Bulgarian Armed Forces: Land Forces (Army), Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air Forces (Voennovazdushni Sili, VVS), Joint Special Forces; Ministry of Interior: Border Guards (2021)
1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
3.15% of GDP (2019)
1.45% of GDP (2018)
1.23% of GDP (2017)
1.25% of GDP (2016)
the Bulgarian Armed Forces have approximately 30,000 active duty personnel (16,000 Army; 4,000 Navy; 7,000 Air Force; 3,000 other, joint staff, support) (2021)
the Bulgarian Armed Forces inventory consists primarily of Soviet-era equipment, although in recent years Bulgaria has procured limited amounts of more modern weapons systems from Western countries, including France, Italy, Norway, and the US (2020)
120 Afghanistan (NATO) (2021)
18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription ended in 2007; service obligation 6-9 months (2019)
Bulgaria officially became a member of NATO in 2004
NOTE: The information regarding Bulgaria on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Bulgaria 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Bulgaria 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.
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