Photo: Pamporoff · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 04 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Bulgaria: Education & Knowledge
How far does a country's schooling carry its children?
Bulgaria is placed joint 67th of 198 countries on education & knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Out-of-School Rate, Primary 5.903 (2024); Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary 94.6 (2024).
Share
Education & Knowledge
joint67th
of 198 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 5.903Out-of-School Rate, Primary, 2024Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
- 94.6Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary, 2024Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
- 87.21Upper Secondary Completion Rate, 2025Upper secondary completion rate (%)
- —Government Spending on Education, 2023No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Bulgaria on education & knowledge — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Bulgaria’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
5.903
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%)
Lower is better
Bulgaria: 5.903. Across the 192 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.004 (United Arab Emirates) to 65.6 (Equatorial Guinea); the world median is 3.691.
- World median
- 3.691
- Best in Eastern Europe
- 0.092 Poland
- Land neighbours
- Greece 0.11 · North Macedonia 3.791 · Romania 15.59 · Serbia 3.333 · Türkiye 0.603
Key 2 of 4
Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Bulgaria’s is from 2024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
94.6
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)
Higher is better
Bulgaria: 94.6. Across the 187 countries at their latest reading, values run from 3.411 (Yemen) to 100 (United Arab Emirates); the world median is 85.9.
- World median
- 85.9
- Best in Eastern Europe
- 99.86 Poland
- Land neighbours
- Greece 99.53 · North Macedonia 52.37 · Romania 80.76 · Serbia 86.21 · Türkiye 98.02
Key 3 of 4
Upper Secondary Completion Rate
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY-SA 4.0
87.21
Upper secondary completion rate (%)
Higher is better
Bulgaria: 87.21. Across the 164 countries in this edition, values run from 2.13 (South Sudan) to 99.27 (South Korea); the world median is 64.87.
- World median
- 64.87
- Best in Eastern Europe
- 97.25 Ukraine
- Land neighbours
- Greece 95.22 · North Macedonia 86.31 · Romania 81.93 · Serbia 82.76 · Türkiye 78.12
Key 4 of 4
Government Spending on Education
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY-SA 4.0
No reading
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP)
Higher is better
UIS publishes no 2023 figure for Bulgaria, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 123 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Somalia) to 16.39 (Kiribati); the world median is 3.709.
- World median
- 3.709
- Best in Eastern Europe
- 6.557 Moldova
- Land neighbours
- Serbia 3.404
02Over time
Which way Bulgaria is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Out-of-School Rate, Primary
Out-of-school rate, primary age (%) · lower is better
BulgariaWorld median
Bulgaria rose from 1.568 in 2001 to 5.903 in 2024; the world median went from 4.051 to 3.691.
Every year’s figures
Year Bulgaria World median 2024 5.903 3.691 2023 5.714 3.393 2022 5.296 3.002 2021 5.041 3.330 2020 4.212 2.678 2019 4.181 2.758 2018 4.035 2.439 2017 3.535 2.907 2016 3.361 2.954 2015 2.988 3.052 2014 3.254 3.904 2013 3.700 3.413 2012 2.507 3.408 2011 1.483 3.626 2010 0.846 3.491 2009 1.049 3.577 2008 0.066 3.878 2007 0.071 4.029 2006 0.164 4.338 2005 0.118 4.571 2004 0.399 3.791 2003 0.376 4.412 2002 0.368 4.144 2001 1.568 4.051 2000 — 8.642 Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary
Children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) · higher is better
BulgariaWorld median
Bulgaria rose from 80.98 in 2001 to 94.6 in 2024; the world median went from 80.76 to 85.9.
Every year’s figures
Year Bulgaria World median 2024 94.597 85.9 2023 94.492 87.6 2022 94.485 87.7 2021 94.968 87.0 2020 96.777 88.3 2019 96.189 88.8 2018 91.644 89.6 2017 92.290 87.4 2016 95.626 87.9 2015 94.297 88.2 2014 93.205 89.2 2013 92.168 88.0 2012 94.976 85.4 2011 94.670 86.2 2010 95.076 86.1 2009 94.461 84.8 2008 94.655 85.8 2007 94.979 86.7 2006 94.914 84.0 2005 95.944 82.2 2004 99.691 81.8 2003 93.983 78.3 2002 89.921 80.0 2001 80.979 80.8 2000 — 66.3 Upper Secondary Completion Rate
Upper secondary completion rate (%) · higher is better
BulgariaWorld median
Bulgaria rose from 80.99 in 2000 to 87.21 in 2025; the world median went from 38 to 64.87.
