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Armed forces personnel — all countries

Armed forces personnel — Bulgaria

Armed forces personnel in Bulgaria in 2020 — 37,000 people. Ranked 82 in the world out of 170. Since 1985, the indicator has fallen by 75.1%.

2020 37,000 people +0% vs 2019
World rank 82of 170
Period maximum 150,000 people1989
Period minimum 31,000 people2017

Trend over time

1985–2020 · people

Armed forces personnel — Bulgaria, 1985–2020050,000100,000150,00019851989199319972001200520092013201720201985: 148,500 people1989: 150,000 people1990: 129,000 people1991: 107,000 people1992: 99,000 people1993: 52,000 people1994: 80,000 people1995: 135,900 people1996: 137,500 people1997: 135,500 people1998: 135,500 people1999: 114,760 people2000: 113,800 people2001: 111,300 people2002: 102,400 people2003: 85,000 people2004: 85,000 people2005: 85,000 people2006: 75,000 people2007: 75,000 people2008: 75,000 people2009: 65,315 people2010: 65,315 people2011: 47,300 people2012: 47,300 people2013: 47,300 people2014: 47,300 people2015: 47,300 people2016: 31,300 people2017: 31,000 people2018: 36,950 people2019: 37,000 people2020: 37,000 people
Change over the period: −111,500 (−75.08%) Average annual rate: -3.89 %

Comparison, 2020

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Bulgaria

Bulgaria 37,000 people
World 27.41M people
Europe & Central Asia 5.01M people
Eastern Europe computed 2.36M people
Upper-middle-income countries computed 7.86M people
Armed forces personnel — Bulgaria, by year Bulgaria All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2020 37,000 +0 +0%
2019 37,000 +50 +0.14%
2018 36,950 +5,950 +19.19%
2017 31,000 −300 −0.96%
2016 31,300 −16,000 −33.83%
2015 47,300 +0 +0%
2014 47,300 +0 +0%
2013 47,300 +0 +0%
2012 47,300 +0 +0%
2011 47,300 −18,015 −27.58%
2010 65,315 +0 +0%
2009 65,315 −9,685 −12.91%
2008 75,000 +0 +0%
2007 75,000 +0 +0%
2006 75,000 −10,000 −11.76%
2005 85,000 +0 +0%
2004 85,000 +0 +0%
2003 85,000 −17,400 −16.99%
2002 102,400 −8,900 −8%
2001 111,300 −2,500 −2.2%
2000 113,800 −960 −0.84%
1999 114,760 −20,740 −15.31%
1998 135,500 +0 +0%
1997 135,500 −2,000 −1.45%
1996 137,500 +1,600 +1.18%
1995 135,900 +55,900 +69.88%
1994 80,000 +28,000 +53.85%
1993 52,000 −47,000 −47.47%
1992 99,000 −8,000 −7.48%
1991 107,000 −22,000 −17.05%
1990 129,000 −21,000 −14%
1989 150,000 — —
1985 148,500 — —

Eastern Europe, 2020

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

RU Russia 1.45M UA Ukraine 298,000 PL Poland 189,000 BY Belarus 158,000 RO Romania 128,000 HU Hungary 46,000 BG Bulgaria 37,000 CZ Czechia 27,000 SK Slovakia 18,000 MD Moldova 6,000
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The total number of active military personnel: all branches of the armed forces, as well as paramilitary forces if their training, structure and equipment allow them to be used in support of the regular forces. Reservists are not counted. Estimates of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

Source: Military Expenditure Database (SIPRI), license SIPRI terms of use.

Other indicators for Bulgaria

Defense Military expenditure in dollars

The absolute volume of defense spending in current US dollars.

Bulgaria by year Defense Military expenditure (% of GDP)

The share of GDP a country spends on defense.

Bulgaria by year Demography Population

Resident population of every country as of mid-year — series from 1960 onward.

Bulgaria by year Defense Military expenditure share of the budget

What part of government spending goes to defense.

Bulgaria by year Defense Arms exports

Transfers of major conventional weapons abroad, in SIPRI trend-indicator values (TIV).

Bulgaria by year Defense Arms imports

Purchases of major conventional weapons abroad.

Bulgaria by year
All indicators for Bulgaria