R&D personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: R&D personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity was 13,227 Persons (full-time equivalent) in 2023. ▲ Rising
R&D personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Bulgaria, 2014–2023
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons (full-time equivalent).
Analysis
The most recent figure for r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Bulgaria is 13,227 Persons (full-time equivalent), measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 10.4% on the previous year and up 143.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Bulgaria peaked at 14,762 Persons (full-time equivalent) in 2022 and was at its lowest, 5,431 Persons (full-time equivalent), in 2014.
That places Bulgaria 25th out of 28 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
R&D personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | Persons (full-time equivalent) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 5,431 Persons (full-time equivalent) | — |
| 2015 | 9,480 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +74.6% |
| 2016 | 11,253 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +18.7% |
| 2017 | 10,735 Persons (full-time equivalent) | -4.6% |
| 2018 | 13,110 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +22.1% |
| 2019 | 13,826 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +5.5% |
| 2020 | 13,663 Persons (full-time equivalent) | -1.2% |
| 2021 | 13,056 Persons (full-time equivalent) | -4.4% |
| 2022 | 14,762 Persons (full-time equivalent) | +13.1% |
| 2023 | 13,227 Persons (full-time equivalent) | -10.4% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 13,227 Persons (full-time equivalent) is below the median for high income countries, which is 47,094 Persons (full-time equivalent), 28% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 13,227 Persons (full-time equivalent) is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 42,296 Persons (full-time equivalent), 31% of the median. (20 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 10,639 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 5,431 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 13,826 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 6 |
| 2020s | 13,677 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 13,056 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 14,762 Persons (full-time equivalent) | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 22 New Zealand 20,000 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
- 23 Argentina 19,938 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
- 24 Romania 13,754 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
- 26 Chile 7,491 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
- 27 Luxembourg 3,004 Persons (full-time equivalent) compare
- 28 Iceland 1,799 Persons (full-time equivalent)
More economy & growth data for Bulgaria
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.48 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.58 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.51 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0116 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 234.99 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.88 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 60.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0373 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 759.02 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 7.89 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Bulgaria?
- R&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity in Bulgaria was 13,227 Persons (full-time equivalent) in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 14,762 Persons (full-time equivalent) in 2022.
- What is the lowest r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,431 Persons (full-time equivalent) in 2014.
- How does Bulgaria rank for r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity?
- Bulgaria ranks 25th out of 28 countries with data for 2023.
- Is r&d personnel in the business enterprise sector by main activity rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 143.5%. 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 in the business enterprise sector by main activity — R&D Personnel (total economy). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This table presents research and development (R&D) statistics on personnel in the business enterprise sector. Measured in full-time equivalent are the number of total R&D personnel and researchers in the business enterprise sector by industry according to the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) revision 4. Data at the industry level are presented from 2000, first year from which some countries converted their data from ISIC rev.3.1 to the current ISIC rev. 4 classification.