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

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

Latest (2023)
35,179 Persons
Change on year
down 5.1%
World rank
17th
of 17 countries
All-time high
37,056 Persons
in 2022
All-time low
20,810 Persons
in 2011
Years of data
14
2010–2023

R&D personnel by sector of performance and region — R&D Personnel in Bulgaria, 2010–2023

010.0k20.0k30.0k40.0k2010201620232010: 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 region — r&d personnel in Bulgaria stood at 35,179 Persons.

The figure 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 region — r&d personnel in Bulgaria peaked at 37,056 Persons in 2022 and was at its lowest, 20,810 Persons, in 2011.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 14 years of available data.

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

Annual values for R&D personnel by sector of performance and region — R&D Personnel (total economy) in Bulgaria, 2010 to 2023.
Year Persons Change
2010 20,823 Persons
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%

Bulgaria compared with similar countries

  • Bulgaria's 35,179 Persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 149,651 Persons, 24% of the median. (17 countries reporting)
  • Bulgaria's 35,179 Persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 149,651 Persons, 24% of the median. (17 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
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. 14 Finland 90,620 Persons compare
  2. 15 Hungary 89,907 Persons compare
  3. 16 Romania 48,103 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 224 places →

More reference data data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel by sector of performance and region — r&d personnel in Bulgaria?
R&d personnel by sector of performance and region — 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 region — r&d personnel 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 region — r&d personnel recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 20,810 Persons in 2011.
How does Bulgaria rank for r&d personnel by sector of performance and region — r&d personnel?
Bulgaria ranks 17th out of 17 countries with data for 2023.
Is r&d personnel by sector of performance and region — 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 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 region — 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 region — R&D Personnel in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/r-and-d-personnel-by-sector-of-performance-and-region-r-and-d-personnel-total-economy/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
R&D personnel by sector of performance and region — R&D Personnel (total economy)
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
224 places, 4,038 data points, 1982–2024
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 large regions (territorial level 2 or TL2). Definition of regions: Regions are subnational units below national boundaries. OECD countries have two regional levels: large regions (territorial level 2 or TL2) and small regions (territorial level 3 or TL3). TL2 regions are used in this dataset. See the OECD Territorial Correspondence Table (xls) and the OECD Territorial grid (pdf).