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 2016, at 1.9% of GDP. Spain had the lowest, at -4.2% of GDP. The median was -0.8% of GDP and the figure for the European Union (27) was -1.4% of GDP. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest1.9Luxembourg
Lowest-4.2Spain
Median-0.827 EU countries
European Union (27)-1.4History

All EU countries, 2016

CSVChart (SVG)

LuxembourgLuxembourg: 1.9 % of GDP1.9GermanyGermany: 1.1 % of GDP1.1MaltaMalta: 1.1 % of GDP1.1SwedenSweden: 0.8 % of GDP0.8CzechiaCzechia: 0.7 % of GDP0.7CyprusCyprus: 0.5 % of GDP0.5BulgariaBulgaria: 0.3 % of GDP0.3DenmarkDenmark: 0.3 % of GDP0.3GreeceGreece: 0.2 % of GDP0.2NetherlandsNetherlands: 0.2 % of GDP0.2LatviaLatvia: 0 % of GDP0LithuaniaLithuania: 0 % of GDP0EstoniaEstonia: -0.1 % of GDP-0.1IrelandIreland: -0.8 % of GDP-0.8CroatiaCroatia: -1 % of GDP-1AustriaAustria: -1.5 % of GDP-1.5FinlandFinland: -1.7 % of GDP-1.7HungaryHungary: -1.8 % of GDP-1.8PortugalPortugal: -1.9 % of GDP-1.9SloveniaSlovenia: -2 % of GDP-2BelgiumBelgium: -2.4 % of GDP-2.4ItalyItaly: -2.4 % of GDP-2.4PolandPoland: -2.4 % of GDP-2.4RomaniaRomania: -2.5 % of GDP-2.5SlovakiaSlovakia: -2.6 % of GDP-2.6FranceFrance: -3.8 % of GDP-3.8SpainSpain: -4.2 % of GDP-4.2
% of GDP. Source: Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-10-07.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2016
% of GDP		Change on 2015
1Luxembourg1.9+0.6 pts
2Germany1.1+0.2 pts
2Malta1.1+1.9 pts
4Sweden0.8+1.1 pts
5Czechia0.7+1.4 pts
6Cyprus0.5+1.3 pts
7Bulgaria0.3+2.2 pts
7Denmark0.3+1.2 pts
9Greece0.2+6.1 pts
9Netherlands0.2+2 pts
11Latvia0+1.5 pts
11Lithuania0+0.8 pts
13Estonia-0.1-0.3 pts
14Ireland-0.8+1.2 pts
15Croatia-1+2.5 pts
16Austria-1.5-1 pts
17Finland-1.7+0.7 pts
18Hungary-1.8+0.2 pts
19Portugal-1.9+2.6 pts
20Slovenia-2+0.8 pts
21Belgium-2.4+0.1 pts
21Italy-2.4+0.1 pts
21Poland-2.4+0.2 pts
24Romania-2.5-2 pts
25Slovakia-2.6+0.2 pts
26France-3.8+0.1 pts
27Spain-4.2+1.1 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 1.9% of GDP in 2016, according to Eurostat, European Commission.

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

Spain, with -4.2% of GDP in 2016.

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