Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: Share of the population with completed tertiary education was 23.9 in 2020. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2020)
23.9
World rank
35th
of 111 countries
All-time high
26.3
in 2010
All-time low
0
in 1870
Years of data
31
1870–2020

Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Bulgaria, 1870–2020

01020301870194520201870: 01875: 01880: 01885: 01890: 01895: 0.21900: 0.31905: 0.41910: 0.61915: 0.91920: 1.11925: 1.41930: 1.61935: 1.81940: 2.21945: 2.51950: 31955: 3.61960: 4.21965: 5.41970: 7.61975: 9.91980: 131985: 15.71990: 17.41995: 182000: 20.92005: 22.12010: 26.32015: 25.22020: 23.9

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of the population with completed tertiary education in Bulgaria is 23.9, measured in 2020.

The figure is down 9.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of the population with completed tertiary education in Bulgaria peaked at 26.3 in 2010 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1870.

Bulgaria ranks 35th of 111 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Bulgaria, 1870 to 2020.
Year Value Change
1870 0
1875 0
1880 0
1885 0
1890 0
1895 0.2
1900 0.3 +50.0%
1905 0.4 +33.3%
1910 0.6 +50.0%
1915 0.9 +50.0%
1920 1.1 +22.2%
1925 1.4 +27.3%
1930 1.6 +14.3%
1935 1.8 +12.5%
1940 2.2 +22.2%
1945 2.5 +13.6%
1950 3 +20.0%
1955 3.6 +20.0%
1960 4.2 +16.7%
1965 5.4 +28.6%
1970 7.6 +40.7%
1975 9.9 +30.3%
1980 13 +31.3%
1985 15.7 +20.8%
1990 17.4 +10.8%
1995 18 +3.4%
2000 20.9 +16.1%
2005 22.1 +5.7%
2010 26.3 +19.0%
2015 25.2 -4.2%
2020 23.9 -5.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1870s 0 0 0 2
1880s 0 0 0 2
1890s 0.1 0 0.2 2
1900s 0.35 0.3 0.4 2
1910s 0.75 0.6 0.9 2
1920s 1.25 1.1 1.4 2
1930s 1.7 1.6 1.8 2
1940s 2.35 2.2 2.5 2
1950s 3.3 3 3.6 2
1960s 4.8 4.2 5.4 2
1970s 8.75 7.6 9.9 2
1980s 14.35 13 15.7 2
1990s 17.7 17.4 18 2
2000s 21.5 20.9 22.1 2
2010s 25.75 25.2 26.3 2
2020s 23.9 23.9 23.9 1

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 32 Hong Kong, China 25.3 compare
  2. 33 Poland 24.9 compare
  3. 34 Iran, Islamic Republic of 24.4 compare
  4. 36 Hungary 23 compare
  5. 37 Mexico 22.9 compare
  6. 38 Serbia 20.6 compare

See the full ranking of 111 places →

More education data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of the population with completed tertiary education in Bulgaria?
Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Bulgaria was 23.9 in 2020, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 26.3 in 2010.
What is the lowest share of the population with completed tertiary education recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1870.
How does Bulgaria rank for share of the population with completed tertiary education?
Bulgaria ranks 35th out of 111 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of the population with completed tertiary education rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population with completed tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of the population with completed tertiary education in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-the-population-with-completed-tertiary-education/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of the population with completed tertiary education
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
111 places, 3,441 data points, 1870–2020
Last refreshed