Bulgaria's Top 2% Scientists 2026: Career-Long List

Bulgaria has 102 scientists on the 2026 career-long Top 2% list, up 12.1% from 91 in 2025. That places Bulgaria 59th in the world by number of listed scientists, up 1 place. The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences has the most listed scientists (10), followed by Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (8).

Single Year

+17 (+27.0%) vs 2025

Career Data

102

+11 (+12.1%) vs 2025

World rank by count

#59

up 1 place vs 2025

Institutes

+6 (+17.6%) vs 2025

Scientists in Bulgaria on the list, by year

The career-long count has more than doubled 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%

2026+12.1%

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

Career-long list2026

Show the list

All 102 scientists

Career-long list2026

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

The first 100 are free to browse.

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Rank in Bulgaria	World rank	Scientist	Institute	Sub-field	Rank in sub-field
1	3,409	AK Atanassov, Krassimir T.	Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 95
2	11,974	HK Hadjiivanov, Konstantin I.	Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 50
3	13,424	VG van Gool, Luc J.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 311
4	16,079	PS Petcov, Serguey T.	Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 215
5	20,343	BV Bankova, Vassya Stefanova	Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry (IOCCP) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 61
6	27,870	DN Denkov, Nikolai	Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy	Chemical Physics	Rank 582
7	34,663	KI Kostova, Irena P.	Medical University of Sofia	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 99
8	34,943	KD Kashchiev, Dimo	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Chemical Physics	Rank 717
9	38,222	VN Vitanov, Nikolay V.	Faculty Of Physics At Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	General Physics	Rank 230
10	41,369	PV Popov, Valentin N.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Applied Physics	Rank 977
11	48,532	PD Pavlov, Detchko	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 644
12	53,670	VS Vassilev, Stanislav V.	Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography “Acad. Ivan Kostov”	Energy	Rank 731
13	56,750	IS Ivanov, Stanislav H.	Varna University of Management	Sport, Leisure & Tourism	Rank 94
14	57,788	KP Kralchevsky, Peter Atanassov	Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,116
15	60,650	YS Yazadjiev, Stoytcho S.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 932
16	73,156	MA Milchev, Andrey I.	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,405
17	76,852	DI Doytchinova, Irini A.	Medical University of Sofia	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 241
18	83,071	HJ Hristov, Jordan Yankov	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Energy	Rank 1,203
19	88,654	KR Koynova, Rumiana	Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Biophysics	Rank 154
20	91,214	ZJ Zlatanova, Jordanka S.	Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics	Biochemistry & Molecular Biology	Rank 3,263
21	93,755	VG Vayssilov, Georgi N.	Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy	Physical Chemistry	Rank 313
22	96,182	DV Dimitrov, Vesselin V.	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Applied Physics	Rank 2,357
23	96,280	BD Bonchev, Danail G.	Bourgas Prof. Assen Zlatarov University	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,754
24	96,644	DA Dzhambov, Angel Mario	Medical University of Plovdiv	Toxicology	Rank 432
25	96,844	II Ivanov, Ivan Boyanov	Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,764
26	97,047	DK Danov, Krassimir Dimitrov	Eco- and Energy Saving Systems and Technologies	Chemical Physics	Rank 1,773
27	102,548	GM Georgiev, Milen I.	Institute of Microbiology Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 1,471
28	102,679	CI Christov, Ivan P.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Optics	Rank 413
29	107,004	VV Velikova, Violeta B.	Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 1,533
30	120,817	MO Mekenyan, Ovanes G.	Burgas State University “Prof. D-r Asen Zlatarov”	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 420
31	121,194	AI Avramov, I.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 3,057
32	121,650	VN Vitanov, Nikolay K.	Institute of Mechanics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Fluids & Plasmas	Rank 1,002
33	125,562	BL Boyanova, Lyudmila Y.	Medical University of Sofia	Microbiology	Rank 3,093
34	128,083	GI Grabchev, Ivo K.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Organic Chemistry	Rank 2,169
35	133,162	AL Antonov, Liudmil M.	Institute of Electronics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Organic Chemistry	Rank 2,248
36	136,447	BM Bojinov, Martin S.	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Energy	Rank 2,051
37	142,065	MA Milchev, Alexander A.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 2,162
38	144,071	AD Andreeva, Donka H.	Institute of Catalysis Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 495
39	151,123	BV Bojinov, Vladimir B.	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Organic Chemistry	Rank 2,522
40	151,762	PT Popov, T. A.	Sveti Ivan Rilski hospital	Allergy	Rank 394
41	160,556	VM Vinciguerra, Manlio	Medical University-Varna	Oncology & Carcinogenesis	Rank 5,882
42	162,600	KD Karagiozova, Dora	Centre of Excellence in Informatics and Information and Communication Technologies	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 1,213
43	163,284	KV Kiryakova, Virginia	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	General Mathematics	Rank 1,005
44	174,428	Stoev, Stoycho D.	Trakia University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine	Toxicology	Rank 820
45	181,867	CI Christov, Ivailo I.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 788
46	182,812	TD Tsalev, Dimiter L.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 1,427
47	186,327	KE Kantchev, Eric Assen B.	Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy	Organic Chemistry	Rank 3,086
48	186,699	CC Christov, Christomir I.	Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen	Chemical Engineering	Rank 1,015
49	190,874	TB Tenchov, Boris G.	Medical University of Sofia	Biophysics	Rank 284
50	197,928	IB Ivanov, Boyko V.	Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 3,030
51	201,738	KA Krastanov, Albert Ivanov	University of Food Technologies-Plovdiv	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 3,017
52	212,842	TT Tabakova, Tatyana T.	Institute of Catalysis Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 755
