 113,795 | +9.1% |
| 1987 | 125,576 | +10.4% |
| 1988 | 135,852 | +8.2% |
| 1989 | 150,517 | +10.8% |
| 1990 | 157,861 | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 188,479 | +19.4% |
| 1992 | 185,914 | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 195,447 | +5.1% |
| 1994 | 206,179 | +5.5% |
| 1995 | 223,030 | +8.2% |
| 1996 | 250,336 | +12.2% |
| 1997 | 262,757 | +5.0% |
| 1998 | 260,487 | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 270,077 | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 261,321 | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 247,006 | -5.5% |
| 2002 | 228,394 | -7.5% |
| 2003 | 230,513 | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 228,468 | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 237,909 | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 243,464 | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 258,692 | +6.3% |
| 2008 | 264,463 | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 274,247 | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 287,086 | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 285,265 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 284,995 | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 283,959 | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 283,294 | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 278,953 | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 266,707 | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 249,937 | -6.3% |
| 2018 | 236,335 | -5.4% |
| 2019 | 229,464 | -2.9% |
| 2020 | 226,608 | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 226,361 | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 226,981 | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 221,330 | -2.5% |
| 2024 | 195,697 | -11.6% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 195,697 is above the median for high income countries, which is 158,952, 1.2× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 195,697 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 294,128, 67% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 121,209 | 99,596 | 142,644 | 9 |
| 1980s | 113,186 | 95,723 | 150,517 | 10 |
| 1990s | 220,057 | 157,861 | 270,077 | 10 |
| 2000s | 247,448 | 228,394 | 274,247 | 10 |
| 2010s | 268,600 | 229,464 | 287,086 | 10 |
| 2020s | 219,395 | 195,697 | 226,981 | 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 tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria?
- Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria was 195,697 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 287,086 in 2010.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 95,723 in 1983.
- How does Bulgaria rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Bulgaria ranks 97th out of 200 countries with data for 2024.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release