Every year’s figures
Year Bulgaria World median 2025 87.21 64.9 2024 87.00 65.0 2023 86.82 64.2 2022 86.61 63.6 2021 86.43 62.9 2020 86.24 62.2 2019 85.98 61.5 2018 85.68 60.9 2017 85.33 60.5 2016 84.91 60.1 2015 84.53 58.9 2014 84.20 57.0 2013 83.88 54.7 2012 83.62 52.4 2011 83.35 50.9 2010 83.12 49.5 2009 82.87 48.5 2008 82.63 47.4 2007 82.13 46.2 2006 81.52 45.0 2005 80.97 43.8 2004 80.67 42.9 2003 80.62 41.6 2002 80.68 40.3 2001 80.84 39.0 2000 80.99 38.0 Government Spending on Education
Government expenditure on education (% of GDP) · higher is better
BulgariaWorld median
Bulgaria rose from 3.384 in 2001 to 4.501 in 2022; the world median went from 4.1 to 4.057.
Every year’s figures
Year Bulgaria World median 2023 — 3.7092 2022 4.50 4.0570 2021 4.71 4.2611 2020 4.48 4.4056 2019 4.21 4.1407 2018 4.05 4.2159 2017 4.08 4.1401 2016 3.81 4.2342 2015 3.88 4.2386 2014 4.19 4.2005 2013 4.06 4.3493 2012 3.48 4.0348 2011 3.55 3.9987 2010 3.86 4.1396 2009 4.27 4.6638 2008 4.22 4.4226 2007 3.68 4.1717 2006 3.90 4.0593 2005 4.11 4.0557 2004 4.25 3.9745 2003 4.00 4.1595 2002 3.39 4.0173 2001 3.38 4.1002 2000 — 3.8861
03In context
Bulgaria beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 198 countries on education & knowledge, never a place within the region.
Bulgaria and the countries it borders
Standing among all 198; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Out-of-School Rate, PrimaryOut-of-school rate, primary age (%) | Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before PrimaryChildren one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%) | Upper Secondary Completion RateUpper secondary completion rate (%) | Government Spending on EducationGovernment expenditure on education (% of GDP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Greece | 2nd | 0.11 | 99.53 | 95.22 | — |
 Türkiye | 28th | 0.603 | 98.02 | 78.12 | — |
| Bulgaria | =67th | 5.903 | 94.6 | 87.21 | — |
 Serbia | 95th | 3.333 | 86.21 | 82.76 | 3.404 |
 North Macedonia | 122nd | 3.791 | 52.37 | 86.31 | — |
 Romania | 129th | 15.59 | 80.76 | 81.93 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Eastern Europe
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 198.
Placed either side on education & knowledge
The countries immediately above and below Bulgaria in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Bulgaria is ahead of the world, and behind
37 more statistics filed under education & knowledge, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median20
Statistics on which Bulgaria does better than the middle country measured.
Government Funding per Primary StudentUIS · 2022 · world median 17.8125.2217.81▲ Improved since 2012
Bulgaria: 25.22 · world median 17.81 · Government funding per primary student (% of GDP per capita). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 3.771 to 34.57; higher is better.
Position 4th of 68 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 43.874.2543.8No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 74.25 · world median 43.8 · Pupils at the end of primary reaching minimum proficiency in mathematics (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.8 to 93.42; higher is better.
Academic Freedom IndexV-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg · 2025 · world median 0.6190.850.619No real change since 2015
Bulgaria: 0.85 · world median 0.619 · Academic freedom index (0–1). V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.019 to 0.978; higher is better.
Position 35th of 176 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of PrimaryUIS · 2023 · world median 60.0892.8860.08No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 92.88 · world median 60.08 · Pupils at the end of primary reaching minimum proficiency in reading (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 98.78; higher is better.
