08.07.2009

The government debt decreased by EUR 87.7 million at end-May according to the data in the official register kept by the Ministry of Finance. At the end of May the government debt amounted to EUR 4789.2 million of which EUR 1435.2 million domestic government debt and EUR 3353.9 million external government debt. The debt reduction is due mainly to exchange rate differences.

The government guaranteed debt in May was EUR 617.3 million; its reduction is also due mainly to exchange rate differences.

At the end of the reported period the government debt/ GDP* ratio is 12.7%, the reduction being 0.3 percentage points compared to April. This indicator comprises external government debt - 8.9%, and domestic government debt - 3.8% of GDP. The government guaranteed debt/GDP is 1.6%.

In the government debt structure at the end of the period domestic debt accounted for 30%, and external debt accounted for 70%.

The debt payments made in May amount to BGN 120.2 million of which: BGN 16.0 million external and BGN 104.0 million domestic debt. As regards the currency composition of payments the greatest is the BGN share - 59.5%, followed by those in Euro - 29% and US$  - 11.0%.

The monthly Government Debt bulletin is available on the Ministry of Finance website in Government Debt and Financial Markets/Statistics section.

*Forecast GDP data for 2009.