Bulgaria's Top 2% Scientists 2023: Career-Long List

Bulgaria has 79 scientists on the 2023 career-long Top 2% list, up 3.9% from 76 in 2022. That places Bulgaria 54th in the world by number of listed scientists, down 3 places. Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski has the most listed scientists (15), followed by Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (7).

Single Year

+3 (+5.5%) vs 2022

Career Data

+3 (+3.9%) vs 2022

World rank by count

#54

down 3 places vs 2022

Institutes

No change vs 2022

Scientists in Bulgaria on the list, by year

The career-long count has grown 58% since 2020.

Career-long list, change on the previous year

2021+46.0%

2022+4.1%

2023+3.9%

2024+10.1%

2025+4.6%

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%

Top 10 institutes in Bulgaria

By number of listed scientists

Career-long list2023

Show the list

All 79 scientists

Career-long list2023

Everyone on the list, free to browse.

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Rank in Bulgaria	World rank	Scientist	Institute	Sub-field	Rank in sub-field
1	5,771	AK Atanassov, Krassimir	Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 123
2	13,525	HK Hadjiivanov, Konstantin	Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 51
3	21,969	BV Bankova, Vassya	Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry (IOCCP) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 62
4	29,621	DN Denkov, Nikolai	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 662
5	31,453	KD Kashchiev, Dimo	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Chemical Physics	Rank 709
6	37,802	PV Popov, Valentin N.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Applied Physics	Rank 971
7	39,441	KI Kostova, Irena	Medical University of Sofia	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 111
8	40,521	VN Vitanov, Nikolay V.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	General Physics	Rank 247
9	45,506	PD Pavlov, D.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 524
10	50,452	KP Kralchevsky, P. A.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,058
11	55,686	VS Vassilev, Stanislav V.	Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography “Acad. Ivan Kostov”	Energy	Rank 661
12	64,851	MA Milchev, Andrey	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,334
13	83,171	CI Christov, Ivan P.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Optoelectronics & Photonics	Rank 301
14	83,681	YS Yazadjiev, Stoytcho S.	Institute of Mathematics and Informatics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 1,341
15	84,481	HJ Hristov, Jordan	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Energy	Rank 1,066
16	86,374	II Ivanov, I. B.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,673
17	92,312	DK Danov, Krassimir D.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,782
18	94,268	DV Dimitrov, Vesselin	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Applied Physics	Rank 2,523
19	97,117	VG Vayssilov, Georgi N.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,873
20	112,309	AI Avramov, I.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 3,062
21	117,388	AD Andreeva, D.	Institute of Catalysis Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 418
22	117,650	MO Mekenyan, Ovanes G.	Bourgas Prof. Assen Zlatarov University	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 404
23	118,845	GI Grabchev, Ivo	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Organic Chemistry	Rank 2,108
24	126,084	BM Bojinov, Martin	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Energy	Rank 1,623
25	126,157	VV Velikova, Violeta	Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 1,798
26	136,041	MA Milchev, Alexander	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 1,788
27	139,597	BV Bojinov, Vladimir B.	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Organic Chemistry	Rank 2,476
28	145,574	DI Doytchinova, Irini	Medical University of Sofia	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 528
29	146,338	GM Georgiev, Milen I.	Institute of Microbiology Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Biotechnology	Rank 444
30	149,502	TD Tsalev, Dimiter L.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 1,154
31	149,922	KD Karagiozova, Dora	Institute of Mechanics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 1,053
32	153,858	BL Boyanova, Lyudmila	Medical University of Sofia	Microbiology	Rank 3,735
33	157,342	KE Kantchev, Eric Assen B.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Organic Chemistry	Rank 2,770
34	164,271	AL Antonov, Liudmil	Institute of Electronics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Organic Chemistry	Rank 2,877
35	166,739	DA Dzhambov, Angel M.	Medical University of Plovdiv	Toxicology	Rank 785
36	167,628	TB Tenchov, Boris	Medical University of Sofia	Biophysics	Rank 269
37	178,276	CI Christov, Ivaylo	Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 770
38	178,584	KV Kiryakova, Virginia	Institute of Mathematics and Informatics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	General Mathematics	Rank 1,140
39	184,855	CC Christov, Christomir	Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen	Chemical Engineering	Rank 910
40	186,648	VN Vitanov, Nikolay K.	Institute of Mechanics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Fluids & Plasmas	Rank 1,572
