Hungary's ESA-based budget deficit was 5.5 percent of GDP in 2007, lower than the widely expected 5.7 percent, according to a report the Central Statistical Office KSH is to submit to Eustat, online news portal index.hu reported on Friday.

Hungarian Finance Minister Janos Veres said in January the deficit would be in the 5.5 to 5.8 percent range, most likely at 5.7 percent of GDP.

The Finance Ministry's calculations are unrelated to those of the KSH, but the ministry believes last year's budget deficit will be within the range cited by the minister, ministry spokesman Ferenc Pichler told MTI.