Life science patents granted, by filing office in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Life science patents granted, by filing office was 17 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by filing office in Bulgaria, 1980–2023
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in patents.
Analysis
In 2023, life science patents granted, by filing office in Bulgaria stood at 17 patents.
The figure is up 21.4% on the previous year and down 58.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by filing office in Bulgaria peaked at 151 patents in 1987 and was at its lowest, 5 patents, in 2016.
Bulgaria ranks 35th of 70 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 filing office in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 106 patents | — |
| 1981 | 87 patents | -17.9% |
| 1982 | 108 patents | +24.1% |
| 1983 | 91 patents | -15.7% |
| 1984 | 111 patents | +22.0% |
| 1985 | 136 patents | +22.5% |
| 1986 | 141 patents | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 151 patents | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 110 patents | -27.2% |
| 1989 | 119 patents | +8.2% |
| 1990 | 141 patents | +18.5% |
| 1991 | 119 patents | -15.6% |
| 1992 | 133 patents | +11.8% |
| 1993 | 129 patents | -3.0% |
| 1994 | 34 patents | -73.6% |
| 1995 | 107 patents | +214.7% |
| 1996 | 113 patents | +5.6% |
| 1997 | 100 patents | -11.5% |
| 1998 | 101 patents | +1.0% |
| 1999 | 102 patents | +1.0% |
| 2000 | 108 patents | +5.9% |
| 2001 | 117 patents | +8.3% |
| 2002 | 81 patents | -30.8% |
| 2003 | 66 patents | -18.5% |
| 2004 | 66 patents | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 83 patents | +25.8% |
| 2006 | 111 patents | +33.7% |
| 2007 | 93 patents | -16.2% |
| 2008 | 99 patents | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 88 patents | -11.1% |
| 2010 | 81 patents | -8.0% |
| 2011 | 45 patents | -44.4% |
| 2012 | 32 patents | -28.9% |
| 2013 | 41 patents | +28.1% |
| 2014 | 12 patents | -70.7% |
| 2015 | 8 patents | -33.3% |
| 2016 | 5 patents | -37.5% |
| 2017 | 9 patents | +80.0% |
| 2018 | 10 patents | +11.1% |
| 2019 | 10 patents | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 17 patents | +70.0% |
| 2021 | 15 patents | -11.8% |
| 2022 | 14 patents | -6.7% |
| 2023 | 17 patents | +21.4% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 17 patents is below the median for high income countries, which is 28 patents, 61% of the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 17 patents is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 25.5 patents, 67% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Life science patents granted, by filing office 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 | +214.7% | 34 patents | 107 patents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 116 patents | 87 patents | 151 patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 107.9 patents | 34 patents | 141 patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 91.2 patents | 66 patents | 117 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 25.3 patents | 5 patents | 81 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.75 patents | 14 patents | 17 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 filing office in Bulgaria?
- Life science patents granted, by filing office in Bulgaria was 17 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 filing office recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 151 patents in 1987.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by filing office recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 5 patents in 2016.
- How does Bulgaria rank for life science patents granted, by filing office?
- Bulgaria ranks 35th out of 70 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by filing office rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 58.5%. 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 filing office. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Patents granted within the fields of medical technology, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals by filing office. These patents cover a wide range of innovations, such as medical devices, diagnostic methods, genetic engineering techniques, biotechnological processes and new drugs.