R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel was 35,179 Persons in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
35,179 Persons
Change on year
down 5.1%
World rank
26th
of 30 countries
All-time high
112,158 Persons
in 1990
All-time low
16,671 Persons
in 2001
Years of data
43
1981–2023

R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel in Bulgaria, 1981–2023

20.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k100.0k120.0k1981200220231981: 78.5k Persons1982: 81.2k Persons1983: 83.3k Persons1984: 87.3k Persons1985: 90.3k Persons1986: 91.2k Persons1987: 96.5k Persons1988: 100.7k Persons1989: 107.3k Persons1990: 112.2k Persons1991: 88.7k Persons1992: 57.7k Persons1993: 54.3k Persons1994: 31.9k Persons1995: 30.7k Persons1996: 31.9k Persons1997: 21.9k Persons1998: 21.8k Persons1999: 18.5k Persons2000: 16.9k Persons2001: 16.7k Persons2002: 16.8k Persons2003: 17.4k Persons2004: 18.0k Persons2005: 18.6k Persons2006: 19.0k Persons2007: 19.9k Persons2008: 20.1k Persons2009: 22.0k Persons2010: 20.8k Persons2011: 20.8k Persons2012: 21.7k Persons2013: 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

In 2023, r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in Bulgaria stood at 35,179 Persons.

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 function — r&d personnel in Bulgaria peaked at 112,158 Persons in 1990 and was at its lowest, 16,671 Persons, in 2001.

That places Bulgaria 26th out of 30 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel (total economy) in Bulgaria, 1981 to 2023.
Year Persons Change
1981 78,477 Persons
1982 81,207 Persons +3.5%
1983 83,291 Persons +2.6%
1984 87,329 Persons +4.8%
1985 90,308 Persons +3.4%
1986 91,168 Persons +1.0%
1987 96,471 Persons +5.8%
1988 100,731 Persons +4.4%
1989 107,301 Persons +6.5%
1990 112,158 Persons +4.5%
1991 88,733 Persons -20.9%
1992 57,655 Persons -35.0%
1993 54,324 Persons -5.8%
1994 31,924 Persons -41.2%
1995 30,663 Persons -4.0%
1996 31,942 Persons +4.2%
1997 21,908 Persons -31.4%
1998 21,766 Persons -0.6%
1999 18,451 Persons -15.2%
2000 16,853 Persons -8.7%
2001 16,671 Persons -1.1%
2002 16,847 Persons +1.1%
2003 17,400 Persons +3.3%
2004 18,025 Persons +3.6%
2005 18,638 Persons +3.4%
2006 18,994 Persons +1.9%
2007 19,933 Persons +4.9%
2008 20,097 Persons +0.8%
2009 21,971 Persons +9.3%
2010 20,823 Persons -5.2%
2011 20,810 Persons -0.1%
2012 21,677 Persons +4.2%
2013 22,307 Persons +2.9%
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%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1980s 90,698 Persons 78,477 Persons 107,301 Persons 9
1990s 46,952 Persons 18,451 Persons 112,158 Persons 10
2000s 18,543 Persons 16,671 Persons 21,971 Persons 10
2010s 27,382 Persons 20,810 Persons 34,986 Persons 10
2020s 35,484 Persons 34,613 Persons 37,056 Persons 4

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 23 Ireland 66,623 Persons compare
  2. 24 Singapore 61,693 Persons compare
  3. 25 Romania 48,103 Persons compare
  4. 27 Chile 32,392 Persons compare
  5. 28 Iceland 7,431 Persons compare
  6. 29 Luxembourg 7,353 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 42 places →

More reference data data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel in Bulgaria?
R&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel 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 function — r&d personnel recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 112,158 Persons in 1990.
What is the lowest r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 16,671 Persons in 2001.
How does Bulgaria rank for r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel?
Bulgaria ranks 26th out of 30 countries with data for 2023.
Is r&d personnel by sector of performance and function — r&d personnel rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is up 57.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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 function — 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 function — R&D Personnel in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/r-and-d-personnel-by-sector-of-performance-and-function-r-and-d-personnel-total-economy/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
R&D personnel by sector of performance and function — R&D Personnel (total economy)
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
42 places, 1,049 data points, 1981–2024
Last refreshed

This table contains research and development (R&D) personnel statistics. Number of R&D personnel is provided in both headcounts and full-time equivalent on R&D by sex, sector of employment (business enterprise, government, higher education, and private non-profit) and by function (researchers, technicians and other support staff).