Adult Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 93.9998.3593.99No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 98.35 · world median 93.99 · Adults 15+ who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 26.83 to 100; higher is better.
Position 42nd of 172 · derived.
Pre-Primary Net Enrolment RateUIS · 2024 · world median 65.9387.9265.93▲ Improved since 2014
Bulgaria: 87.92 · world median 65.93 · Net enrolment rate, pre-primary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.779 to 99.85; higher is better.
Position 31st of 120 · derived.
Researchers per Million InhabitantsUIS · 2024 · world median 701.952,401701.95No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 2,401 · world median 701.95 · Researchers per million inhabitants (full-time equivalent). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.446 to 18,130; higher is better.
Position 41st of 145 · derived.
Mean Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 9.93311.459.933No real change since 2013
Bulgaria: 11.45 · world median 9.933 · Mean years of schooling (adults 25+). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.412 to 14.3; higher is better.
Position 56th of 193 · derived.
Upper Secondary AttainmentUIS · 2023 · world median 65.7680.1965.76No real change since 2013
Bulgaria: 80.19 · world median 65.76 · Adults 25+ who completed upper secondary or higher (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.26 to 97.89; higher is better.
Position 28th of 95 · derived.
Bachelor's or Higher AttainmentUIS · 2023 · world median 19.8626.3719.86▼ Worsened since 2013
Bulgaria: 26.37 · world median 19.86 · Adults 25+ who completed a bachelor's degree or higher (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.135 to 52.72; higher is better.
Position 29th of 90 · derived.
Tertiary Enrolment RatioUIS · 2024 · world median 52.7769.5552.77▼ Worsened since 2014
Bulgaria: 69.55 · world median 52.77 · Gross enrolment ratio, tertiary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 2.566 to 141.86; higher is better.
Position 31st of 95 · derived.
Expected Years of SchoolingUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 13.3415.3213.34▼ Worsened since 2013
Bulgaria: 15.32 · world median 13.34 · Expected years of schooling. UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 5.635 to 21.69; higher is better.
Position 63rd of 195 · derived.
Primary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 97.4399.1397.43▼ Worsened since 2015
Bulgaria: 99.13 · world median 97.43 · Primary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.94 to 100; higher is better.
Position 55th of 165 · derived.
Harmonized Test ScoresWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 414.32441.09414.32▲ Improved since 2010
Bulgaria: 441.09 · world median 414.32 · Harmonized test score (TIMSS-equivalent points; 300 = minimum, 625 = advanced attainment). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 304.92 to 575.27; higher is better.
Position 60th of 172 · derived.
Learning PovertyWorld Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics · 2023 · world median 34.0218.1934.02No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 18.19 · world median 34.02 · 10-year-olds who cannot read and understand a simple text (%). World Bank Group and UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.331 to 98.5; lower is better.
Position 79th of 125 · derived, 1st = worst.
Learning-Adjusted Years of SchoolWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 7.9418.6877.941▲ Improved since 2010
Bulgaria: 8.687 · world median 7.941 · Learning-adjusted years of school (0–14). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.207 to 12.81; higher is better.
Position 65th of 172 · derived.
Inbound Mobility Rate, TertiaryUIS · 2024 · world median 5.4947.8895.494▲ Improved since 2014
Bulgaria: 7.889 · world median 5.494 · Inbound mobility rate, tertiary (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 87.12; higher is better.
Position 30th of 75 · derived.
Lower Secondary Completion RateUIS · 2025 · world median 89.2194.2389.21▼ Worsened since 2015
Bulgaria: 94.23 · world median 89.21 · Lower secondary completion rate (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13.73 to 100; higher is better.
Position 66th of 164 · derived.
Secondary School EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 93.1994.7893.19▼ Worsened since 2014
Bulgaria: 94.78 · world median 93.19 · Gross secondary enrolment ratio (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 19.87 to 158.55; higher is better.
Position 52nd of 109 · derived.
