Data / Rankings / Government balance / EU countries

EU countries by government balance as a share of GDP

Denmark had the highest government balance as a share of GDP of 27 EU countries in 2014, at 1.4% of GDP. Cyprus had the lowest, at -8.8% of GDP. The median was -2.8% of GDP and the figure for the European Union (27) was -2.4% of GDP. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest1.4Denmark
Lowest-8.8Cyprus
Median-2.827 EU countries
European Union (27)-2.4History

All EU countries, 2014

CSVChart (SVG)

DenmarkDenmark: 1.4 % of GDP1.4LuxembourgLuxembourg: 1.3 % of GDP1.3EstoniaEstonia: 0.9 % of GDP0.9GermanyGermany: 0.7 % of GDP0.7RomaniaRomania: -1.2 % of GDP-1.2MaltaMalta: -1.5 % of GDP-1.5LatviaLatvia: -1.7 % of GDP-1.7LithuaniaLithuania: -1.8 % of GDP-1.8AustriaAustria: -1.9 % of GDP-1.9SwedenSweden: -1.9 % of GDP-1.9CzechiaCzechia: -2.1 % of GDP-2.1NetherlandsNetherlands: -2.2 % of GDP-2.2HungaryHungary: -2.8 % of GDP-2.8ItalyItaly: -2.8 % of GDP-2.8FinlandFinland: -3 % of GDP-3BelgiumBelgium: -3.2 % of GDP-3.2SlovakiaSlovakia: -3.2 % of GDP-3.2IrelandIreland: -3.5 % of GDP-3.5PolandPoland: -3.7 % of GDP-3.7GreeceGreece: -3.8 % of GDP-3.8SloveniaSlovenia: -4.5 % of GDP-4.5FranceFrance: -4.6 % of GDP-4.6CroatiaCroatia: -5.1 % of GDP-5.1BulgariaBulgaria: -5.4 % of GDP-5.4SpainSpain: -6 % of GDP-6PortugalPortugal: -7.4 % of GDP-7.4CyprusCyprus: -8.8 % of GDP-8.8
% of GDP. Source: Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-10-07.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2014
% of GDP		Change on 2013
1Denmark1.4+2.3 pts
2Luxembourg1.3+0.5 pts
3Estonia0.9+1.1 pts
4Germany0.7+0.6 pts
5Romania-1.2+1.1 pts
6Malta-1.5+0.7 pts
7Latvia-1.7-0.4 pts
8Lithuania-1.8+0.9 pts
9Austria-1.9+0.1 pts
9Sweden-1.9-0.3 pts
11Czechia-2.1-0.8 pts
12Netherlands-2.2+0.7 pts
13Hungary-2.8-0.2 pts
13Italy-2.8+0.1 pts
15Finland-3-0.5 pts
16Belgium-3.20 pts
16Slovakia-3.2-0.3 pts
18Ireland-3.5+2.8 pts
19Poland-3.7+0.5 pts
20Greece-3.8+9.8 pts
21Slovenia-4.5+6.7 pts
22France-4.6+0.3 pts
23Croatia-5.1+0.4 pts
24Bulgaria-5.4-4.7 pts
25Spain-6+1.5 pts
26Portugal-7.4-2.2 pts
27Cyprus-8.8-3.2 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

General government net lending (+) or net borrowing (-) as a percentage of GDP.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the EU countries are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

Eurostat. Government deficit and debt, net lending or borrowing (gov_10dd_edpt1). https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/gov_10dd_edpt1/default/table. Retrieved 2026-10-07.

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Questions

Which EU country has the highest government balance as a share of GDP?

Denmark, with 1.4% of GDP in 2014, according to Eurostat, European Commission.

Which EU country has the lowest government balance as a share of GDP?

Cyprus, with -8.8% of GDP in 2014.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: Eurostat, European Commission, Government deficit and debt, net lending or borrowing (gov_10dd_edpt1). Retrieved 2026-10-07.

EU countries: more rankings