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 2020, at 0.4% of GDP. Spain had the lowest, at -9.9% of GDP. The median was -5.8% of GDP and the figure for the European Union (27) was -6.7% of GDP. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest0.4Denmark
Lowest-9.9Spain
Median-5.827 EU countries
European Union (27)-6.7History

All EU countries, 2020

CSVChart (SVG)

DenmarkDenmark: 0.4 % of GDP0.4LuxembourgLuxembourg: -3.1 % of GDP-3.1SwedenSweden: -3.2 % of GDP-3.2NetherlandsNetherlands: -3.7 % of GDP-3.7BulgariaBulgaria: -3.8 % of GDP-3.8LatviaLatvia: -4.1 % of GDP-4.1GermanyGermany: -4.4 % of GDP-4.4IrelandIreland: -5 % of GDP-5SlovakiaSlovakia: -5.3 % of GDP-5.3EstoniaEstonia: -5.4 % of GDP-5.4FinlandFinland: -5.5 % of GDP-5.5CyprusCyprus: -5.6 % of GDP-5.6CzechiaCzechia: -5.6 % of GDP-5.6PortugalPortugal: -5.8 % of GDP-5.8LithuaniaLithuania: -6.4 % of GDP-6.4PolandPoland: -6.9 % of GDP-6.9CroatiaCroatia: -7.2 % of GDP-7.2HungaryHungary: -7.5 % of GDP-7.5SloveniaSlovenia: -7.7 % of GDP-7.7AustriaAustria: -8.2 % of GDP-8.2MaltaMalta: -8.7 % of GDP-8.7FranceFrance: -8.9 % of GDP-8.9BelgiumBelgium: -9 % of GDP-9RomaniaRomania: -9.3 % of GDP-9.3ItalyItaly: -9.4 % of GDP-9.4GreeceGreece: -9.9 % of GDP-9.9SpainSpain: -9.9 % of GDP-9.9
% of GDP. Source: Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-10-07.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2020
% of GDP		Change on 2019
1Denmark0.4-3.9 pts
2Luxembourg-3.1-5.8 pts
3Sweden-3.2-3.6 pts
4Netherlands-3.7-5.6 pts
5Bulgaria-3.8-6 pts
6Latvia-4.1-3.9 pts
7Germany-4.4-5.7 pts
8Ireland-5-5.4 pts
9Slovakia-5.3-4.1 pts
10Estonia-5.4-5.3 pts
11Finland-5.5-4.6 pts
12Cyprus-5.6-6.6 pts
12Czechia-5.6-5.9 pts
14Portugal-5.8-5.9 pts
15Lithuania-6.4-6.8 pts
16Poland-6.9-6.2 pts
17Croatia-7.2-7.4 pts
18Hungary-7.5-5.5 pts
19Slovenia-7.7-8.4 pts
20Austria-8.2-8.7 pts
21Malta-8.7-9.5 pts
22France-8.9-6.5 pts
23Belgium-9-7 pts
24Romania-9.3-4.9 pts
25Italy-9.4-7.9 pts
26Greece-9.9-10.7 pts
26Spain-9.9-6.8 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 0.4% of GDP in 2020, according to Eurostat, European Commission.

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

Spain, with -9.9% of GDP in 2020.

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