Gender Parity Index, Tertiary EnrolmentUIS · 2024 · world median 1.2441.2951.244▼ Worsened since 2014
Bulgaria: 1.295 · world median 1.244 · Adjusted gender parity index, tertiary gross enrolment (1 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.74 to 1.83; higher is better.
Position 57th of 95 · derived.
Behind the world median9
Statistics on which Bulgaria does worse than the middle country measured.
Research and Development SpendingUIS · 2023 · world median 0.8140.7920.814No real change since 2013
Bulgaria: 0.792 · world median 0.814 · Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (% of GDP). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.006 to 6.346; higher is better.
Position 44th of 84 · derived.
Out-of-School Rate, Lower Secondary AgeUIS · 2024 · world median 6.3436.8136.343▼ Worsened since 2014
Bulgaria: 6.813 · world median 6.343 · Out-of-school rate, lower secondary age (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.011 to 79.71; lower is better.
Position 56th of 116 · derived, 1st = worst.
Youth Literacy RateUIS · 2024 · world median 98.2297.8798.22No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 97.87 · world median 98.22 · 15–24 year-olds who can read and write (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 36.7 to 100; higher is better.
Minimum Proficiency in Mathematics, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2023 · world median 48.946.448.9No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 46.4 · world median 48.9 · Students at the end of lower secondary reaching minimum proficiency in mathematics (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.73 to 91.73; higher is better.
PISA Mathematics PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 442.09417.3442.09▲ Improved since 2012
Bulgaria: 417.3 · world median 442.09 · Mean mathematics score. OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 336.4 to 574.66; higher is better.
Position 48th of 79 · derived.
PISA Science PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 446.93420.99446.93▲ Improved since 2012
Bulgaria: 420.99 · world median 446.93 · Mean science score. OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 347.1 to 561.43; higher is better.
Position 49th of 79 · derived.
Minimum Proficiency in Reading, End of Lower SecondaryUIS · 2022 · world median 58.5947.1358.59No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 47.13 · world median 58.59 · Students at the end of lower secondary reaching minimum proficiency in reading (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 5.043 to 88.83; higher is better.
PISA Reading PerformanceOECD · 2022 · world median 440.35404.3440.35▲ Improved since 2012
Bulgaria: 404.3 · world median 440.35 · Mean reading score. OECD, 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 328.84 to 542.55; higher is better.
Position 56th of 79 · derived.
Intergenerational Persistence in EducationWorld Bank Group · 2017 · world median 0.4460.660.446No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 0.66 · world median 0.446 · Correlation between own and parents' years of schooling, born 1980–89 (0–1). World Bank Group, 2017 edition, data for 2017.
Published values in that edition run from 0.123 to 0.66; lower is better.
Position 1st of 153 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
School Life ExpectancyUIS · 2024 · world median 14.5914.5914.59▼ Worsened since 2014
Bulgaria: 14.59 · world median 14.59 · School life expectancy, primary to tertiary (years). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.478 to 21.01; higher is better.
Position 39th of 77 · derived.
No better end7
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Female Share of ResearchersUIS · 2024 · world median 38.1748.6438.17No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 48.64 · world median 38.17 · Researchers who are women (% of headcount; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 76.54.
Scholarly ArticlesOurResearch · 2025 · world median 2,2409,3142,240No real change since 2022
Bulgaria: 9,314 · world median 2,240 · Articles with at least one author at an institution in the country (full counting). OpenAlex (OurResearch), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 1,094,890.
Outbound Mobility Ratio, TertiaryUIS · 2023 · world median 5.2798.2435.279Moved since 2013
Bulgaria: 8.243 · world median 5.279 · Outbound mobility ratio, tertiary (% of tertiary enrolment at home). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.333 to 1,724.
Female Share of STEM GraduatesUIS · 2023 · world median 35.335.8435.3Moved since 2014
Bulgaria: 35.84 · world median 35.3 · STEM graduates who are women (%; 50 = parity). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.333 to 55.96.
Trust in ScientistsWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 34.3534.3534.35Moved since 2018
Bulgaria: 34.35 · world median 34.35 · People aged 15+ who trust scientists in their country 'a lot' (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 9.335 to 72.35.
