Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes was 236,335 number in 2018. ▲ Rising
Latest (2018)
236,335 number
Change on year
down 5.4%
World rank
82nd
of 193 countries
All-time high
287,086 number
in 2010
All-time low
95,723 number
in 1983
Years of data
48
1971–2018
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria, 1971–2018
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in number.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 236,335 number for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in 2018.
That represents a change of down 5.4% on the previous year and down 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria peaked at 287,086 number in 2010 and was at its lowest, 95,723 number, in 1983.
Bulgaria ranks 82nd of 193 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 48 years of available data.
Enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 99,596 number | — |
| 1972 | 107,296 number | +7.7% |
| 1973 | 117,103 number | +9.1% |
| 1974 | 121,798 number | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 127,319 number | +4.5% |
| 1976 | 128,593 number | +1.0% |
| 1977 | 129,507 number | +0.7% |
| 1978 | 142,644 number | +10.1% |
| 1979 | 117,028 number | -18.0% |
| 1980 | 108,308 number | -7.5% |
| 1981 | 101,359 number | -6.4% |
| 1982 | 97,785 number | -3.5% |
| 1983 | 95,723 number | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 98,612 number | +3.0% |
| 1985 | 104,333 number | +5.8% |
| 1986 | 113,795 number | +9.1% |
| 1987 | 125,576 number | +10.4% |
| 1988 | 135,852 number | +8.2% |
| 1989 | 150,517 number | +10.8% |
| 1990 | 157,861 number | +4.9% |
| 1991 | 188,479 number | +19.4% |
| 1992 | 185,914 number | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 195,447 number | +5.1% |
| 1994 | 206,179 number | +5.5% |
| 1995 | 223,030 number | +8.2% |
| 1996 | 250,336 number | +12.2% |
| 1997 | 262,757 number | +5.0% |
| 1998 | 260,487 number | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 270,077 number | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 261,321 number | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 247,006 number | -5.5% |
| 2002 | 228,394 number | -7.5% |
| 2003 | 230,513 number | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 228,468 number | -0.9% |
| 2005 | 237,909 number | +4.1% |
| 2006 | 243,464 number | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 258,692 number | +6.3% |
| 2008 | 264,463 number | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 274,247 number | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 287,086 number | +4.7% |
| 2011 | 285,265 number | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 284,995 number | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 283,959 number | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 283,294 number | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 278,953 number | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 266,707 number | -4.4% |
| 2017 | 249,937 number | -6.3% |
| 2018 | 236,335 number | -5.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 121,209 number | 99,596 number | 142,644 number | 9 |
| 1980s | 113,186 number | 95,723 number | 150,517 number | 10 |
| 1990s | 220,057 number | 157,861 number | 270,077 number | 10 |
| 2000s | 247,448 number | 228,394 number | 274,247 number | 10 |
| 2010s | 272,948 number | 236,335 number | 287,086 number | 9 |
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 236,335 number in 2018, 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 number in 2010.
- What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 95,723 number in 1983.
- How does Bulgaria rank for enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes?
- Bulgaria ranks 82nd out of 193 countries with data for 2018.
- Is enrolment in tertiary education, all programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.6%. 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
The total number of students enrolled at public and private tertiary education institutions.