Life science patents granted, by technology in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Life science patents granted, by technology was 8 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by technology in Bulgaria, 1980–2023
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in patents.
Analysis
The most recent figure for life science patents granted, by technology in Bulgaria is 8 patents, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 166.7% on the previous year and down 74.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by technology in Bulgaria peaked at 85 patents in 2006 and was at its lowest, 3 patents, in 2015.
Bulgaria ranks 39th of 65 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Life science patents granted, by technology in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 54 patents | — |
| 1981 | 48 patents | -11.1% |
| 1982 | 46 patents | -4.2% |
| 1983 | 52 patents | +13.0% |
| 1984 | 40 patents | -23.1% |
| 1985 | 49 patents | +22.5% |
| 1986 | 50 patents | +2.0% |
| 1987 | 55 patents | +10.0% |
| 1988 | 45 patents | -18.2% |
| 1989 | 40 patents | -11.1% |
| 1990 | 42 patents | +5.0% |
| 1991 | 34 patents | -19.0% |
| 1992 | 49 patents | +44.1% |
| 1993 | 49 patents | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 18 patents | -63.3% |
| 1995 | 78 patents | +333.3% |
| 1996 | 65 patents | -16.7% |
| 1997 | 64 patents | -1.5% |
| 1998 | 72 patents | +12.5% |
| 1999 | 66 patents | -8.3% |
| 2000 | 76 patents | +15.2% |
| 2001 | 82 patents | +7.9% |
| 2002 | 58 patents | -29.3% |
| 2003 | 47 patents | -19.0% |
| 2004 | 51 patents | +8.5% |
| 2005 | 64 patents | +25.5% |
| 2006 | 85 patents | +32.8% |
| 2007 | 74 patents | -12.9% |
| 2008 | 72 patents | -2.7% |
| 2009 | 66 patents | -8.3% |
| 2010 | 65 patents | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 35 patents | -46.2% |
| 2012 | 22 patents | -37.1% |
| 2013 | 31 patents | +40.9% |
| 2014 | 8 patents | -74.2% |
| 2015 | 3 patents | -62.5% |
| 2016 | 3 patents | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 5 patents | +66.7% |
| 2018 | 3 patents | -40.0% |
| 2019 | 3 patents | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 3 patents | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 6 patents | +100.0% |
| 2022 | 3 patents | -50.0% |
| 2023 | 8 patents | +166.7% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 8 patents is below the median for high income countries, which is 14 patents, 57% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 8 patents is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 7.5 patents, 1.1× the median. (38 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Life science patents granted, by technology in Bulgaria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +333.3% | 18 patents | 78 patents |
| 2023 | +166.7% | 3 patents | 8 patents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 47.9 patents | 40 patents | 55 patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 53.7 patents | 18 patents | 78 patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.5 patents | 47 patents | 85 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.8 patents | 3 patents | 65 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 5 patents | 3 patents | 8 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More science & technology data for Bulgaria
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 118.07 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.24 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 7.98 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 73.83 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 0.1136 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate -0.4474 % change on previous year (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents, gaps filled 7 (2024)
- Patent applications, nonresidents 7 (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by technology in Bulgaria?
- Life science patents granted, by technology in Bulgaria was 8 patents in 2023, according to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest life science patents granted, by technology recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 85 patents in 2006.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by technology recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 3 patents in 2015.
- How does Bulgaria rank for life science patents granted, by technology?
- Bulgaria ranks 39th out of 65 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by technology rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 74.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Life science patents granted, by technology. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of pharmaceutical patents granted by the filing office in a given year. Pharmaceutical patents typically cover new drugs, biological treatments or vaccines.