Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 7 programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 7 programmes, both sexes was 60,857 in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
60,857
Change on year
down 15.5%
World rank
56th
of 128 countries
All-time high
85,823
in 2014
All-time low
48,365
in 2003
Years of data
23
2002–2024

Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 7 programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria, 2002–2024

020.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k2002201320242002: 50.0k2003: 48.4k2004: 52.4k2005: 57.7k2006: 56.4k2007: 66.0k2008: 69.2k2009: 71.5k2010: 76.4k2011: 76.9k2012: 80.0k2013: 83.0k2014: 85.8k2015: 85.6k2016: 81.6k2017: 77.6k2018: 74.7k2019: 73.3k2020: 72.2k2021: 72.0k2022: 73.6k2023: 72.1k2024: 60.9k

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

The most recent figure for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 7 programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria is 60,857, measured in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 15.5% on the previous year and down 29.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, enrolment in tertiary education, isced 7 programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria peaked at 85,823 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 48,365, in 2003.

That places Bulgaria 56th out of 128 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.

Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 7 programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 7 programmes, both sexes (number) in Bulgaria, 2002 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2002 50,025
2003 48,365 -3.3%
2004 52,422 +8.4%
2005 57,655 +10.0%
2006 56,353 -2.3%
2007 66,037 +17.2%
2008 69,230 +4.8%
2009 71,501 +3.3%
2010 76,385 +6.8%
2011 76,931 +0.7%
2012 80,013 +4.0%
2013 82,951 +3.7%
2014 85,823 +3.5%
2015 85,634 -0.2%
2016 81,592 -4.7%
2017 77,627 -4.9%
2018 74,680 -3.8%
2019 73,311 -1.8%
2020 72,224 -1.5%
2021 72,035 -0.3%
2022 73,640 +2.2%
2023 72,052 -2.2%
2024 60,857 -15.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 58,948 48,365 71,501 8
2010s 79,495 73,311 85,823 10
2020s 70,162 60,857 73,640 5

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 53 Nepal 63,608 compare
  2. 54 South Africa 62,467 compare
  3. 55 Kyrgyzstan 61,897 compare
  4. 57 Sri Lanka 60,556 compare
  5. 58 Georgia 57,377 compare
  6. 59 Serbia 52,672 compare

See the full ranking of 333 places →

More education data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 7 programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria?
Enrolment in tertiary education, isced 7 programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria was 60,857 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 7 programmes, both sexes recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 85,823 in 2014.
What is the lowest enrolment in tertiary education, isced 7 programmes, both sexes recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 48,365 in 2003.
How does Bulgaria rank for enrolment in tertiary education, isced 7 programmes, both sexes?
Bulgaria ranks 56th out of 128 countries with data for 2024.
Is enrolment in tertiary education, isced 7 programmes, both sexes rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 29.1%. 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, ISCED 7 programmes, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 7 programmes, both sexes in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 25 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/enrolment-in-tertiary-education-isced-7-programmes-both-sexes-number-2/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Enrolment in tertiary education, ISCED 7 programmes, both sexes (number)
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
333 places, 3,877 data points, 2002–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release