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 76.7% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
76.7%
Change on year
up 2.9%
World rank
9th
of 110 countries
All-time high
76.7%
in 2023
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

0204060802001201220232001: 50.6 %2002: 55.7 %2003: 54.1 %2004: 57.3 %2005: 57.1 %2006: 58.4 %2007: 62 %2008: 63.7 %2009: 60.9 %2010: 62 %2011: 62.5 %2012: 64.6 %2013: 65 %2014: 65.8 %2015: 68.8 %2016: 68.3 %2017: 68.5 %2018: 71.9 %2019: 72.6 %2020: 73.1 %2021: 75.6 %2022: 74.6 %2023: 76.7 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

Bulgaria recorded 76.7% for participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in 2023. That is the highest value across all 23 years on record.

The figure is up 2.9% on the previous year and up 18.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Bulgaria peaked at 76.7% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 50.6%, in 2001.

Bulgaria ranks 9th of 110 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

Annual values for Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, 15-24 years old, female (%) in Bulgaria, 2001 to 2023.
Year % Change
2001 50.6%
2002 55.7% +10.1%
2003 54.1% -2.9%
2004 57.3% +6.0%
2005 57.1% -0.3%
2006 58.4% +2.2%
2007 62.0% +6.1%
2008 63.7% +2.8%
2009 60.9% -4.4%
2010 62.0% +1.7%
2011 62.5% +0.8%
2012 64.6% +3.4%
2013 65.0% +0.6%
2014 65.8% +1.3%
2015 68.8% +4.6%
2016 68.3% -0.7%
2017 68.5% +0.2%
2018 71.9% +5.0%
2019 72.6% +0.9%
2020 73.1% +0.6%
2021 75.6% +3.5%
2022 74.6% -1.3%
2023 76.7% +2.9%

Bulgaria compared with similar countries

  • Bulgaria's 76.7% is above the median for high income countries, which is 72.6%, 1.1× the median. (43 countries reporting)
  • Bulgaria's 76.7% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 73.4%, 1.0× the median. (41 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 57.7% 50.6% 63.7% 9
2010s 67.0% 62.0% 72.6% 10
2020s 75.0% 73.1% 76.7% 4

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 6 Netherlands 79.0% compare
  2. 7 Slovakia 77.6% compare
  3. 8 Denmark 76.9% compare
  4. 10 Greece 76.7% compare
  5. 11 Estonia 76.5% compare
  6. 12 Spain 76.5% compare

See the full ranking of 155 places →

More education data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

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 76.7% 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 76.7% in 2023.
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 9th 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 18.1%. 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 Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, 15-24 years old, female (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/participation-rate-of-youth-and-adults-in-formal-and-non-formal-education-and-training-in-8/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Participation rate of youth and adults in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months, 15-24 years old, female (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
155 places, 3,125 data points, 1990–2025
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release