Bulgaria's Top 2% Scientists 2024: Career-Long List

Bulgaria has 87 scientists on the 2024 career-long Top 2% list, up 10.1% from 79 in 2023. That places Bulgaria 54th in the world by number of listed scientists. Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski has the most listed scientists (18), followed by The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (14).

Single Year

+12 (+20.7%) vs 2023

Career Data

+8 (+10.1%) vs 2023

World rank by count

#54

No change vs 2023

Institutes

-5 (-14.7%) vs 2023

Scientists in Bulgaria on the list, by year

The career-long count has grown 74% 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 list2024

Show the list

All 87 scientists

Career-long list2024

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	4,609	AK Atanassov, Krassimir	Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 107
2	13,004	HK Hadjiivanov, Konstantin	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 52
3	15,485	SP Surai, Peter F.	Trakia University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine	Dairy & Animal Science	Rank 14
4	20,385	BV Bankova, Vassya	Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry (IOCCP) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 59
5	29,233	DN Denkov, Nikolai	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 640
6	32,674	KD Kashchiev, Dimo	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Chemical Physics	Rank 713
7	38,916	KI Kostova, Irena	Medical University of Sofia	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 113
8	39,239	VN Vitanov, Nikolay V.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	General Physics	Rank 231
9	39,486	PV Popov, Valentin N.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Applied Physics	Rank 984
10	46,357	PD Pavlov, D.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 572
11	53,744	KP Kralchevsky, Peter A.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,103
12	53,836	VS Vassilev, Stanislav V.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 681
13	60,661	TK Toutanova, Kristina	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 1,222
14	67,303	MA Milchev, Andrey	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,353
15	73,689	YS Yazadjiev, Stoytcho S.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 1,164
16	84,277	HJ Hristov, Jordan Y.	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Energy	Rank 1,110
17	86,193	II Ivanov, I. B.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,646
18	88,585	CI Christov, Ivan P.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Optics	Rank 370
19	91,787	DK Danov, Krassimir D.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,746
20	95,739	VG Vayssilov, Georgi N.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,806
21	96,148	DV Dimitrov, Vesselin	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Applied Physics	Rank 2,513
22	111,000	SS Stoyanov, Stoyan	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 2,948
23	115,006	AI Avramov, I.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 3,066
24	116,438	DI Doytchinova, Irini	Medical University of Sofia	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 392
25	118,071	VV Velikova, Violeta	Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 1,688
26	122,595	MO Mekenyan, Ovanes G.	Bourgas Prof. Assen Zlatarov University	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 422
27	123,203	GI Grabchev, Ivo	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Organic Chemistry	Rank 2,157
28	126,093	AD Andreeva, D.	Institute of Catalysis Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 442
29	126,640	GM Georgiev, Milen I.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 1,822
30	131,791	BM Bojinov, Martin	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Energy	Rank 1,813
31	137,755	DA Dzhambov, Angel M.	Medical University of Plovdiv	Toxicology	Rank 636
32	141,234	MA Milchev, Alexander	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 1,962
33	142,645	BV Bojinov, Vladimir B.	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Organic Chemistry	Rank 2,473
34	143,039	BL Boyanova, Lyudmila	Medical University of Sofia	Microbiology	Rank 3,503
35	146,935	AL Antonov, Liudmil	Institute of Electronics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Organic Chemistry	Rank 2,551
36	156,288	KD Karagiozova, Dora	Institute of Mechanics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 1,144
37	159,010	TD Tsalev, Dimiter L.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 1,242
38	167,178	VN Vitanov, Nikolay K.	Institute of Mechanics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Fluids & Plasmas	Rank 1,399
39	167,566	KV Kiryakova, Virginia	Institute of Mathematics and Informatics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	General Mathematics	Rank 1,032
40	167,842	KE Kantchev, Eric Assen B.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Organic Chemistry	Rank 2,891
41	175,777	TB Tenchov, Boris	Medical University of Sofia	Biophysics	Rank 276
42	179,441	CC Christov, Christomir	Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen	Chemical Engineering	Rank 913
43	182,884	CI Christov, Ivaylo	Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 795
44	200,959	PA Popova, Angelina	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Materials	Rank 2,862
45	203,971	DV Dobrev, V. K.	Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 3,215
46	204,992	YN Yordanov, N. D.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 1,258
47	205,378	TT Tabakova, T.	Institute of Catalysis Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 760
