R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by NACE in Bulgaria

Bulgaria: R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by NACE was 14,343 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
14,343 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Change on year
up 8.4%
World rank
32nd
of 52 countries
All-time high
14,762 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2022
All-time low
2,062 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
in 2005
Years of data
20
2005–2024

R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by NACE in Bulgaria, 2005–2024

05.0k10.0k15.0k2005201420242005: 2.1k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2006: 2.5k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2007: 2.4k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2008: 2.9k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2009: 3.3k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2010: 2.8k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2011: 2.4k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2012: 3.0k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2013: 3.9k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2014: 5.4k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2015: 9.5k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2016: 11.3k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2017: 10.7k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2018: 13.1k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2019: 13.8k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2020: 13.7k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2021: 13.1k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2022: 14.8k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2023: 13.2k Full-time equivalent (FTE)2024: 14.3k Full-time equivalent (FTE)

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Full-time equivalent (FTE).

Analysis

Bulgaria recorded 14,343 Full-time equivalent (FTE) for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by nace in 2024.

That represents a change of up 8.4% on the previous year and up 164.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by nace in Bulgaria peaked at 14,762 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2022 and was at its lowest, 2,062 Full-time equivalent (FTE), in 2005.

Bulgaria ranks 32nd of 52 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by NACE in Bulgaria, year by year

Annual values for R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by NACE Rev. 2 activity and sex in Bulgaria, 2005 to 2024.
Year Full-time equivalent (FTE) Change
2005 2,062 Full-time equivalent (FTE)
2006 2,463 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +19.4%
2007 2,422 Full-time equivalent (FTE) -1.7%
2008 2,851 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +17.7%
2009 3,335 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +17.0%
2010 2,778 Full-time equivalent (FTE) -16.7%
2011 2,439 Full-time equivalent (FTE) -12.2%
2012 3,007 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +23.3%
2013 3,853 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +28.1%
2014 5,431 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +41.0%
2015 9,480 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +74.6%
2016 11,253 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +18.7%
2017 10,735 Full-time equivalent (FTE) -4.6%
2018 13,110 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +22.1%
2019 13,826 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +5.5%
2020 13,663 Full-time equivalent (FTE) -1.2%
2021 13,056 Full-time equivalent (FTE) -4.4%
2022 14,762 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +13.1%
2023 13,227 Full-time equivalent (FTE) -10.4%
2024 14,343 Full-time equivalent (FTE) +8.4%

Bulgaria compared with similar countries

  • Bulgaria's 14,343 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is below the median for high income countries, which is 43,607 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 33% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
  • Bulgaria's 14,343 Full-time equivalent (FTE) is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 28,747 Full-time equivalent (FTE), 50% of the median. (35 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 2,627 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 2,062 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 3,335 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 5
2010s 7,591 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 2,439 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 13,826 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 10
2020s 13,810 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 13,056 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 14,762 Full-time equivalent (FTE) 5

Countries ranked near Bulgaria

  1. 29 Ireland 27,502 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  2. 30 Greece 23,250 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  3. 31 Romania 15,552 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  4. 33 Slovenia 11,383 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  5. 33 Slovenia 11,383 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  6. 35 Slovakia 11,098 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare
  7. 35 Slovakia 11,098 Full-time equivalent (FTE) compare

See the full ranking of 56 places →

More economy & growth data for Bulgaria

All data for Bulgaria →

Frequently asked questions

What is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by nace in Bulgaria?
R&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by nace in Bulgaria was 14,343 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2024, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by nace recorded in Bulgaria?
The highest recorded value was 14,762 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2022.
What is the lowest r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by nace recorded in Bulgaria?
The lowest recorded value was 2,062 Full-time equivalent (FTE) in 2005.
How does Bulgaria rank for r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by nace?
Bulgaria ranks 32nd out of 52 countries with data for 2024.
Is r&d personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by nace rising or falling in Bulgaria?
Over the last ten years it is up 164.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by NACE Rev. 2 activity and sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by NACE in Bulgaria. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://economy.statizoid.com/stat/r-and-d-personnel-and-researchers-in-business-enterprise-sector-by-nace-rev-2-activity/bulgaria/

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About this data

Indicator
R&D personnel and researchers in business enterprise sector by NACE Rev. 2 activity and sex
Unit
Full-time equivalent (FTE)
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
56 places, 1,027 data points, 2005–2024
Last refreshed