Military expenditure (current USD) in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Military expenditure was 2.33 billion current USD in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
2.33 billion current USD
Change on year
up 17.1%
World rank
64th
of 168 countries
All-time high
2.33 billion current USD
in 2024
All-time low
213.62 million current USD
in 1996
Years of data
36
1989–2024
Military expenditure in Bulgaria, 1989–2024
Source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Measured in current USD.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 2.33 billion current USD for military expenditure in 2024. That is the highest value across all 36 years on record.
That represents a change of up 17.1% on the previous year and up 211.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military expenditure in Bulgaria peaked at 2.33 billion current USD in 2024 and was at its lowest, 213.62 million current USD, in 1996.
Bulgaria ranks 64th of 168 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.
Military expenditure in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | current USD | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 2.07 billion current USD | — |
| 1990 | 794.52 million current USD | -61.6% |
| 1991 | 232.18 million current USD | -70.8% |
| 1992 | 255.77 million current USD | +10.2% |
| 1993 | 282.67 million current USD | +10.5% |
| 1994 | 241.99 million current USD | -14.4% |
| 1995 | 311.15 million current USD | +28.6% |
| 1996 | 213.62 million current USD | -31.3% |
| 1997 | 244.37 million current USD | +14.4% |
| 1998 | 320.39 million current USD | +31.1% |
| 1999 | 357.23 million current USD | +11.5% |
| 2000 | 351.34 million current USD | -1.6% |
| 2001 | 406.00 million current USD | +15.6% |
| 2002 | 455.95 million current USD | +12.3% |
| 2003 | 569.05 million current USD | +24.8% |
| 2004 | 620.91 million current USD | +9.1% |
| 2005 | 667.67 million current USD | +7.5% |
| 2006 | 715.72 million current USD | +7.2% |
| 2007 | 990.17 million current USD | +38.3% |
| 2008 | 1.16 billion current USD | +17.3% |
| 2009 | 904.96 million current USD | -22.1% |
| 2010 | 832.55 million current USD | -8.0% |
| 2011 | 757.93 million current USD | -9.0% |
| 2012 | 722.05 million current USD | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 811.63 million current USD | +12.4% |
| 2014 | 747.53 million current USD | -7.9% |
| 2015 | 632.51 million current USD | -15.4% |
| 2016 | 670.59 million current USD | +6.0% |
| 2017 | 720.04 million current USD | +7.4% |
| 2018 | 961.30 million current USD | +33.5% |
| 2019 | 2.16 billion current USD | +124.5% |
| 2020 | 1.12 billion current USD | -48.2% |
| 2021 | 1.28 billion current USD | +14.0% |
| 2022 | 1.44 billion current USD | +12.7% |
| 2023 | 1.99 billion current USD | +38.5% |
| 2024 | 2.33 billion current USD | +17.1% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 2.33 billion current USD is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.62 billion current USD, 35% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 2.33 billion current USD is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.63 billion current USD, 89% of the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.07 billion current USD | 2.07 billion current USD | 2.07 billion current USD | 1 |
| 1990s | 325.39 million current USD | 213.62 million current USD | 794.52 million current USD | 10 |
| 2000s | 684.32 million current USD | 351.34 million current USD | 1.16 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2010s | 901.47 million current USD | 632.51 million current USD | 2.16 billion current USD | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.63 billion current USD | 1.12 billion current USD | 2.33 billion current USD | 5 |
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)
- 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)
- Universal right to vote, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Men's universal right to vote, 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 military expenditure in Bulgaria?
- Military expenditure in Bulgaria was 2.33 billion current USD in 2024, 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 2.33 billion current USD in 2024.
- What is the lowest military expenditure recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 213.62 million current USD in 1996.
- How does Bulgaria rank for military expenditure?
- Bulgaria ranks 64th out of 168 countries with data for 2024.
- Is military expenditure rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 211.7%. 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 USD). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Military spending USD, in current prices (converted at the exchange rate for the given year)