Bulgaria's Top 2% Scientists 2025: Career-Long List

Bulgaria has 91 scientists on the 2025 career-long Top 2% list, up 4.6% from 87 in 2024. That places Bulgaria 60th in the world by number of listed scientists, down 6 places. Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski has the most listed scientists (18), followed by The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (9).

Single Year

-7 (-10.0%) vs 2024

Career Data

+4 (+4.6%) vs 2024

World rank by count

#60

down 6 places vs 2024

Institutes

+5 (+17.2%) vs 2024

Scientists in Bulgaria on the list, by year

The career-long count has grown 82% 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 list2025

Show the list

All 91 scientists

Career-long list2025

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	3,614	AK Atanassov, Krassimir T.	Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 96
2	12,418	HK Hadjiivanov, Konstantin I.	Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 50
3	14,133	VG van Gool, Luc J.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 305
4	15,514	PS Petcov, Serguey T.	Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 210
5	20,574	BV Bankova, Vassya Stefanova	Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry (IOCCP) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 63
6	28,287	DN Denkov, Nikolai	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 606
7	33,159	KD Kashchiev, Dimo	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Chemical Physics	Rank 702
8	36,637	KI Kostova, Irena P.	Medical University of Sofia	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 105
9	39,095	VN Vitanov, Nikolay V.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	General Physics	Rank 233
10	41,035	PV Popov, Valentin N.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Applied Physics	Rank 983
11	46,220	PD Pavlov, Detchko	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 590
12	53,313	VS Vassilev, Stanislav V.	Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography “Acad. Ivan Kostov”	Energy	Rank 699
13	54,624	KP Kralchevsky, Peter Atanassov	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,088
14	67,418	YS Yazadjiev, Stoytcho S.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 1,044
15	69,000	MA Milchev, Andrey I.	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,352
16	82,303	HJ Hristov, Jordan Yankov	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Energy	Rank 1,134
17	85,340	ZJ Zlatanova, Jordanka S.	Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 3,203
18	89,889	IS Ivanov, Stanislav H.	Varna University of Management	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 154
19	89,932	DI Doytchinova, I. Atanas	Medical University of Sofia	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 289
20	91,291	II Ivanov, Ivan Boyanov	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,701
21	91,909	VG Vayssilov, Georgi N.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,713
22	93,358	DK Danov, Krassimir Dimitrov	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,736
23	94,575	DV Dimitrov, Vesselin V.	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Applied Physics	Rank 2,377
24	94,712	CI Christov, Ivan P.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Optics	Rank 385
25	112,642	GM Georgiev, Milen I.	Institute of Microbiology Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Biotechnology	Rank 338
26	114,236	VV Velikova, Violeta B.	Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 1,629
27	115,379	DA Dzhambov, Angel Mario	Medical University of Plovdiv	Toxicology	Rank 521
28	119,186	AI Avramov, I.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 3,093
29	120,026	MO Mekenyan, Ovanes G.	Bourgas Prof. Assen Zlatarov University	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 416
30	126,537	GI Grabchev, Ivo K.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Organic Chemistry	Rank 2,180
31	132,396	BM Bojinov, Martin S.	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Energy	Rank 1,909
32	135,263	AD Andreeva, Donka H.	Institute of Catalysis Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 470
33	135,320	BL Boyanova, Lyudmila Y.	Medical University of Sofia	Microbiology	Rank 3,317
34	135,873	MA Milchev, Alexander A.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 1,971
35	138,872	AL Antonov, Liudmil M.	Institute of Electronics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Organic Chemistry	Rank 2,354
36	145,238	BV Bojinov, Vladimir B.	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Organic Chemistry	Rank 2,471
37	147,549	VN Vitanov, Nikolay K.	Institute of Mechanics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Fluids & Plasmas	Rank 1,230
38	160,196	KV Kiryakova, Virginia	Institute of Mathematics and Informatics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	General Mathematics	Rank 971
39	160,663	KD Karagiozova, Dora	Institute of Mechanics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 1,182
40	167,872	TD Tsalev, Dimiter L.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 1,312
41	176,351	CI Christov, Ivailo I.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 763
42	177,030	KE Kantchev, Eric Assen B.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Organic Chemistry	Rank 2,973
43	177,919	VM Vinciguerra, Manlio	Medical University-Varna	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 6,535
44	182,576	CC Christov, Christomir I.	Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen	Chemical Engineering	Rank 968
45	183,025	TB Tenchov, Boris G.	Medical University of Sofia	Biophysics	Rank 285
46	192,166	Stoev, Stoycho D.	Trakia University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine	Toxicology	Rank 915
