Bulgaria's Top 2% Scientists 2026

Bulgaria has 80 scientists on the 2026 single-year Top 2% list, up 27.0% from 63 in 2025. That places Bulgaria 74th in the world by number of listed scientists, up 2 places. Medical University of Sofia has the most listed scientists (8), followed by Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski (7).

Single Year

+17 (+27.0%) vs 2025

Career Data

102

+11 (+12.1%) vs 2025

World rank by count

#74

up 2 places vs 2025

Institutes

+10 (+30.3%) vs 2025

Scientists in Bulgaria on the list, by year

The single-year count has more than doubled since 2020.

Single-year list, change on the previous year

2021+37.1%

2022+14.6%

2023+5.5%

2024+20.7%

2025-10.0%

2026+27.0%

Show the numbers

Year	Single Year	Change	Career Data	Change
2020	35		50
2021	48	+37.1%	73	+46.0%
2022	55	+14.6%	76	+4.1%
2023	58	+5.5%	79	+3.9%
2024	70	+20.7%	87	+10.1%
2025	63	-10.0%	91	+4.6%
2026	80	+27.0%	102	+12.1%

Top 10 institutes in Bulgaria

By number of listed scientists

Single-year list2026

Show the list

All 80 scientists

Single-year list2026

Showing the 2026 single-year list. Looking for career rankings? See the career-long list

Everyone on the list, free to browse.

Export CSV

Rank in Bulgaria	World rank	Scientist	Institute	Sub-field	Rank in sub-field
1	984	AK Atanassov, Krassimir T.	Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 67
2	2,485	IS Ivanov, Stanislav H.	Varna University of Management	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 15
3	4,429	VG van Gool, Luc J.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 238
4	8,676	HK Hadjiivanov, Konstantin I.	Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 28
5	17,567	DA Dzhambov, Angel Mario	Medical University of Plovdiv	Toxicology	Rank 51
6	17,971	Nozari, Hamed	University of National and World Economy Sofia	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 935
7	18,245	DI Doytchinova, Irini A.	Medical University of Sofia	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 63
8	19,018	KI Kostova, Irena P.	Medical University of Sofia	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 68
9	21,935	BV Bankova, Vassya Stefanova	Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry (IOCCP) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 79
10	27,958	MM Minkov, Michael	Varna University of Management	Social Psychology	Rank 475
11	30,561	YS Yazadjiev, Stoytcho S.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 404
12	31,490	DN Denkov, Nikolai	Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy	Chemical Physics	Rank 421
13	32,118	VN Vitanov, Nikolay K.	Institute of Mechanics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Fluids & Plasmas	Rank 200
14	35,728	GM Georgiev, Milen I.	Institute of Microbiology Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 518
15	35,751	VS Vassilev, Stanislav V.	Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography “Acad. Ivan Kostov”	Energy	Rank 1,010
16	40,008	KR Koynova, Rumiana	Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Biophysics	Rank 23
17	40,464	PS Petcov, Serguey T.	Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 517
18	41,754	AS Alseekh, Saleh H.	Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 631
19	46,813	VN Vitanov, Nikolay V.	Faculty Of Physics At Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	General Physics	Rank 292
20	54,618	VV Velikova, Violeta B.	Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 851
21	64,797	GJ Gu, Jinjin	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 3,046
22	70,587	IB Ivanov, Boyko V.	Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 868
23	73,288	BL Boyanova, Lyudmila Y.	Medical University of Sofia	Microbiology	Rank 1,407
24	77,004	KD Kashchiev, Dimo	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Chemical Physics	Rank 890
25	84,254	NM Nikolova, Maria P.	University of Rousse	Materials	Rank 1,911
26	89,516	PV Popov, Valentin N.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Applied Physics	Rank 1,616
27	100,761	DV Dimitrov, Vesselin V.	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Applied Physics	Rank 1,820
28	105,364	VM Vinciguerra, Manlio	Medical University-Varna	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 3,212
29	107,011	GT Gechev, Tsanko S.	Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 1,807
30	113,677	Stoev, Stoycho D.	Trakia University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine	Toxicology	Rank 410
31	122,650	AL Antonov, Liudmil M.	Institute of Electronics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Organic Chemistry	Rank 1,506
32	124,494	KV Kiryakova, Virginia	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	General Mathematics	Rank 614
33	131,550	VG Vayssilov, Georgi N.	Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy	Physical Chemistry	Rank 458
34	140,924	EA Edreva, Aglika M.	Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 2,445
35	147,017	HJ Hristov, Jordan Yankov	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Energy	Rank 4,621
36	150,627	PT Popov, T. A.	Sveti Ivan Rilski hospital	Allergy	Rank 276
37	152,499	NC Nanev, C. N.	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 2,764
38	153,900	IG Ilieva, Galina	Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 7,034
39	160,583	KZ Kamenov, Z. A.	Medical University of Sofia Faculty of Medicine	Endocrinology & Metabolism	Rank 2,002
40	161,430	DI Dimitrov, Ivan D.	Medical University of Sofia	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 713
41	163,072	TS Tcholakova, S. S.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,754
42	169,512	KA Krastanov, Albert Ivanov	University of Food Technologies-Plovdiv	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 2,937
43	173,823	VC Vassileva, Christina G.	Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography “Acad. Ivan Kostov”	Energy	Rank 5,573
44	176,250	DT Dudev, Todor M.	Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,885
45	176,724	MV Mladenov, Valeri Markov	Technical University of Sofia	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 745
46	182,053	PD Pavlov, Detchko	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 5,858
47	185,711	KK Kostov, Krasimir G.	Medical University - Pleven	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,989
48	187,721	MJ Maximov, Jordan T.	Technical University of Gabrovo	Industrial Engineering & Automation	Rank 2,062
49	194,998	BV Butova, Vera V.	Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 728
50	198,195	AE Apostolova, Emilia L.	Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 3,511
51	209,700	KP Kralchevsky, Peter Atanassov	Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy	Chemical Physics	Rank 2,212
52	210,221	GV Goltsev, Vasilij N.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 3,724
53	228,876	AP Antov, Petar Yordanov	University of Forestry	Polymers	Rank 2,459
54	230,759	DK Dokova, Klara Georgieva	Medical University-Varna	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 2,874
55	231,050	MM Mihaylov, Mihail Y.	Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 858
56	255,947	PM Popova, Milena Petkova	Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry (IOCCP) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 1,241
57	286,782	MV Mitev, Vanyo Ivanov	Medical University of Sofia	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 4,160
58	288,760	AM Aleksandrova, Mariya Petrova	Technical University of Sofia	Applied Physics	Rank 5,437
59	305,963	HN Hinov, Nikolay L.	Technical University of Sofia	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 1,428
60	312,337	IS Ivanov, Stefan P.	Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics	General Mathematics	Rank 1,629
61	321,368	DS Dickman, Samuel Lefebvre	Planned Parenthood of Montana	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 3,848
62	339,941	AI Avramov, I.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 6,443
63	361,536	TN Tzvetkov, Nikolay T.	Roumen Tsanev Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 1,951
64	371,778	VZ Vinarov, Zahari	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 3,296
65	374,395	Tchernev, Georgi	Medical University of Sofia	Dentistry	Rank 1,908
66	381,912	GI Ganchev, Ivan	Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv	Networking & Telecommunications	Rank 4,887
67	394,228	ZD Zheleva-Dimitrova, Dimitrina Zh	Medical University of Sofia	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 2,204
68	407,762	YK Yoncheva, Krassimira P.	Medical University of Sofia	Pharmacology & Pharmacy	Rank 3,662
69	430,951	DZ Dimitrova, Zlatinka I.	Georgi Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Fluids & Plasmas	Rank 2,349
70	431,063	SS Stefanov, Stefan Kanchev	Institute of Mechanics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	General Physics	Rank 2,134
71	433,295	HP Hristov, Peter Ivanov	Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Veterinary Sciences	Rank 925
72	461,217	PK Panajotov, K. P.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Optoelectronics & Photonics	Rank 1,484
73	535,214	MI Mladenova, Irena	Trakia University Faculty of Medicine	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 6,069
74	553,710	PM Panayotova, Marinela I.	University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski	Mining & Metallurgy	Rank 571
75	674,169	DT Dachev, Ts P.	Space Research and Technology Institute	Aerospace & Aeronautics	Rank 1,479
76	902,375	NE Nikolova, Elena V.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	General Physics	Rank 4,340
77	1,131,030	SF Sapundzhi, Fatima I.	South-West University Neofit Rilski	General Chemistry	Rank 2,582
78	1,252,857	GG Georgiev, G. P.	University Hospital 'Queen Giovanna '	Anatomy & Morphology	Rank 304
79	1,320,003	RV Rizov, Victor Iliev	University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy	Materials	Rank 38,371
80	2,721,867	DN Djagarov, Nikolay F.	Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 18,491
No scientists match this filter on the single-year list. Try the career-long list

