Official entrance age to compulsory education (UNICEF) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Official entrance age to compulsory education (UNICEF) was 4 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Official entrance age to compulsory education in Bulgaria, 1998–2025
Source: UNICEF.
Analysis
The most recent figure for official entrance age to compulsory education in Bulgaria is 4, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 28 years on record.
The figure is down 33.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, official entrance age to compulsory education in Bulgaria peaked at 7 in 1998 and was at its lowest, 4, in 2021.
Bulgaria ranks 69th of 73 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 28 years of available data.
Official entrance age to compulsory education (UNICEF) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 7 | — |
| 1999 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 7 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 6 | -14.3% |
| 2012 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 6 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 5 | -16.7% |
| 2018 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 5 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 4 | -20.0% |
| 2022 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 4 | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 4 | +0.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 4 is below the median for high income countries, which is 6, 67% of the median. (42 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 4 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6, 67% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 2 |
| 2000s | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.8 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.17 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 69 Luxembourg 4 compare
- 69 Hungary 4 compare
- 69 Switzerland 4 compare
More education data for Bulgaria
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 94.2 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 94.1 (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is official entrance age to compulsory education in Bulgaria?
- Official entrance age to compulsory education in Bulgaria was 4 in 2025, according to UNICEF.
- What is the highest official entrance age to compulsory education recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 7 in 1998.
- What is the lowest official entrance age to compulsory education recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 4 in 2021.
- How does Bulgaria rank for official entrance age to compulsory education?
- Bulgaria ranks 69th out of 73 countries with data for 2025.
- Is official entrance age to compulsory education rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from UNICEF, published as part of Official entrance age to compulsory education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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