Arms imports in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Arms imports was 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Arms imports in Bulgaria, 1960–2022
Source: Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in SIPRI trend indicator values.
Analysis
The most recent figure for arms imports in Bulgaria is 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 200.0% on the previous year and down 40.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, arms imports in Bulgaria peaked at 984.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1981 and was at its lowest, 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, in 1993.
Bulgaria ranks 144th of 173 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Arms imports in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | SIPRI trend indicator values | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 474.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | — |
| 1961 | 522.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +10.1% |
| 1962 | 493.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -5.6% |
| 1963 | 539.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +9.3% |
| 1964 | 326.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -39.5% |
| 1965 | 372.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +14.1% |
| 1966 | 218.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -41.4% |
| 1967 | 329.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +50.9% |
| 1968 | 256.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -22.2% |
| 1969 | 533.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +108.2% |
| 1970 | 771.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +44.7% |
| 1971 | 407.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -47.2% |
| 1972 | 460.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +13.0% |
| 1973 | 274.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -40.4% |
| 1974 | 302.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +10.2% |
| 1975 | 390.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +29.1% |
| 1976 | 368.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -5.6% |
| 1977 | 492.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +33.7% |
| 1978 | 876.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +78.0% |
| 1979 | 323.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -63.1% |
| 1980 | 580.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +79.6% |
| 1981 | 984.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +69.7% |
| 1982 | 610.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -38.0% |
| 1983 | 764.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +25.2% |
| 1984 | 945.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +23.7% |
| 1985 | 608.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -35.7% |
| 1986 | 932.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +53.3% |
| 1987 | 449.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -51.8% |
| 1988 | 253.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -43.7% |
| 1989 | 338.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +33.6% |
| 1990 | 755.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +123.4% |
| 1991 | 339.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -55.1% |
| 1992 | 42.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -87.6% |
| 1993 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -97.6% |
| 1994 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 122.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +12100.0% |
| 1999 | 7.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -94.3% |
| 2003 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -71.4% |
| 2004 | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +550.0% |
| 2005 | 132.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +915.4% |
| 2006 | 22.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -83.3% |
| 2007 | 48.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +118.2% |
| 2008 | 117.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +143.8% |
| 2009 | 119.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +1.7% |
| 2010 | 8.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -93.3% |
| 2011 | 29.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +262.5% |
| 2012 | 5.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -82.8% |
| 2015 | 4.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -20.0% |
| 2019 | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -50.0% |
| 2020 | 44.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +2100.0% |
| 2021 | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | -97.7% |
| 2022 | 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | +200.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for high income countries, which is 148.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 2% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 66.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values, 5% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Arms imports 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | +12100.0% | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 122.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2020 | +2100.0% | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 44.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2005 | +915.4% | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 132.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
| 2004 | +550.0% | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 13.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 406.20 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 218.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 539.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1970s | 466.30 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 274.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 876.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1980s | 646.30 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 253.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 984.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 10 |
| 1990s | 158.50 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 755.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 8 |
| 2000s | 64.71 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 132.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 7 |
| 2010s | 9.60 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 2.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 29.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 5 |
| 2020s | 16.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 44.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 144 Cape Verde 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 144 Congo 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 144 Cote d'Ivoire 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 144 Luxembourg 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 144 Mongolia 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
- 144 Tajikistan 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values compare
More public sector data for Bulgaria
- Democracy, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Universal right to vote in practice, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Democracy 7 (2025)
- Chief executive of the government is elected 1 (2025)
- Elected parliament 1 (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote 1 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is arms imports in Bulgaria?
- Arms imports in Bulgaria was 3.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 2022, according to Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest arms imports recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 984.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1981.
- What is the lowest arms imports recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values in 1993.
- How does Bulgaria rank for arms imports?
- Bulgaria ranks 144th out of 173 countries with data for 2022.
- Is arms imports rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 40.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Arms Transfers Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Arms transfers (imports) cover the volume of transfers of major arms through sales and gifts, and those made through manufacturing licenses. Data cover major conventional weapons such as aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, radar systems, missiles, and ships. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs). A '0' indicates that the volume of deliveries is between 0 and 0.5 million SIPRI TIV.