Military spending per armed forces personnel in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Military spending per armed forces personnel was 38,339 constant 2024 US$ in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Bulgaria, 1989–2020
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
In 2020, military spending per armed forces personnel in Bulgaria stood at 38,339 constant 2024 US$.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 49.9% on the previous year and up 136.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending per armed forces personnel in Bulgaria peaked at 76,559 constant 2024 US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 6,240 constant 2024 US$, in 1997.
Bulgaria ranks 63rd of 160 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending per armed forces personnel in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 34,939 constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1990 | 32,817 constant 2024 US$ | -6.1% |
| 1991 | 21,418 constant 2024 US$ | -34.7% |
| 1992 | 17,492 constant 2024 US$ | -18.3% |
| 1993 | 25,168 constant 2024 US$ | +43.9% |
| 1994 | 14,014 constant 2024 US$ | -44.3% |
| 1995 | 8,122 constant 2024 US$ | -42.0% |
| 1996 | 6,586 constant 2024 US$ | -18.9% |
| 1997 | 6,240 constant 2024 US$ | -5.3% |
| 1998 | 7,216 constant 2024 US$ | +15.6% |
| 1999 | 9,661 constant 2024 US$ | +33.9% |
| 2000 | 10,043 constant 2024 US$ | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 11,372 constant 2024 US$ | +13.2% |
| 2002 | 12,472 constant 2024 US$ | +9.7% |
| 2003 | 15,285 constant 2024 US$ | +22.6% |
| 2004 | 14,283 constant 2024 US$ | -6.6% |
| 2005 | 14,613 constant 2024 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 16,395 constant 2024 US$ | +12.2% |
| 2007 | 19,176 constant 2024 US$ | +17.0% |
| 2008 | 18,733 constant 2024 US$ | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 17,160 constant 2024 US$ | -8.4% |
| 2010 | 16,186 constant 2024 US$ | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 18,586 constant 2024 US$ | +14.8% |
| 2012 | 18,611 constant 2024 US$ | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 20,075 constant 2024 US$ | +7.9% |
| 2014 | 18,764 constant 2024 US$ | -6.5% |
| 2015 | 19,022 constant 2024 US$ | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 30,795 constant 2024 US$ | +61.9% |
| 2017 | 32,237 constant 2024 US$ | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 33,390 constant 2024 US$ | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 76,559 constant 2024 US$ | +129.3% |
| 2020 | 38,339 constant 2024 US$ | -49.9% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 38,339 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 131,220 constant 2024 US$, 29% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 38,339 constant 2024 US$ is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 55,593 constant 2024 US$, 69% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending per armed forces personnel in Bulgaria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +129.3% | 33,390 constant 2024 US$ | 76,559 constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 34,939 constant 2024 US$ | 34,939 constant 2024 US$ | 34,939 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
| 1990s | 14,873 constant 2024 US$ | 6,240 constant 2024 US$ | 32,817 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 14,953 constant 2024 US$ | 10,043 constant 2024 US$ | 19,176 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 28,422 constant 2024 US$ | 16,186 constant 2024 US$ | 76,559 constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 38,339 constant 2024 US$ | 38,339 constant 2024 US$ | 38,339 constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
- 60 South Africa 40,436 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 61 Gabon 39,462 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 62 Trinidad and Tobago 38,762 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 64 Algeria 37,491 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 65 Mozambique 37,287 constant 2024 US$ compare
- 66 Azerbaijan 36,845 constant 2024 US$ 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 spending per armed forces personnel in Bulgaria?
- Military spending per armed forces personnel in Bulgaria was 38,339 constant 2024 US$ in 2020, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 76,559 constant 2024 US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest military spending per armed forces personnel recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,240 constant 2024 US$ in 1997.
- How does Bulgaria rank for military spending per armed forces personnel?
- Bulgaria ranks 63rd out of 160 countries with data for 2020.
- Is military spending per armed forces personnel rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 136.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bulgaria data come from?
- The figures come from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026); The Military Balance - International Institute for Strategic Studies, via World Bank (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending per armed forces personnel. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Total military expenditure divided by armed forces personnel. This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.