Military spending in Bulgaria
Bulgaria: Military spending was 2.40 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Military spending in Bulgaria, 1989–2025
Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2024 US$.
Analysis
Bulgaria recorded 2.40 billion constant 2024 US$ for military spending in 2025.
The figure is up 9.3% on the previous year and up 166.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Bulgaria peaked at 5.24 billion constant 2024 US$ in 1989 and was at its lowest, 845.53 million constant 2024 US$, in 1997.
That places Bulgaria 66th out of 162 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Bulgaria, year by year
| Year | constant 2024 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 5.24 billion constant 2024 US$ | — |
| 1990 | 4.23 billion constant 2024 US$ | -19.2% |
| 1991 | 2.29 billion constant 2024 US$ | -45.9% |
| 1992 | 1.73 billion constant 2024 US$ | -24.4% |
| 1993 | 1.31 billion constant 2024 US$ | -24.4% |
| 1994 | 1.12 billion constant 2024 US$ | -14.3% |
| 1995 | 1.10 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 905.56 million constant 2024 US$ | -18.0% |
| 1997 | 845.53 million constant 2024 US$ | -6.6% |
| 1998 | 977.73 million constant 2024 US$ | +15.6% |
| 1999 | 1.11 billion constant 2024 US$ | +13.4% |
| 2000 | 1.14 billion constant 2024 US$ | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 1.27 billion constant 2024 US$ | +10.7% |
| 2002 | 1.28 billion constant 2024 US$ | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 1.30 billion constant 2024 US$ | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 1.21 billion constant 2024 US$ | -6.6% |
| 2005 | 1.24 billion constant 2024 US$ | +2.3% |
| 2006 | 1.23 billion constant 2024 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 1.44 billion constant 2024 US$ | +17.0% |
| 2008 | 1.40 billion constant 2024 US$ | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 1.12 billion constant 2024 US$ | -20.2% |
| 2010 | 1.06 billion constant 2024 US$ | -5.7% |
| 2011 | 879.11 million constant 2024 US$ | -16.8% |
| 2012 | 880.32 million constant 2024 US$ | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 949.57 million constant 2024 US$ | +7.9% |
| 2014 | 887.52 million constant 2024 US$ | -6.5% |
| 2015 | 899.74 million constant 2024 US$ | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 963.87 million constant 2024 US$ | +7.1% |
| 2017 | 999.35 million constant 2024 US$ | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 1.23 billion constant 2024 US$ | +23.5% |
| 2019 | 2.83 billion constant 2024 US$ | +129.6% |
| 2020 | 1.42 billion constant 2024 US$ | -49.9% |
| 2021 | 1.51 billion constant 2024 US$ | +6.3% |
| 2022 | 1.66 billion constant 2024 US$ | +9.9% |
| 2023 | 2.04 billion constant 2024 US$ | +23.2% |
| 2024 | 2.19 billion constant 2024 US$ | +7.4% |
| 2025 | 2.40 billion constant 2024 US$ | +9.3% |
Bulgaria compared with similar countries
- Bulgaria's 2.40 billion constant 2024 US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.82 billion constant 2024 US$, 35% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Bulgaria's 2.40 billion constant 2024 US$ is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.80 billion constant 2024 US$, 85% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Bulgaria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +129.6% | 1.23 billion constant 2024 US$ | 2.83 billion constant 2024 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.24 billion constant 2024 US$ | 5.24 billion constant 2024 US$ | 5.24 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1 |
| 1990s | 1.56 billion constant 2024 US$ | 845.53 million constant 2024 US$ | 4.23 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.26 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1.12 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1.44 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.16 billion constant 2024 US$ | 879.11 million constant 2024 US$ | 2.83 billion constant 2024 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.87 billion constant 2024 US$ | 1.42 billion constant 2024 US$ | 2.40 billion constant 2024 US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bulgaria
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 in Bulgaria?
- Military spending in Bulgaria was 2.40 billion constant 2024 US$ in 2025, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Bulgaria?
- The highest recorded value was 5.24 billion constant 2024 US$ in 1989.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Bulgaria?
- The lowest recorded value was 845.53 million constant 2024 US$ in 1997.
- How does Bulgaria rank for military spending?
- Bulgaria ranks 66th out of 162 countries with data for 2025.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Bulgaria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 166.3%. 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) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
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.