47	208,722	YN Yordanov, Nicola D.	Institute of Catalysis Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 1,236
48	210,273	KA Krastanov, Albert Ivanov	University of Food Technologies-Plovdiv	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 3,115
49	211,111	PA Popova, Angelina K.	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Materials	Rank 3,071
50	212,230	TT Tabakova, Tatyana T.	Institute of Catalysis Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 772
51	215,174	SS Stoyanov, Stoyan S.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 5,796
52	216,589	DV Dobrev, V. K.	Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 3,315
53	219,923	RA Rachev, Alexander I.	Institute of Mechanics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 953
54	223,584	PA Petrov, Alexander G.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 6,051
55	226,597	EA Edreva, Aglika M.	Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 3,374
56	228,663	IV Iliev, V. I.	Institute of Catalysis Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 838
57	233,895	BS Berkov, Strahil Hristov	Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 3,497
58	239,118	GI Gutzow, Ivan S.	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 6,480
59	242,451	MN Mastorakis, N. E.	Technical University of Sofia	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 5,354
60	246,016	SV Simeonov, Vasil D.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,186
61	246,629	TK Troev, Kolio D.	Institute of Polymers Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Polymers	Rank 2,231
62	249,410	ZV Zimparov, Ventsislav D.	Technical University of Gabrovo	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 1,869
63	252,909	Tchernev, Georgi	Medical University of Sofia	Dentistry	Rank 1,597
64	256,876	TV Tsakova, Vessela Ts	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 4,078
65	261,373	WJ Wesselinowa, Julia Mihailowa	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Applied Physics	Rank 7,138
66	267,559	SJ Serkedjieva, Julia P.	Institute of Microbiology Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 1,209
67	267,929	KA Karamanov, Alexander	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Materials	Rank 4,064
68	268,108	KI Karadjova, Irina B.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 2,283
69	275,304	PK Panajotov, K. P.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Optoelectronics & Photonics	Rank 1,036
70	275,417	GM Gǔlǔbova, Maya Vladova	Trakia University Faculty of Medicine	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 3,605
71	275,948	KT Kolev, Tsonko M.	Roumen Tsanev Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 1,674
72	289,278	AS Armyanov, Stephan Atanassov	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 4,760
73	292,362	NB Nikolova-Damyanova, Boryana M.	Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry (IOCCP) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 2,532
74	324,650	PP Peshev, Pavel	Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Materials	Rank 5,102
75	345,528	SR Stoyanova, Radostina K.	Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 5,928
76	352,065	VD Vakarelov, Dimiter	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 8,119
77	362,901	SD Stoychev, D. S.	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 6,277
78	366,818	SZ Stoynov, Zdravko B.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 6,358
79	385,944	VC Vassileva, Christina G.	Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography “Acad. Ivan Kostov”	Energy	Rank 6,776
80	391,298	ZE Zhecheva, Ekaterina N.	Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 6,901
81	417,651	DI Dimov, Ivan T.	Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 9,893
82	444,874	VG Vassilev, Gueorgui Penev	Plovdiv University Paisii Hiledarski	Materials	Rank 7,341
83	463,231	PA Pavlov, Atanas Ivanov	University of Food Technologies-Plovdiv	Biotechnology	Rank 1,827
84	484,983	PM Panayotova, Marinela I.	University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski	Mining & Metallurgy	Rank 300
85	487,708	GS Groudev, Stoyan Nicolov	University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski	Mining & Metallurgy	Rank 304
86	508,083	RO Roeva, Olympia Nikolaeva	Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 12,320
87	517,726	NL Nikolova, Lyudmila P.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Optoelectronics & Photonics	Rank 2,321
88	542,458	TT Todorov, T.	Technical University of Sofia	Optoelectronics & Photonics	Rank 2,465
89	545,356	RV Rizov, Victor Iliev	University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy	Materials	Rank 9,515
90	578,971	DT Dachev, Ts P.	Space Research and Technology Institute	Aerospace & Aeronautics	Rank 1,343
91	668,486	KM Karavasteva, M. S.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Mining & Metallurgy	Rank 496
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Showing 1 to 91 of 91 Show

Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2025

Explore other countries

Career-long list2025

Poland1,412 scientists

Russia1,069 scientists

Czech Republic588 scientists

Hungary424 scientists

Romania220 scientists

Ukraine124 scientists

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Frequently asked questions

How many scientists from Bulgaria are in the 2025 Stanford Top 2% list?

63 scientists affiliated with Bulgaria are on the 2025 single-year list, and 91 are on the career-long list.

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

On the 2025 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 9.

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 91 in 2025, a change of +82.0%.

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.