Country profile

Bulgaria

Europe & Central AsiaHigh income6.44M inhabitants

Last updated December 22, 2025

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Composite GEFRI Score

Progressing readiness

Bulgaria shows progressing readiness (78th percentile worldwide). Reforms are translating into broader capability, though uneven performance continues to slow system-wide alignment. Higher scores indicate a system that is better prepared to anticipate and shape the future of learning.

63.95Composite score
Global percentile
78th
Global rank
#40
Regional rank
#28
Viewing data for
Infrastructure
70.13
74th percentileGlobal avg. 56.42
Human Capital
58.43
79th percentileGlobal avg. 46.98
Innovation
54.83
77th percentileGlobal avg. 42.60
Governance
54.78
67th percentileGlobal avg. 47.71
Access & Parity
81.58
72nd percentileGlobal avg. 50.60

Country profile

Bulgaria performs close to the global average across all GEFRI dimensions. Progress is evident, yet stronger ambition is needed to reach futures readiness among global peers.

Uneven scores across dimensions highlight areas that need targeted coordination. Strong tertiary enrollment expands future talent pipelines and strengthens national innovation potential.

Strong R&D funding and a sizable research workforce keep the innovation pipeline active, moving new solutions into education. Gender parity across secondary pathways reflects sustained commitment to equitable participation.

Regionally, Governance lags peers the most, signalling where investment could have the highest impact.

Note: Most indicators rely on observed data, offering a dependable evidence base for decisions.

Key insights

  • Sits above the global median at the 78th percentile.
  • Places 40th worldwide.
  • Holds a regional position of 28th within Europe & Central Asia.
  • Scores range from Access & Parity (81.6) to Governance (54.8), reflecting variation across dimensions.
  • Trails regional peers most clearly in Governance.

Regional peers: Europe & Central Asia

Composite GEFRI score

Global rankRegional rankCountryScore
11Denmark82.00
42Switzerland78.09
63Netherlands77.83
74Sweden77.29
85United Kingdom77.03
96Austria76.84
107Finland76.84
128Germany76.42
139Norway76.31
1510France75.63
1811Portugal73.38
1912Estonia73.29
2213Czechia72.28
2314Iceland72.00
2415Slovenia71.90
2516Lithuania71.83
2617Belgium71.76
2718Ireland71.34
2819Poland71.15
2920Spain70.41
3021Luxembourg70.23
3122Italy70.15
3323Greece69.96
3524Cyprus69.32
3625Latvia68.81
——LiechtensteinMicrostate68.27
3726Hungary66.71
3827Croatia66.50
——San MarinoMicrostate64.62
——GibraltarMicrostate64.49
——AndorraMicrostate64.13
4028Bulgaria63.95
4329Moldova63.48
4430Serbia63.27
4631Turkiye62.68
——MonacoMicrostate62.44
4832Slovak Republic61.61
5133Montenegro60.77
5234Armenia60.50
——Channel IslandsMicrostate60.45
5435Albania60.15
——Isle of ManMicrostate60.00
5536Russian Federation59.93
——Faroe IslandsMicrostate59.77
5737Kazakhstan59.29
5838Georgia58.71
6039North Macedonia58.45
6140Belarus57.83
6941Uzbekistan56.65
7042Bosnia and Herzegovina56.62
——GreenlandMicrostate56.39
7843Romania54.34
8044Kyrgyz Republic54.07
8845Kosovo51.19
9246UkraineFCS50.59
10047Azerbaijan48.44
10448Turkmenistan46.09
10749Tajikistan43.87