Military expenditure (current LCU) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Military expenditure (current LCU) was 4.49 billion current LCU in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military expenditure in Bulgaria, 1989–2025
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current LCU.
Analysis
In 2025, military expenditure in Bulgaria stood at 4.49 billion current LCU. That is the highest value across all 37 years on record.
The figure is up 13.2% on the previous year and up 302.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Bulgaria peaked at 4.49 billion current LCU in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.74 million current LCU, in 1989.
That places Bulgaria 122nd out of 168 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military expenditure (current LCU) in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | current LCU | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 1.74 million current LCU | — |
| 1990 | 1.74 million current LCU | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 4.13 million current LCU | +137.4% |
| 1992 | 5.97 million current LCU | +44.6% |
| 1993 | 7.80 million current LCU | +30.7% |
| 1994 | 13.10 million current LCU | +67.9% |
| 1995 | 20.90 million current LCU | +59.5% |
| 1996 | 38.00 million current LCU | +81.8% |
| 1997 | 411.00 million current LCU | +981.6% |
| 1998 | 564.00 million current LCU | +37.2% |
| 1999 | 656.00 million current LCU | +16.3% |
| 2000 | 746.00 million current LCU | +13.7% |
| 2001 | 887.00 million current LCU | +18.9% |
| 2002 | 947.00 million current LCU | +6.8% |
| 2003 | 986.00 million current LCU | +4.1% |
| 2004 | 978.00 million current LCU | -0.8% |
| 2005 | 1.05 billion current LCU | +7.5% |
| 2006 | 1.12 billion current LCU | +6.2% |
| 2007 | 1.42 billion current LCU | +26.8% |
| 2008 | 1.55 billion current LCU | +9.8% |
| 2009 | 1.27 billion current LCU | -18.0% |
| 2010 | 1.23 billion current LCU | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 1.07 billion current LCU | -13.3% |
| 2012 | 1.10 billion current LCU | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 1.20 billion current LCU | +8.8% |
| 2014 | 1.10 billion current LCU | -7.9% |
| 2015 | 1.12 billion current LCU | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 1.19 billion current LCU | +6.3% |
| 2017 | 1.25 billion current LCU | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 1.59 billion current LCU | +26.9% |
| 2019 | 3.77 billion current LCU | +136.7% |
| 2020 | 1.92 billion current LCU | -49.1% |
| 2021 | 2.11 billion current LCU | +9.8% |
| 2022 | 2.67 billion current LCU | +26.7% |
| 2023 | 3.60 billion current LCU | +34.8% |
| 2024 | 3.96 billion current LCU | +10.0% |
| 2025 | 4.49 billion current LCU | +13.2% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 4.49 billion current LCU is below the median for high income countries, which is 17.84 billion current LCU, 25% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 4.49 billion current LCU is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8.40 billion current LCU, 53% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military expenditure (current LCU) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +981.6% | 38.00 million current LCU | 411.00 million current LCU |
| 1991 | +137.4% | 1.74 million current LCU | 4.13 million current LCU |
| 2019 | +136.7% | 1.59 billion current LCU | 3.77 billion current LCU |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.74 million current LCU | 1.74 million current LCU | 1.74 million current LCU | 1 |
| 1990s | 172.26 million current LCU | 1.74 million current LCU | 656.00 million current LCU | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.10 billion current LCU | 746.00 million current LCU | 1.55 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.46 billion current LCU | 1.07 billion current LCU | 3.77 billion current LCU | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.13 billion current LCU | 1.92 billion current LCU | 4.49 billion current LCU | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
More public sector data for Bulgaria
- Democracy, 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)
- Elected parliament, 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)
- Arms imports 540.00 million SIPRI trend indicator values (2025)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per capita 0.464 SIPRI trend indicator values per person (2022)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), per unit of GDP 0 SIPRI trend indicator values per US$ of GDP (2022)
- Arms imports (SIPRI trend indicator values), annual growth rate 200 % change on previous year (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military expenditure in Bulgaria?
- Military expenditure in Bulgaria was 4.49 billion current LCU in 2025, according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- What is the highest military expenditure recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 4.49 billion current LCU in 2025.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.74 million current LCU in 1989.
- How does Bulgaria rank for military expenditure?
- Bulgaria ranks 122nd out of 168 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 302.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), published as part of Military expenditure (current LCU). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Military expenditure in local currency at current prices (by calendar year)