Theoretical duration of secondary education (years) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Theoretical duration of secondary education (years) was 8 years in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
8 years
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
3rd
of 221 countries
All-time high
8 years
in 1999
All-time low
7 years
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Theoretical duration of secondary education in Bulgaria, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in years.
Analysis
The most recent figure for theoretical duration of secondary education in Bulgaria is 8 years, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
The figure is unchanged over ten years.
Over the whole period, theoretical duration of secondary education in Bulgaria peaked at 8 years in 1999 and was at its lowest, 7 years, in 1970.
That places Bulgaria 3rd out of 221 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Theoretical duration of secondary education (years) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | years | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 7 years | — |
| 1971 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 7 years | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 8 years | +14.3% |
| 2000 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 8 years | +0.0% |
| 2025 | 8 years | +0.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 8 years is above the median for high income countries, which is 6 years, 1.3× the median. (79 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 8 years is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7 years, 1.1× the median. (53 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7 years | 7 years | 7 years | 10 |
| 1980s | 7 years | 7 years | 7 years | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.1 years | 7 years | 8 years | 10 |
| 2000s | 8 years | 8 years | 8 years | 10 |
| 2010s | 8 years | 8 years | 8 years | 10 |
| 2020s | 8 years | 8 years | 8 years | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 1 Germany 9 years compare
- 1 Slovakia 9 years compare
- 3 United Arab Emirates 8 years compare
- 3 Armenia 8 years compare
- 3 Austria 8 years compare
- 3 Bosnia and Herzegovina 8 years compare
- 3 Czechia 8 years compare
- 3 Croatia 8 years compare
- 3 Hungary 8 years compare
- 3 Italy 8 years compare
- 3 Sri Lanka 8 years compare
- 3 Lithuania 8 years compare
- 3 Moldova 8 years compare
- 3 North Macedonia 8 years compare
- 3 Montenegro 8 years compare
- 3 Oman 8 years compare
- 3 Poland 8 years compare
- 3 Palestine 8 years compare
- 3 Romania 8 years compare
- 3 San Marino 8 years compare
- 3 Somalia 8 years compare
- 3 Serbia 8 years compare
- 3 Turkmenistan 8 years compare
- 3 Turkey 8 years compare
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 theoretical duration of secondary education in Bulgaria?
- Theoretical duration of secondary education in Bulgaria was 8 years in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest theoretical duration of secondary education recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 8 years in 1999.
- What is the lowest theoretical duration of secondary education recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 7 years in 1970.
- How does Bulgaria rank for theoretical duration of secondary education?
- Bulgaria ranks 3rd out of 221 countries with data for 2025.
- Is theoretical duration of secondary education rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is unchanged. 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 Theoretical duration of secondary education (years). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release