Bulgaria's public debt fell to 5.1 billion euro at the end of February, down from 5.16 billion at the end of 2007, data released by Bulgaria's Finance Ministry on March 24 showed.

Domestic debt fell from 3.2 billion leva (1.64 billion euro) to 3.17 billion leva (1.62 billion euro) in that period, accounting for 31.8 per cent of the total, while foreign debt fell from 3.53 billion euro to 3.48 billion, accounting for 68.2 per cent of the of the total.

The ratio of public debt to gross domestic product (GDP) was 16.1 per cent, a decrease of 0.2 percentage points compared to end-January, the ministry said.

Since the start of the year, Bulgaria has paid 433 million leva in interest and principal on its public debt.