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 2021, at 4.1% of GDP. Italy had the lowest, at -8.9% of GDP. The median was -4% of GDP and the figure for the European Union (27) was -4.6% of GDP. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest4.1Denmark
Lowest-8.9Italy
Median-427 EU countries
European Union (27)-4.6History

All EU countries, 2021

CSVChart (SVG)

DenmarkDenmark: 4.1 % of GDP4.1LuxembourgLuxembourg: 1.1 % of GDP1.1SwedenSweden: -0.2 % of GDP-0.2LithuaniaLithuania: -1.1 % of GDP-1.1IrelandIreland: -1.3 % of GDP-1.3CyprusCyprus: -1.6 % of GDP-1.6PolandPoland: -1.7 % of GDP-1.7NetherlandsNetherlands: -2.3 % of GDP-2.3EstoniaEstonia: -2.5 % of GDP-2.5CroatiaCroatia: -2.6 % of GDP-2.6FinlandFinland: -2.7 % of GDP-2.7PortugalPortugal: -2.8 % of GDP-2.8GermanyGermany: -3.2 % of GDP-3.2BulgariaBulgaria: -4 % of GDP-4SloveniaSlovenia: -4.6 % of GDP-4.6CzechiaCzechia: -5 % of GDP-5SlovakiaSlovakia: -5.1 % of GDP-5.1BelgiumBelgium: -5.4 % of GDP-5.4AustriaAustria: -5.7 % of GDP-5.7FranceFrance: -6.6 % of GDP-6.6SpainSpain: -6.7 % of GDP-6.7MaltaMalta: -6.9 % of GDP-6.9HungaryHungary: -7.1 % of GDP-7.1GreeceGreece: -7.2 % of GDP-7.2LatviaLatvia: -7.2 % of GDP-7.2RomaniaRomania: -7.2 % of GDP-7.2ItalyItaly: -8.9 % of GDP-8.9
% of GDP. Source: Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-10-07.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2021
% of GDP		Change on 2020
1Denmark4.1+3.7 pts
2Luxembourg1.1+4.2 pts
3Sweden-0.2+3 pts
4Lithuania-1.1+5.3 pts
5Ireland-1.3+3.7 pts
6Cyprus-1.6+4 pts
7Poland-1.7+5.2 pts
8Netherlands-2.3+1.4 pts
9Estonia-2.5+2.9 pts
10Croatia-2.6+4.6 pts
11Finland-2.7+2.8 pts
12Portugal-2.8+3 pts
13Germany-3.2+1.2 pts
14Bulgaria-4-0.2 pts
15Slovenia-4.6+3.1 pts
16Czechia-5+0.6 pts
17Slovakia-5.1+0.2 pts
18Belgium-5.4+3.6 pts
19Austria-5.7+2.5 pts
20France-6.6+2.3 pts
21Spain-6.7+3.2 pts
22Malta-6.9+1.8 pts
23Hungary-7.1+0.4 pts
24Greece-7.2+2.7 pts
24Latvia-7.2-3.1 pts
24Romania-7.2+2.1 pts
27Italy-8.9+0.5 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 4.1% of GDP in 2021, according to Eurostat, European Commission.

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

Italy, with -8.9% of GDP in 2021.

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