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
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
| 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% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 23.9 is below the median for high income countries, which is 30.6, 78% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 23.9 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 30.85, 77% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
More education data for Bulgaria
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 94.2 (2024)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 94.1 (2024)
- 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)
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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