Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education was 47.1% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Bulgaria, 2000–2022
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 47.1% for share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
The figure is down 22.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Bulgaria peaked at 60.6% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 47.1%, in 2022.
Bulgaria ranks 50th of 59 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 59.7% | — |
| 2006 | 48.9% | -18.0% |
| 2009 | 59.0% | +20.6% |
| 2012 | 60.6% | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 58.5% | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 52.9% | -9.6% |
| 2022 | 47.1% | -10.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 55.9% | 48.9% | 59.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 57.3% | 52.9% | 60.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 47.1% | 47.1% | 47.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More education data for Bulgaria
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), gaps filled 114,165 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), annual growth rate 0.9399 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, female (number), per capita 0.0177 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), gaps filled 120,356 (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), annual growth rate 0.5985 % change on previous year (2024)
- Enrolment in primary education, male (number), per capita 0.0187 units per person (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 485,226 (2024)
- Enrolment in secondary education, both sexes (number), annual growth 0.0829 % change on previous year (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 22,710 (2024)
- Teachers in primary education, both sexes (number), annual growth rate -2.08 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Bulgaria?
- Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education in Bulgaria was 47.1% in 2022, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 60.6% in 2012.
- What is the lowest share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.1% in 2022.
- How does Bulgaria rank for share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education?
- Bulgaria ranks 50th out of 59 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.2%. 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 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of students achieving minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of students who achieve minimum reading proficiency by the end of lower secondary education. This data includes only students enrolled in school.