48	207,219	Stoev, Stoycho D.	Trakia University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine	Toxicology	Rank 1,022
49	210,084	PA Petrov, A. G.	Georgi Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 5,831
50	211,003	RA Rachev, Alexander	Institute of Mechanics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 914
51	215,232	IV Iliev, Vesselin	Institute of Catalysis Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 801
52	228,866	EA Edreva, Aglika	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 3,400
53	230,471	CM Chizhov, Mihail	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 3,590
54	230,805	BS Berkov, Strahil	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 3,429
55	231,167	KA Krastanov, Albert	University of Food Technologies-Plovdiv	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 3,438
56	233,314	GI Gutzow, I.	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 6,513
57	240,609	TK Troev, Kolio	Institute of Polymers Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Polymers	Rank 2,173
58	242,344	ZV Zimparov, Ventsislav D.	Technical University of Gabrovo	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 1,828
59	249,554	TV Tsakova, Vessela	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 3,741
60	251,518	KI Karadjova, Irina	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 2,130
61	251,612	SV Simeonov, Vasil	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,076
62	265,604	GM Gulubova, Maya	Trakia University Faculty of Medicine	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 3,506
63	266,093	KA Karamanov, Alexander	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Materials	Rank 3,937
64	266,505	SJ Serkedjieva, Julia	Institute of Microbiology Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 1,215
65	267,566	KT Kolev, Tsonko M.	Roumen Tsanev Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 1,683
66	267,691	Tchernev, Georgi	Medical University of Sofia	Dentistry	Rank 1,722
67	270,533	PK Panajotov, K.	Georgi Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Optoelectronics & Photonics	Rank 1,008
68	270,730	MN Mastorakis, Nikos E.	Technical University of Sofia	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 5,678
69	277,583	NB Nikolova-Damyanova, Boryana	Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry (IOCCP) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 2,375
70	278,670	AS Armyanov, S.	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 4,322
71	307,772	PP Peshev, P.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Materials	Rank 4,689
72	341,481	SR Stoyanova, Radostina	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Materials	Rank 5,344
73	347,226	SD Stoychev, Dimitar	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 5,663
74	350,516	VD Vakarelov, Dimiter	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 7,582
75	359,762	SZ Stoynov, Zdravko	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 5,948
76	378,061	ZE Zhecheva, Ekaterina	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 6,322
77	382,632	AM Atanassova, Maria	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Chemical Engineering	Rank 2,279
78	443,419	VG Vassilev, Gueorgui	Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv	Materials	Rank 7,150
79	445,842	DI Dimov, Ivan	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 9,970
80	464,635	PA Pavlov, Atanas	University of Food Technologies-Plovdiv	Biotechnology	Rank 1,843
81	473,156	GS Groudev, Stoyan	University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski	Mining & Metallurgy	Rank 273
82	491,170	NL Nikolova, Ludmila	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Optoelectronics & Photonics	Rank 2,164
83	493,751	PM Panayotova, Marinela	University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski	Mining & Metallurgy	Rank 294
84	514,248	TT Todorov, Todor	Central Laboratory of Optical Storage and Processing of Information Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Optoelectronics & Photonics	Rank 2,286
85	552,975	RV Rizov, Victor	University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy	Materials	Rank 9,396
86	635,822	KM Karavasteva, M.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Mining & Metallurgy	Rank 445
87	661,170	DT Dachev, Ts	Space Research and Technology Institute	Aerospace & Aeronautics	Rank 1,563
No scientists match this filter.

Showing 1 to 87 of 87 Show

Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2024

Slovakia97 scientistsin 2024

Cyprus92 scientistsin 2024

Serbia90 scientistsin 2024

Jordan87 scientistsin 2024

Croatia82 scientistsin 2024

Lebanon78 scientistsin 2024

Explore other countries

Career-long list2024

Poland1,244 scientistsin 2024

Russia980 scientistsin 2024

Czech Republic555 scientistsin 2024

Hungary385 scientistsin 2024

Romania188 scientistsin 2024

Ukraine103 scientistsin 2024

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Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Bulgaria are in the 2024 Stanford Top 2% list?

70 scientists affiliated with Bulgaria are on the 2024 single-year list, and 87 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2024 career-long list, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski has the most listed scientists from Bulgaria, with 18. It is followed by The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences with 14.

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 87 in 2024, a change of +74.0%.

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.