Irina Bokova

UNESCO Director-General (2009-2017)

Appears in 1 story

Born: July 12, 1952, Sofia

Party: Bulgarian Socialist Party

Education: Moscow State Institute of International Relations, John F. Kennedy School of Government, First English Language School

Previous offices: member of the Bulgarian National Assembly, Special Guest of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Last updated Nov 2, 2026

Stories

As of May 2026: Former UNESCO Director-General; first woman and first Eastern European to hold the position

In 1970, fewer than half the world's teenagers attended secondary school. By 2017, more than three-quarters did.

Updated May 22