Bulgaria Military Spending
Bulgaria spends an estimated 2.3% of GDP on its military in 2026; its most recent reported expenditure in US dollars is $2.4 billion (2025).
Defense budget and military expenditure data (1989–2027)
Data updated: July 7, 2026
Key Facts (2026 estimate)
Military Expenditure
$2.5 billion
Ranked #62 of 153 countries worldwide
Percent of GDP
2.3%
Ranked #60 of 163 countries by % of GDP
Year-over-Year Change
+5.0%
From $2.4B in 2025
Historical Peak Spending
$5.2 billion
Reached in 1989
How the 2026 figures are produced. The share-of-GDP figure is a per-country estimate researched from announced and enacted national defence budgets. The dollar figure is not a per-country forecast — it is the actual SIPRI figure for 2025 raised by a flat 5%, the same rate applied to every country in this group, so it can rise even where the share-of-GDP path falls. Actual SIPRI figures for Bulgaria run to 2025.
Bulgaria Defense Budget Summary
In 2026, Bulgaria is estimated to have spent $2.5 billion on military and defense, representing 2.3% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This budget covers the armed forces including army, navy, and air force expenditures. Bulgaria is the #62 highest military spender in the world by absolute spending.
Compared to the previous year (2025), defense spending increased by 5.0%, from $2.4 billion to $2.5 billion. This change in the military budget reflects growing defense priorities.
The highest percentage of GDP allocated to defense spending was 4.4% in 1989. The historical average military budget is 2.2% of GDP.
Data source: SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. Values are in constant 2024 US dollars. Data for 2026 is an estimate based on government budget announcements.
Historical Military Spending
Military Spending (% of GDP)
Military Spending (USD Billions, 2024 prices)
Historical Data
| Year | Percent of GDP | USD (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| 2027(estimate) | 2.60% | $2,636M |
| 2026(estimate) | 2.30% | $2,516M |
| 2025 | 2.01% | $2,396M |
| 2024 | 1.93% | $2,193M |
| 2023 | 1.95% | $2,041M |
| 2022 | 1.59% | $1,657M |
| 2021 | 1.51% | $1,508M |
| 2020 | 1.59% | $1,419M |
| 2019 | 3.15% | $2,833M |
| 2018 | 1.45% | $1,234M |
| 2017 | 1.22% | $999M |
| 2016 | 1.24% | $964M |
| 2015 | 1.25% | $900M |
| 2014 | 1.31% | $888M |
| 2013 | 1.45% | $950M |
| 2012 | 1.33% | $880M |
| 2011 | 1.31% | $879M |
| 2010 | 1.64% | $1,057M |
| 2009 | 1.74% | $1,121M |
| 2008 | 2.13% | $1,405M |
| 2007 | 2.23% | $1,438M |
| 2006 | 2.08% | $1,230M |
| 2005 | 2.24% | $1,242M |
| 2004 | 2.37% | $1,214M |
| 2003 | 2.69% | $1,299M |
| 2002 | 2.78% | $1,277M |
| 2001 | 2.86% | $1,266M |
| 2000 | 2.65% | $1,143M |
| 1999 | 2.62% | $1,109M |
| 1998 | 2.13% | $978M |
| 1997 | 2.16% | $846M |
| 1996 | 1.74% | $906M |
| 1995 | 1.64% | $1,104M |
| 1994 | 2.49% | $1,121M |
| 1993 | 2.61% | $1,309M |
| 1992 | 2.97% | $1,732M |
| 1991 | 3.04% | $2,292M |
| 1990 | 3.83% | $4,233M |
| 1989 | 4.40% | $5,241M |