Data / Rankings / Government balance / EU countries

EU countries by government balance as a share of GDP

Luxembourg had the highest government balance as a share of GDP of 27 EU countries in 2015, at 1.3% of GDP. Greece had the lowest, at -5.9% of GDP. The median was -1.9% of GDP and the figure for the European Union (27) was -1.9% of GDP. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest1.3Luxembourg
Lowest-5.9Greece
Median-1.927 EU countries
European Union (27)-1.9History

All EU countries, 2015

CSVChart (SVG)

LuxembourgLuxembourg: 1.3 % of GDP1.3GermanyGermany: 0.9 % of GDP0.9EstoniaEstonia: 0.2 % of GDP0.2SwedenSweden: -0.3 % of GDP-0.3AustriaAustria: -0.5 % of GDP-0.5RomaniaRomania: -0.5 % of GDP-0.5CzechiaCzechia: -0.7 % of GDP-0.7CyprusCyprus: -0.8 % of GDP-0.8LithuaniaLithuania: -0.8 % of GDP-0.8MaltaMalta: -0.8 % of GDP-0.8DenmarkDenmark: -0.9 % of GDP-0.9LatviaLatvia: -1.5 % of GDP-1.5NetherlandsNetherlands: -1.8 % of GDP-1.8BulgariaBulgaria: -1.9 % of GDP-1.9HungaryHungary: -2 % of GDP-2IrelandIreland: -2 % of GDP-2FinlandFinland: -2.4 % of GDP-2.4BelgiumBelgium: -2.5 % of GDP-2.5ItalyItaly: -2.5 % of GDP-2.5PolandPoland: -2.6 % of GDP-2.6SlovakiaSlovakia: -2.8 % of GDP-2.8SloveniaSlovenia: -2.8 % of GDP-2.8CroatiaCroatia: -3.5 % of GDP-3.5FranceFrance: -3.9 % of GDP-3.9PortugalPortugal: -4.5 % of GDP-4.5SpainSpain: -5.3 % of GDP-5.3GreeceGreece: -5.9 % of GDP-5.9
% of GDP. Source: Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-10-07.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2015
% of GDP		Change on 2014
1Luxembourg1.30 pts
2Germany0.9+0.2 pts
3Estonia0.2-0.7 pts
4Sweden-0.3+1.6 pts
5Austria-0.5+1.4 pts
5Romania-0.5+0.7 pts
7Czechia-0.7+1.4 pts
8Cyprus-0.8+8 pts
8Lithuania-0.8+1 pts
8Malta-0.8+0.7 pts
11Denmark-0.9-2.3 pts
12Latvia-1.5+0.2 pts
13Netherlands-1.8+0.4 pts
14Bulgaria-1.9+3.5 pts
15Hungary-2+0.8 pts
15Ireland-2+1.5 pts
17Finland-2.4+0.6 pts
18Belgium-2.5+0.7 pts
18Italy-2.5+0.3 pts
20Poland-2.6+1.1 pts
21Slovakia-2.8+0.4 pts
21Slovenia-2.8+1.7 pts
23Croatia-3.5+1.6 pts
24France-3.9+0.7 pts
25Portugal-4.5+2.9 pts
26Spain-5.3+0.7 pts
27Greece-5.9-2.1 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?

Luxembourg, with 1.3% of GDP in 2015, according to Eurostat, European Commission.

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

Greece, with -5.9% of GDP in 2015.

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