Bulgaria's GDP down 5.1 percent in 2009

The poorest country in the European Union's GDP totaled 66.19 billion leva, or $45.9 billion, the agency reported.

Much of the loss was attributed to the fourth quarter, in which the country recorded a 6.2 percent decline compared with a 3.5 percent increase a year earlier, the Sofia News Agency reported.

Despite the annual decline, it was less severe than the International Monetary Fund's forecast of a 6.5 percent drop, the agency reported.

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