53	218,883	YN Yordanov, Nicola D.	Institute of Catalysis Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 1,261
54	220,634	PA Popova, Angelina K.	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Materials	Rank 3,315
55	223,074	SS Stoyanov, Stoyan S.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 5,873
56	225,044	DV Dobrev, V. K.	Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Nuclear & Particle Physics	Rank 3,418
57	226,009	PA Petrov, Alexander G.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 5,960
58	229,196	EA Edreva, Aglika M.	Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 3,427
59	229,365	RA Rachev, Alexander I.	Institute of Mechanics Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Biomedical Engineering	Rank 1,008
60	231,080	MN Mastorakis, N. E.	Technical University of Sofia	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 5,376
61	239,126	BS Berkov, Strahil Hristov	Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Plant Biology & Botany	Rank 3,587
62	243,366	Tchernev, Georgi	Medical University of Sofia	Dentistry	Rank 1,514
63	244,330	SV Simeonov, Vasil D.	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Environmental Sciences	Rank 2,314
64	246,841	IV Iliev, V. I.	Institute of Catalysis Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Physical Chemistry	Rank 874
65	255,024	GI Gutzow, Ivan S.	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 6,744
66	255,505	ZV Zimparov, Ventsislav D.	Technical University of Gabrovo	Mechanical Engineering & Transports	Rank 1,950
67	258,191	TK Troev, Kolio D.	Institute of Polymers Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Polymers	Rank 2,348
68	263,894	WJ Wesselinowa, Julia Mihailowa	Faculty Of Physics At Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Applied Physics	Rank 6,994
69	266,605	KA Karamanov, Alexander	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Materials	Rank 4,141
70	267,775	NC Nanev, C. N.	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Applied Physics	Rank 7,106
71	268,380	TV Tsakova, Vessela Ts	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 4,562
72	277,606	PK Panajotov, K. P.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Optoelectronics & Photonics	Rank 1,041
73	281,576	SJ Serkedjieva, Julia P.	Institute of Microbiology Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 1,294
74	286,551	GM Gǔlǔbova, Maya Vladova	Trakia University Faculty of Medicine	General & Internal Medicine	Rank 3,756
75	288,407	KI Karadjova, Irina B.	Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 2,450
76	293,269	KT Kolev, Tsonko M.	Roumen Tsanev Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Inorganic & Nuclear Chemistry	Rank 1,745
77	305,437	AS Armyanov, Stephan Atanassov	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 5,349
78	307,019	NB Nikolova-Damyanova, Boryana M.	Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry (IOCCP) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Analytical Chemistry	Rank 2,654
79	339,358	PP Peshev, Pavel	Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Materials	Rank 5,502
80	347,191	SR Stoyanova, Radostina K.	Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Materials	Rank 5,650
81	368,276	VD Vakarelov, Dimiter	Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 9,095
82	380,125	SD Stoychev, D. S.	Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 6,967
83	385,897	SZ Stoynov, Zdravko B.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 7,092
84	387,902	MV Mladenov, Valeri Markov	Technical University of Sofia	Electrical & Electronic Engineering	Rank 1,407
85	388,220	VC Vassileva, Christina G.	Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography “Acad. Ivan Kostov”	Energy	Rank 7,154
86	401,468	ZE Zhecheva, Ekaterina N.	Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Energy	Rank 7,465
87	409,969	DI Dimov, Ivan T.	Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 10,339
88	410,753	Nozari, Hamed	University of National and World Economy Sofia	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 10,364
89	448,369	FS Fidanova, Stefka Stoyanova	Centre of Excellence in Informatics and Information and Communication Technologies	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 11,417
90	452,564	AM Atanassova, M.	University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy Sofia	Chemical Engineering	Rank 2,944
91	453,020	PM Popova, Milena Petkova	Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry (IOCCP) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Medicinal & Biomolecular Chemistry	Rank 2,391
92	455,880	PA Pavlov, Atanas Ivanov	University of Food Technologies-Plovdiv	Biotechnology	Rank 1,784
93	460,944	VG Vassilev, Gueorgui Penev	Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv	Materials	Rank 7,935
94	481,914	PM Panayotova, Marinela I.	University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski	Mining & Metallurgy	Rank 310
95	505,803	RO Roeva, Olympia Nikolaeva	Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 13,031
96	524,518	GS Groudev, Stoyan Nicolov	University of Mining and Geology St. Ivan Rilski	Mining & Metallurgy	Rank 357
97	553,770	GA Gegov, Alexander E.	Technical University of Sofia	Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing	Rank 14,435
98	560,432	NL Nikolova, Lyudmila P.	The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences	Optoelectronics & Photonics	Rank 2,568
99	569,192	DT Dachev, Ts P.	Space Research and Technology Institute	Aerospace & Aeronautics	Rank 1,329
100	569,337	RV Rizov, Victor Iliev	University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy	Materials	Rank 10,259
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Ranks 101 to 102The whole list, not only the top 100.

Every year since 2020Single Year and Career Data.

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Countries with a similar count

Career-long list2026

Serbia117 scientists

Croatia109 scientists

Bangladesh105 scientists

Iraq100 scientists

Lebanon93 scientists

Estonia92 scientists

Explore other countries

Career-long list2026

Poland1,581 scientists

Russia1,133 scientists

Czech Republic622 scientists

Hungary441 scientists

Romania253 scientists

Ukraine144 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 career-long list, The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences has the most listed scientists from Bulgaria, with 10. It is followed by Institute of Physical Chemistry Bulgarian Academy of Sciences with 8.

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 102 in 2026, a change of +104.0%.

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.