Bulgaria's gross domestic product in the first half of 2007 grew by 6.4 percent over the same period last year, the National Statistics Institute said September 18 2007.

The country's GDP in the first half stood at 24.47 billion leva, the International Herald Tribune quoted the institute's press statement.

The growth was achieved mainly through the 9.1 percent expansion of industry and 8.8 percent increase in the services sector over the same period of 2006, it said.

According to the institute, GDP per capita in the first quarter was 3179 leva.

Bulgaria's economy last year grew by 6.1 percent, and the government has projected 5.8 percent growth for 2007.

The current unemployment rate in Bulgaria was seven per cent, according to government data released on September 18. Last year's average unemployment rate was 9.61 percent.