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 2022, at 3.4% of GDP. Italy had the lowest, at -8.1% of GDP. The median was -2.6% of GDP and the figure for the European Union (27) was -3.2% of GDP. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest3.4Denmark
Lowest-8.1Italy
Median-2.627 EU countries
European Union (27)-3.2History

All EU countries, 2022

CSVChart (SVG)

DenmarkDenmark: 3.4 % of GDP3.4CyprusCyprus: 2.7 % of GDP2.7IrelandIreland: 1.6 % of GDP1.6SwedenSweden: 1 % of GDP1LuxembourgLuxembourg: 0.2 % of GDP0.2CroatiaCroatia: 0 % of GDP0NetherlandsNetherlands: 0 % of GDP0FinlandFinland: -0.2 % of GDP-0.2PortugalPortugal: -0.3 % of GDP-0.3LithuaniaLithuania: -0.7 % of GDP-0.7EstoniaEstonia: -0.9 % of GDP-0.9SlovakiaSlovakia: -1.6 % of GDP-1.6GermanyGermany: -1.9 % of GDP-1.9GreeceGreece: -2.6 % of GDP-2.6BulgariaBulgaria: -2.9 % of GDP-2.9SloveniaSlovenia: -3 % of GDP-3CzechiaCzechia: -3.1 % of GDP-3.1AustriaAustria: -3.4 % of GDP-3.4PolandPoland: -3.4 % of GDP-3.4BelgiumBelgium: -3.5 % of GDP-3.5SpainSpain: -4.6 % of GDP-4.6FranceFrance: -4.7 % of GDP-4.7LatviaLatvia: -4.9 % of GDP-4.9MaltaMalta: -5.3 % of GDP-5.3HungaryHungary: -6.2 % of GDP-6.2RomaniaRomania: -6.5 % of GDP-6.5ItalyItaly: -8.1 % of GDP-8.1
% of GDP. Source: Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-10-07.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2022
% of GDP		Change on 2021
1Denmark3.4-0.7 pts
2Cyprus2.7+4.3 pts
3Ireland1.6+2.9 pts
4Sweden1+1.2 pts
5Luxembourg0.2-0.9 pts
6Croatia0+2.6 pts
6Netherlands0+2.3 pts
8Finland-0.2+2.5 pts
9Portugal-0.3+2.5 pts
10Lithuania-0.7+0.4 pts
11Estonia-0.9+1.6 pts
12Slovakia-1.6+3.5 pts
13Germany-1.9+1.3 pts
14Greece-2.6+4.6 pts
15Bulgaria-2.9+1.1 pts
16Slovenia-3+1.6 pts
17Czechia-3.1+1.9 pts
18Austria-3.4+2.3 pts
18Poland-3.4-1.7 pts
20Belgium-3.5+1.9 pts
21Spain-4.6+2.1 pts
22France-4.7+1.9 pts
23Latvia-4.9+2.3 pts
24Malta-5.3+1.6 pts
25Hungary-6.2+0.9 pts
26Romania-6.5+0.7 pts
27Italy-8.1+0.8 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 3.4% of GDP in 2022, according to Eurostat, European Commission.

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

Italy, with -8.1% of GDP in 2022.

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