Military personnel in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Military personnel was 37,000 people in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
37,000 people
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
71st
of 194 countries
All-time high
857,000 people
in 1918
All-time low
20,000 people
in 1919
Years of data
112
1908–2022
Military personnel in Bulgaria, 1908–2022
Source: Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for military personnel in Bulgaria is 37,000 people, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military personnel in Bulgaria peaked at 857,000 people in 1918 and was at its lowest, 20,000 people, in 1919.
That places Bulgaria 71st out of 194 countries with data for 2022, 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 personnel in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1908 | 59,000 people | — |
| 1909 | 60,000 people | +1.7% |
| 1910 | 58,000 people | -3.3% |
| 1911 | 61,000 people | +5.2% |
| 1912 | 61,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1913 | 592,000 people | +870.5% |
| 1914 | 52,000 people | -91.2% |
| 1915 | 49,000 people | -5.8% |
| 1916 | 800,000 people | +1532.7% |
| 1917 | 38,000 people | -95.2% |
| 1918 | 857,000 people | +2155.3% |
| 1919 | 20,000 people | -97.7% |
| 1920 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1921 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1922 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1923 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1924 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1925 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1926 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1927 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1928 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1929 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1930 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1931 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1932 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1933 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1934 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1935 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1936 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1937 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1938 | 20,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1939 | 48,000 people | +140.0% |
| 1940 | 163,000 people | +239.6% |
| 1944 | 450,000 people | +176.1% |
| 1945 | 39,000 people | -91.3% |
| 1946 | 106,000 people | +171.8% |
| 1947 | 131,000 people | +23.6% |
| 1948 | 157,000 people | +19.8% |
| 1949 | 183,000 people | +16.6% |
| 1950 | 209,000 people | +14.2% |
| 1951 | 200,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1952 | 190,000 people | -5.0% |
| 1953 | 187,000 people | -1.6% |
| 1954 | 213,000 people | +13.9% |
| 1955 | 213,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1956 | 191,000 people | -10.3% |
| 1957 | 192,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1958 | 167,000 people | -13.0% |
| 1959 | 143,000 people | -14.4% |
| 1960 | 118,000 people | -17.5% |
| 1961 | 132,000 people | +11.9% |
| 1962 | 135,000 people | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 183,000 people | +35.6% |
| 1964 | 178,000 people | -2.7% |
| 1965 | 178,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 176,000 people | -1.1% |
| 1967 | 176,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 175,000 people | -0.6% |
| 1969 | 175,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 175,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 189,000 people | +8.0% |
| 1972 | 189,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 177,000 people | -6.3% |
| 1974 | 174,000 people | -1.7% |
| 1975 | 175,000 people | +0.6% |
| 1976 | 177,000 people | +1.1% |
| 1977 | 186,000 people | +5.1% |
| 1978 | 187,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 187,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 188,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1981 | 188,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 188,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 189,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1984 | 189,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1985 | 189,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 190,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1987 | 191,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 160,000 people | -16.2% |
| 1989 | 150,000 people | -6.2% |
| 1990 | 129,000 people | -14.0% |
| 1991 | 107,000 people | -17.1% |
| 1992 | 99,000 people | -7.5% |
| 1993 | 52,000 people | -47.5% |
| 1994 | 80,000 people | +53.8% |
| 1995 | 90,000 people | +12.5% |
| 1996 | 80,000 people | -11.1% |
| 1997 | 80,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 75,000 people | -6.2% |
| 1999 | 70,000 people | -6.7% |
| 2000 | 80,000 people | +14.3% |
| 2001 | 77,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2002 | 68,000 people | -11.7% |
| 2003 | 51,000 people | -25.0% |
| 2004 | 51,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 51,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 51,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 51,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 40,000 people | -21.6% |
| 2009 | 41,000 people | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 35,000 people | -14.6% |
| 2011 | 31,000 people | -11.4% |
| 2012 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 31,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 37,000 people | +19.4% |
| 2021 | 37,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 37,000 people | +0.0% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 37,000 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 18,500 people, 2.0× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 37,000 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 23,000 people, 1.6× the median. (52 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military personnel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | +2155.3% | 38,000 people | 857,000 people |
| 1916 | +1532.7% | 49,000 people | 800,000 people |
| 1913 | +870.5% | 61,000 people | 592,000 people |
| 1940 | +239.6% | 48,000 people | 163,000 people |
| 1944 | +176.1% | 163,000 people | 450,000 people |
| 1946 | +171.8% | 39,000 people | 106,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 59,500 people | 59,000 people | 60,000 people | 2 |
| 1910s | 258,800 people | 20,000 people | 857,000 people | 10 |
| 1920s | 20,000 people | 20,000 people | 20,000 people | 10 |
| 1930s | 22,800 people | 20,000 people | 48,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 175,571 people | 39,000 people | 450,000 people | 7 |
| 1950s | 190,500 people | 143,000 people | 213,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 162,600 people | 118,000 people | 183,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 181,600 people | 174,000 people | 189,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 182,200 people | 150,000 people | 191,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 86,200 people | 52,000 people | 129,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 56,100 people | 40,000 people | 80,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 31,400 people | 31,000 people | 35,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 37,000 people | 37,000 people | 37,000 people | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 68 Ecuador 41,000 people compare
- 69 Yemen 40,000 people compare
- 70 Kazakhstan 39,000 people compare
- 71 Turkmenistan 37,000 people compare
- 73 Tunisia 36,000 people compare
- 74 Bolivia 34,000 people compare
- 74 Netherlands 34,000 people compare
More reference data data for Bulgaria
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3067 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.2728 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.73 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2506 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.73 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.608 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 7.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.36 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military personnel in Bulgaria?
- Military personnel in Bulgaria was 37,000 people in 2022, according to Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military personnel recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 857,000 people in 1918.
- What is the lowest military personnel recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 20,000 people in 1919.
- How does Bulgaria rank for military personnel?
- Bulgaria ranks 71st out of 194 countries with data for 2022.
- Is military personnel rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Correlates of War – National Material Capabilities Version 7.0 (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 112 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Troops under the command of the national government, intended for use against foreign adversaries, and held ready for combat as of January 1 of the given year.