Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2026 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria is 60th in 2018 SIPRI ranking

Photo: BGNES

Bulgaria ranks 16th out of all 30 NATO member states in terms of military expenditures per capita. This country places 15th in the EU ranking and 60th in a complex gobal ranking based on 55 criteria, data of SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Yearbook) 2018 shows. Bulgaria spends 1.55% of its GDP on defense. This country is far ahead of Germany, Spain, Belgium and Canada under this indicator. Bulgaria’s neighbors Greece and Turkey rank 9th and 29th in the 2018 ranking of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Romania places 40th, Serbia occupies the 78th position and North Macedonia places 118th in the ranking of 136 countries. Bulgaria spends 20.3% of its defense budget on military equipment. NATO recommends that its member states should spend at least 20% of their defense budget on military equipment. 58% of Bulgaria’s military budget is spent on military staff.




Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

A warning for dangerous rainfall has been issued for 12 regions in Southern Bulgaria

On Friday, the lowest temperatures will be between 4°C and 9°C, reaching up to 12°C in the southeast, around 6°C in Sofia . During the next 24 hours, the weather will remain cloudy. It will rain in almost the entire country. During the day, rainfall..

published on 11/27/25 6:45 PM

Varna mayor Blagomir Kotsev released pending trial on €102,258 bond

The Varna District Court has released the city’s mayor, Blagomir Kotsev, on a financial bond of €102,258. Before the court’s decision was announced, supporters of the mayor and members of the We Continue the Change party gathered outside the..

published on 11/27/25 5:37 PM

Three detained and five police officers injured at last night's protest in Sofia

Three people, including an Italian citizen, were arrested during last night's protest against the adoption of the 2026 budget in front of the National Assembly, the director of the Sofia Directorate of Internal Affairs, Chief Commissioner Lyubomir..

published on 11/27/25 3:50 PM