NATO envisages Bulgaria to invest 2.18% of GDP in defence

According to NATO data, this year Bulgaria will invest 2.18% of its GDP in defence, according to documents released by the alliance on the eve of the summit of the heads of state and government of the pact countries, which will take place in Washington in July. Last year, Bulgaria’s defence spending amounted to 1.96% of GDP, NATO documents show.

Bulgaria's defense spending for this year is $2.325 billion (4.217 billion BGN), and in 2023 it was $1.992 billion, $333 million less. The figures point to a sustained increase from 2020 onwards.

Europe's defence spending this year averaged $380 billion, up from $235 billion in 2014.

Bulgaria's GDP for this year will reach $106.721 billion. It will be $10,000 per capita, which means we will spend $218 per person on defence.

This year the military personnel in the country will be 26,900. By comparison, in 2014 it was 27,500. More than half of Bulgaria's spending will go on personnel, and 30% will be on military equipment.

A record 23 out of 32 NATO member states will reach the defence spending targets set by the alliance this year.