Share of Graduates from ICT ProgrammesUIS · 2023 · world median 5.6014.6975.601Moved since 2014
Bulgaria: 4.697 · world median 5.601 · Tertiary graduates from ICT programmes (% of all graduates). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 17.19.
Nobel Prize Laureates by Country of BirthNobel Prize Outreach · 2025 · world median 212No earlier reading
Bulgaria: 1 · world median 2 · Laureates born in the country, 1901 to date (people). Nobel Prize Outreach, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 296.
No current reading for Bulgaria
Government Spending on Education (last 2022), Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education and Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Education & Knowledge among Bulgaria’s 16 topics
Education & Knowledge is Bulgaria’s 10th best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Food & Agriculture25th of 1844/4 keys
- Risk & Resiliencejoint 27th of 1934/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 26th of 1834/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital39th of 1963/3 keys
- Work & Labour44th of 1824/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing55th of 2004/4 keys
- Governance & Institutionsjoint 59th of 1944/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation55th of 1764/4 keys
- Digital & Technology64th of 1984/4 keys
- Education & Knowledgejoint 67th of 1983/4 keys
- Energy64th of 1653/3 keys
- Mobility & Trade79th of 1774/4 keys
- Peace & Security84th of 1774/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties96th of 1984/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequalityjoint 82nd of 1593/3 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 126th of 1863/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on education & knowledge
The three countries placed highest of 198, and the leaders Bulgaria can most readily be measured against.
1
United Arab EmiratesWestern Asia
1st of 198 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2GreeceSouthern Europe
2nd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
PolandEastern Europe
3rd of 198 · 3 of 4 keys
Photo: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) · CC BY 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
Moldova7th4/4 keysHighest in Europe
Greece2nd3/4 keysHighest in Eastern Europe
Poland3rd3/4 keysThis page
Bulgaria=67th3/4 keys
Positions out of 198 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Bulgaria on education & knowledge: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Bulgaria rank on education & knowledge?
Bulgaria is placed joint 67th of 198 countries on Education & Knowledge in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Out-of-School Rate, Primary, Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary and Upper Secondary Completion Rate). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Out-of-School Rate, Primary figure for Bulgaria?
5.903 in 2024 (out-of-school rate, primary age (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 3.691.
What is the latest Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary figure for Bulgaria?
94.6 in 2024 (children one year before primary entry age in organised learning (%)), according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS). The world median in the same edition was 85.9.
How does Bulgaria compare with Türkiye on education & knowledge?
Türkiye is placed 28th of 198, and Bulgaria joint 67th. Out-of-School Rate, Primary: Türkiye 0.603, Bulgaria 5.903; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary: Türkiye 98.02, Bulgaria 94.6; Upper Secondary Completion Rate: Türkiye 78.12, Bulgaria 87.21.
How have Bulgaria’s education & knowledge figures changed?
Out-of-School Rate, Primary rose from 1.568 in 2001 to 5.903 in 2024; Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary rose from 80.98 in 2001 to 94.6 in 2024; Upper Secondary Completion Rate rose from 80.99 in 2000 to 87.21 in 2025; Government Spending on Education rose from 3.384 in 2001 to 4.501 in 2022.
Which education & knowledge statistics are missing for Bulgaria?
No current reading is published for Bulgaria on Government Spending on Education, Primary Schools with Electricity, Primary Schools with Internet for Teaching, Pupils per Qualified Teacher, Primary, Qualified Teachers in Primary Education and Wealth Parity Index, Lower Secondary Completion. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
How much children actually learn is only partly covered. International test scores exist for a limited group of countries, and they are published here as context rather than used as a key, because a key must describe most of the world. Universities, research, and youth and adult literacy also appear as context.
How the Education & Knowledge standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The education & knowledge method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Out-of-School Rate, Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Participation in Organised Learning One Year Before Primary — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Upper Secondary Completion Rate — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Government Spending on Education — UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), CC BY-SA 4.0
The other 37 statistics on this page come from 9 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Bulgaria’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Bulgaria (banner) — Pamporoff, Public domain
- United Arab Emirates — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Greece — User:Ggia derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Poland — Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich), CC BY 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Bulgaria: Education & Knowledge — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/bulgaria/education