Bulgaria

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Previous reports: 2023/24




Conscription currently imposed? No

Suspended 2008 by amendment of the Defence and Armed Forces Act.

May be reinstated in the event of declaration of state of war, martial law or a state of emergency pursuant to Article 116 of the Act.1
Conscientious objection first recognised 1991

Constitution, Article 59.2

First implemented under Law for Replacement of Military Service with Alternative Service, 1998
CO release of professional soldiers – No specific provisions. Early release may be requested (see below).
Minimum recruitment age 18
Population 2
Total % males 15-19 Thus approx. annual cohort reaching 18
6,782,659 2.8% 37,983
Armed forces
Total strength Of which conscripts Compared to annual cohort above
36,950 – Total strength is 97.3% of cohort
Military expenditure
$ (% change from 2023) Per capita % of GDP
2,330m (+13.8%) $344 2.2%
  2. Population and armed forces figures are derived from The Military Balance 2025, published by the international Institute for Strategic Studies; military expenditure figures are estimates published by SIPRI (The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) in April 2025. ⤴
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