School age population, tertiary education, both sexes (number) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: School age population, tertiary education, both sexes (number) was 281,392 in 2024. ▼ Falling
School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in Bulgaria, 2001–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
Analysis
The most recent figure for school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in Bulgaria is 281,392, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and down 27.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in Bulgaria peaked at 601,855 in 2001 and was at its lowest, 264,936, in 2020.
Bulgaria ranks 126th of 221 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
School age population, tertiary education, both sexes (number) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 601,855 | — |
| 2002 | 551,290 | -8.4% |
| 2003 | 537,908 | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 522,887 | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 514,673 | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 509,394 | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 504,860 | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 502,300 | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 498,555 | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 491,966 | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 476,835 | -3.1% |
| 2012 | 458,474 | -3.9% |
| 2013 | 416,354 | -9.2% |
| 2014 | 388,172 | -6.8% |
| 2015 | 356,262 | -8.2% |
| 2016 | 330,738 | -7.2% |
| 2017 | 307,711 | -7.0% |
| 2018 | 284,279 | -7.6% |
| 2019 | 270,753 | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 264,936 | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 265,365 | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 269,800 | +1.7% |
| 2023 | 277,171 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 281,392 | +1.5% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 281,392 is above the median for high income countries, which is 247,364, 1.1× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 281,392 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 368,415, 76% of the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 527,080 | 498,555 | 601,855 | 9 |
| 2010s | 378,154 | 270,753 | 491,966 | 10 |
| 2020s | 271,733 | 264,936 | 281,392 | 5 |
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 school age population, tertiary education, both sexes in Bulgaria?
- School age population, tertiary education, both sexes in Bulgaria was 281,392 in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest school age population, tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 601,855 in 2001.
- What is the lowest school age population, tertiary education, both sexes recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 264,936 in 2020.
- How does Bulgaria rank for school age population, tertiary education, both sexes?
- Bulgaria ranks 126th out of 221 countries with data for 2024.
- Is school age population, tertiary education, both sexes rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.5%. 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 School age population, tertiary education, both sexes (number). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release