41	187,792	SS Stoyanov, Stoyan	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 5,322
42	194,031	DV Dobrev, V. K.	Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 3,142
43	197,264	YN Yordanov, N. D.	Institute of Catalysis Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 1,272
44	199,083	PA Popova, Angelina K.	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Materials	Rank 2,766
45	201,106	RA Rachev, Alexander	Institute of Mechanics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 863
46	201,268	IV Iliev, Vesselin	Institute of Catalysis Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 739
47	205,577	Stoev, Stoycho D.	Trakia University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine	Toxicology	Rank 1,012
48	210,094	TT Tabakova, Tatyana	Institute of Catalysis Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 773
49	218,824	GI Gutzow, I.	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 6,230
50	232,711	BS Berkov, S. H.	Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 3,399
51	235,150	ZV Zimparov, Ventsislav D.	Technical University of Gabrovo	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 1,723
52	242,692	TV Tsakova, Vessela	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 3,473
53	245,657	KI Karadjova, Irina	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 2,108
54	248,460	SV Simeonov, Vasil	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Environmental Sciences	Rank 1,868
55	252,117	TK Troev, Kolio	Institute of Polymers Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Polymers	Rank 2,287
56	253,507	KT Kolev, Tsonko M.	Roumen Tsanev Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 1,663
57	260,790	SJ Serkedjieva, Julia	Institute of Microbiology Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 1,173
58	260,981	PK Panajotov, Krassimir	Georgi Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Optoelectronics & Photonics	Rank 1,219
59	261,750	GM Gulubova, M.	Trakia University	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 3,484
60	262,991	KA Karamanov, Alexander	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Materials	Rank 3,801
61	267,935	AS Armyanov, S.	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 3,908
62	275,353	NB Nikolova-Damyanova, Boryana	Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry (IOCCP) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 2,395
63	280,599	Tchernev, Georgi	Onkoderma-Clinic for Dermatology	Dentistry	Rank 1,840
64	287,078	MN Mastorakis, Nikos	Technical University of Sofia	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 5,799
65	299,693	PP Peshev, P.	Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Materials	Rank 4,449
66	339,579	SD Stoychev, D.	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 5,256
67	343,765	SR Stoyanova, Radostina	Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 5,327
68	346,756	VD Vakarelov, Dimiter	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 7,145
69	349,818	SZ Stoynov, Zdravko	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 5,457
70	431,376	VG Vassilev, Gueorgui	Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv	Materials	Rank 6,784
71	450,073	GS Groudev, Stoyan	University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski	Mining & Metallurgy	Rank 249
72	455,642	AW Addington, Whitney	London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 6,364
73	455,730	NL Nikolova, Ludmila	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Optoelectronics & Photonics	Rank 2,416
74	462,845	PA Pavlov, Atanas	Institute of Microbiology Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Biotechnology	Rank 1,830
75	492,783	DI Dimov, Ivan	Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 10,575
76	512,432	PM Panayotova, Marinela	University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski	Mining & Metallurgy	Rank 302
77	533,416	RV Rizov, Victor	University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy	Materials	Rank 8,803
78	608,190	KM Karavasteva, M.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Mining & Metallurgy	Rank 401
79	635,617	DT Dachev, Ts P.	Space Research and Technology Institute	Aerospace & Aeronautics	Rank 1,517
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Showing 1 to 79 of 79 Show

Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2023

Serbia83 scientistsin 2023

Slovakia83 scientistsin 2023

Cyprus81 scientistsin 2023

Croatia75 scientistsin 2023

Kuwait71 scientistsin 2023

Jordan69 scientistsin 2023

Explore other countries

Career-long list2023

Poland1,119 scientistsin 2023

Russia906 scientistsin 2023

Czech Republic513 scientistsin 2023

Hungary367 scientistsin 2023

Romania169 scientistsin 2023

Ukraine95 scientistsin 2023

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Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Bulgaria are in the 2023 Stanford Top 2% list?

58 scientists affiliated with Bulgaria are on the 2023 single-year list, and 79 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2023 career-long list, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski has the most listed scientists from Bulgaria, with 15. It is followed by Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences with 7.

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

On the career-long list, Bulgaria went from 50 scientists in 2020 to 79 in 2023, a change of +58.0%.

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.