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 2019, at 4.3% of GDP. Romania had the lowest, at -4.4% of GDP. The median was 0.3% of GDP and the figure for the European Union (27) was -0.5% of GDP. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest4.3Denmark
Lowest-4.4Romania
Median0.327 EU countries
European Union (27)-0.5History

All EU countries, 2019

CSVChart (SVG)

DenmarkDenmark: 4.3 % of GDP4.3LuxembourgLuxembourg: 2.7 % of GDP2.7BulgariaBulgaria: 2.2 % of GDP2.2NetherlandsNetherlands: 1.9 % of GDP1.9GermanyGermany: 1.3 % of GDP1.3CyprusCyprus: 1 % of GDP1GreeceGreece: 0.8 % of GDP0.8MaltaMalta: 0.8 % of GDP0.8SloveniaSlovenia: 0.7 % of GDP0.7AustriaAustria: 0.5 % of GDP0.5IrelandIreland: 0.4 % of GDP0.4LithuaniaLithuania: 0.4 % of GDP0.4SwedenSweden: 0.4 % of GDP0.4CzechiaCzechia: 0.3 % of GDP0.3CroatiaCroatia: 0.2 % of GDP0.2PortugalPortugal: 0.1 % of GDP0.1EstoniaEstonia: -0.1 % of GDP-0.1LatviaLatvia: -0.2 % of GDP-0.2PolandPoland: -0.7 % of GDP-0.7FinlandFinland: -0.9 % of GDP-0.9SlovakiaSlovakia: -1.2 % of GDP-1.2ItalyItaly: -1.5 % of GDP-1.5BelgiumBelgium: -2 % of GDP-2HungaryHungary: -2 % of GDP-2FranceFrance: -2.4 % of GDP-2.4SpainSpain: -3.1 % of GDP-3.1RomaniaRomania: -4.4 % of GDP-4.4
% of GDP. Source: Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-10-07.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2019
% of GDP		Change on 2018
1Denmark4.3+3.5 pts
2Luxembourg2.7-0.5 pts
3Bulgaria2.2+0.5 pts
4Netherlands1.9+0.4 pts
5Germany1.3-0.6 pts
6Cyprus1+4.4 pts
7Greece0.8-0.1 pts
7Malta0.8-1.1 pts
9Slovenia0.7-0.2 pts
10Austria0.5+0.3 pts
11Ireland0.4+0.3 pts
11Lithuania0.4-0.1 pts
11Sweden0.4-0.3 pts
14Czechia0.3-0.6 pts
15Croatia0.2+0.3 pts
16Portugal0.1+0.5 pts
17Estonia-0.1+0.5 pts
18Latvia-0.2+1.2 pts
19Poland-0.7-0.5 pts
20Finland-0.90 pts
21Slovakia-1.2-0.2 pts
22Italy-1.5+0.7 pts
23Belgium-2-1 pts
23Hungary-20 pts
25France-2.4-0.1 pts
26Spain-3.1-0.5 pts
27Romania-4.4-1.6 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 4.3% of GDP in 2019, according to Eurostat, European Commission.

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

Romania, with -4.4% of GDP in 2019.

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