Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes 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 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% |
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
- Primary education, teachers, gaps filled 22,710 (2024)
- Duration of pre primary education, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Duration of pre primary education 4 (2025)
- Official entrance age to pre primary education 3 (2025)
- Population ages 15-64 63.4% (2025)
- Population ages 0-14 14.4% (2025)
- Lower secondary school starting age 11 years (2025)
- Primary school starting age 7 years (2025)
- Primary secondary enrollment completion rates, gaps filled 95.28 (2024)
- School enrollment, primary 95.3% (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