Data / Rankings / Government balance / EU countries

EU countries by government balance as a share of GDP

Malta had the highest government balance as a share of GDP of 27 EU countries in 2017, at 3.4% of GDP. France had the lowest, at -3.4% of GDP. The median was -0.3% of GDP and the figure for the European Union (27) was -0.9% of GDP. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest3.4Malta
Lowest-3.4France
Median-0.327 EU countries
European Union (27)-0.9History

All EU countries, 2017

CSVChart (SVG)

MaltaMalta: 3.4 % of GDP3.4CyprusCyprus: 2.1 % of GDP2.1DenmarkDenmark: 1.7 % of GDP1.7BulgariaBulgaria: 1.6 % of GDP1.6CzechiaCzechia: 1.5 % of GDP1.5LuxembourgLuxembourg: 1.4 % of GDP1.4NetherlandsNetherlands: 1.4 % of GDP1.4GermanyGermany: 1.3 % of GDP1.3SwedenSweden: 1.3 % of GDP1.3GreeceGreece: 0.7 % of GDP0.7CroatiaCroatia: 0.6 % of GDP0.6LithuaniaLithuania: 0.4 % of GDP0.4SloveniaSlovenia: 0.1 % of GDP0.1IrelandIreland: -0.3 % of GDP-0.3LatviaLatvia: -0.3 % of GDP-0.3EstoniaEstonia: -0.5 % of GDP-0.5FinlandFinland: -0.6 % of GDP-0.6AustriaAustria: -0.8 % of GDP-0.8BelgiumBelgium: -0.8 % of GDP-0.8SlovakiaSlovakia: -1 % of GDP-1PolandPoland: -1.5 % of GDP-1.5HungaryHungary: -2.5 % of GDP-2.5ItalyItaly: -2.5 % of GDP-2.5RomaniaRomania: -2.5 % of GDP-2.5PortugalPortugal: -3 % of GDP-3SpainSpain: -3.1 % of GDP-3.1FranceFrance: -3.4 % of GDP-3.4
% of GDP. Source: Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-10-07.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2017
% of GDP		Change on 2016
1Malta3.4+2.3 pts
2Cyprus2.1+1.6 pts
3Denmark1.7+1.4 pts
4Bulgaria1.6+1.3 pts
5Czechia1.5+0.8 pts
6Luxembourg1.4-0.5 pts
6Netherlands1.4+1.2 pts
8Germany1.3+0.2 pts
8Sweden1.3+0.5 pts
10Greece0.7+0.5 pts
11Croatia0.6+1.6 pts
12Lithuania0.4+0.4 pts
13Slovenia0.1+2.1 pts
14Ireland-0.3+0.5 pts
14Latvia-0.3-0.3 pts
16Estonia-0.5-0.4 pts
17Finland-0.6+1.1 pts
18Austria-0.8+0.7 pts
18Belgium-0.8+1.6 pts
20Slovakia-1+1.6 pts
21Poland-1.5+0.9 pts
22Hungary-2.5-0.7 pts
22Italy-2.5-0.1 pts
22Romania-2.50 pts
25Portugal-3-1.1 pts
26Spain-3.1+1.1 pts
27France-3.4+0.4 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?

Malta, with 3.4% of GDP in 2017, according to Eurostat, European Commission.

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

France, with -3.4% of GDP in 2017.

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