Showing 1 to 80 of 80 Show

Countries with a similar count

Single-year list2026

Kuwait88 scientists

Lithuania84 scientists

Kenya82 scientists

Philippines74 scientists

Kazakhstan73 scientists

Sri Lanka68 scientists

Explore other countries

Single-year list2026

Poland1,616 scientists

Russia989 scientists

Czech Republic572 scientists

Hungary371 scientists

Romania340 scientists

Ukraine136 scientists

All countries on the world map

Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Bulgaria are in the 2026 Stanford Top 2% list?

80 scientists affiliated with Bulgaria are on the 2026 single-year list, and 102 are on the career-long list.

Which institute in Bulgaria has the most Top 2% scientists?

On the 2026 single-year list, Medical University of Sofia has the most listed scientists from Bulgaria, with 8. It is followed by Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski with 7.

How has the number of Top 2% scientists in Bulgaria changed since 2020?

On the single-year list, Bulgaria went from 35 scientists in 2020 to 80 in 2026, a change of +128.6%.

What is the difference between the single-year and career-long lists?

The single-year list ranks scientists on the citations their work received in one year. The career-long list ranks them on citations across their whole career. Both lists are published every year, and a scientist can be on one, both or neither.

What is the official source of this data?

The rankings come from the science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators published by Ioannidis et al. in the Elsevier Data Repository, updated every year. TOPSCINET, an independent platform, organises that data by country, year, institute and field, so you can compare and explore it.