Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria meets NATO's target of spending at least 2% of GDP on defense

Mark Rutte
Photo: BTA-archive

In 2024, Bulgaria spent USD 2.208 billion (3.964 billion BGN), or 2.04% of its GDP, on defense, reads the annual report of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. For the first time, the country has met the NATO target set in 2014, which requires each member state to spend at least 2% of its GDP on defense. Back in 2024, NATO members agreed to commit t least 2% of their GDP on defense following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

According to the report, Bulgaria's GDP for 2024 is USD 108.425 billion, which translates to USD 14,200 per capita, meaning USD 289 per person was spent on defense. 16 NATO countries spend more than Bulgaria on defense. Bulgaria’s defense spending is on par with Albania. Poland is NATO’s biggest defense spender- 4.07% of the GDP. Spain is the alliance's lowest defense spender, setting aside just 1.28% of its GDP on the military in 2024. The Unites States spend 3.19% of its GDP on defense, reports the BNR’s correspondent in Brussels Angelina Piskova.




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

Parliament sets up ad-hoc committee to investigate Soros’ activities in Bulgaria

With 111 votes for, 51 against and 43 abstained, the National Assembly approved the establishment of an ad-hoc committee to investigate the activities of George Soros and his son Alexander Soros and their foundations in this country financing..

published on 11/5/25 3:15 PM
Representatives of businesses explaining their boycott

Businesses boycott discussion of budget 2026, describe it as “leftist”

Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev cancelled the meeting, scheduled for today, of the National Tripartite Council on the draft budget for 2006 after, in an unprecedented move, businesses decided not to take..

published on 11/5/25 2:46 PM

EC puts forward plan for developing high-speed rail Bucharest-Sofia-Athens

The European Commission has presented a proposal for developing high-speed railway lines within the EU until 2040, linking the capitals in the EU, among them a direct link Bucharest-Sofia-Athens. According to the plan, using the trans-European..

published on 11/5/25 1:20 PM