R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D was 35,179 Persons in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
35,179 Persons
Change on year
down 5.1%
World rank
23rd
of 25 countries
All-time high
37,056 Persons
in 2022
All-time low
22,307 Persons
in 2013
Years of data
11
2013–2023

R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D in Bulgaria, 2013–2023

010.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k2013201820232013: 22.3k Persons2014: 25.5k Persons2015: 29.6k Persons2016: 32.3k Persons2017: 31.2k Persons2018: 34.6k Persons2019: 35.0k Persons2020: 35.1k Persons2021: 34.6k Persons2022: 37.1k Persons2023: 35.2k Persons

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.

Analysis

The most recent figure for r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d in Bulgaria is 35,179 Persons, measured in 2023.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.1% on the previous year and up 57.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d in Bulgaria peaked at 37,056 Persons in 2022 and was at its lowest, 22,307 Persons, in 2013.

That places Bulgaria 23rd out of 25 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D Personnel (total economy) in Bulgaria, 2013 to 2023.
Year Persons Change
2013 22,307 Persons
2014 25,484 Persons +14.2%
2015 29,591 Persons +16.1%
2016 32,306 Persons +9.2%
2017 31,221 Persons -3.4%
2018 34,610 Persons +10.9%
2019 34,986 Persons +1.1%
2020 35,087 Persons +0.3%
2021 34,613 Persons -1.4%
2022 37,056 Persons +7.1%
2023 35,179 Persons -5.1%

Bulgaria compared with similar countries

  • Bulgaria's 35,179 Persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 132,622 Persons, 27% of the median. (21 countries reporting)
  • Bulgaria's 35,179 Persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 136,238 Persons, 26% of the median. (18 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 30,072 Persons 22,307 Persons 34,986 Persons 7
2020s 35,484 Persons 34,613 Persons 37,056 Persons 4

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 20 Singapore 61,693 Persons compare
  2. 21 Ireland 55,482 Persons compare
  3. 22 Romania 48,103 Persons compare
  4. 24 Chile 32,392 Persons compare
  5. 25 Iceland 4,792 Persons

See the full ranking of 34 places →

More reference data data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d in Bulgaria?
R&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d in Bulgaria was 35,179 Persons in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 37,056 Persons in 2022.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 22,307 Persons in 2013.
How does Bulgaria rank for r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d?
Bulgaria ranks 23rd out of 25 countries with data for 2023.
Is r&d personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — r&d rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is up 57.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D Personnel (total economy). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/r-and-d-personnel-by-sector-of-performance-and-formal-qualification-r-and-d-personnel/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
R&D personnel by sector of performance and formal qualification — R&D Personnel (total economy)
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
34 places, 789 data points, 1981–2024
Last refreshed

This table presents research and development (R&D) personnel statistics. Number of R&D personnel is provided in headcounts;D by sex, sector of employment (business enterprise, government, higher education, and private non-profit) and by formal qualification (university and other diplomas by ISCED classification).