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 12.4% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Bulgaria, 2001–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Bulgaria is 12.4%, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 4.8% on the previous year and up 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Bulgaria peaked at 13.1% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 10.9%, in 2020.
That places Bulgaria 79th out of 110 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling 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 | 11.3% | — |
| 2002 | 12.2% | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 11.9% | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 12.4% | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 12.0% | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 12.5% | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 13.1% | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 13.1% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 12.6% | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 12.1% | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 11.7% | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 12.1% | +3.4% |
| 2013 | 11.9% | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 11.6% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 11.9% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 12.0% | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 11.7% | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 12.2% | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 11.0% | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 10.9% | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 11.5% | +4.7% |
| 2022 | 11.8% | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 12.4% | +4.8% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 12.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 18.3%, 68% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 12.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 17.2%, 72% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.3% | 11.3% | 13.1% | 9 |
| 2010s | 11.8% | 11.0% | 12.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.7% | 10.9% | 12.4% | 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 12.4% 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 13.1% in 2008.
- What is the lowest participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.9% in 2020.
- How does Bulgaria rank for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal?
- Bulgaria ranks 79th 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 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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, 15-64 years old, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release