Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal was 70.8% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
70.8%
Change on year
down 0.6%
World rank
15th
of 110 countries
All-time high
71.3%
in 2022
All-time low
50.6%
in 2001
Years of data
23
2001–2023
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Bulgaria, 2001–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 70.8% for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in 2023.
The figure is down 0.6% on the previous year and up 21.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Bulgaria peaked at 71.3% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 50.6%, in 2001.
Bulgaria ranks 15th of 110 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 23 years of available data.
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 50.6% | — |
| 2002 | 51.4% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 51.4% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 53.9% | +4.9% |
| 2005 | 54.6% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 57.5% | +5.3% |
| 2007 | 57.6% | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 58.2% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 58.7% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 55.8% | -4.9% |
| 2011 | 55.5% | -0.5% |
| 2012 | 56.3% | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 58.5% | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 60.3% | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 62.5% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 63.4% | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 64.4% | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 67.8% | +5.4% |
| 2019 | 64.8% | -4.6% |
| 2020 | 67.1% | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 69.2% | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 71.3% | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 70.8% | -0.6% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 70.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 66.1%, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 70.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 66.3%, 1.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 54.9% | 50.6% | 58.7% | 9 |
| 2010s | 60.9% | 55.5% | 67.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.6% | 67.1% | 71.3% | 4 |
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 participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Bulgaria?
- Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Bulgaria was 70.8% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 71.3% in 2022.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.6% in 2001.
- How does Bulgaria rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Bulgaria ranks 15th out of 110 countries with data for 2023.
- Is participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.0%. 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 Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, 15-24 years old, male (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release