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 2024, at 4.5% of GDP. Romania had the lowest, at -9.3% of GDP. The median was -2.3% of GDP and the figure for the European Union (27) was -3.1% of GDP. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest4.5Denmark
Lowest-9.3Romania
Median-2.327 EU countries
European Union (27)-3.1History

All EU countries, 2024

CSVChart (SVG)

DenmarkDenmark: 4.5 % of GDP4.5CyprusCyprus: 4.1 % of GDP4.1IrelandIreland: 4.1 % of GDP4.1GreeceGreece: 1.3 % of GDP1.3LuxembourgLuxembourg: 0.9 % of GDP0.9PortugalPortugal: 0.6 % of GDP0.6NetherlandsNetherlands: -0.7 % of GDP-0.7SloveniaSlovenia: -0.9 % of GDP-0.9EstoniaEstonia: -1.1 % of GDP-1.1LithuaniaLithuania: -1.3 % of GDP-1.3SwedenSweden: -1.5 % of GDP-1.5LatviaLatvia: -1.8 % of GDP-1.8CzechiaCzechia: -2 % of GDP-2CroatiaCroatia: -2.3 % of GDP-2.3GermanyGermany: -2.7 % of GDP-2.7BulgariaBulgaria: -3 % of GDP-3SpainSpain: -3.2 % of GDP-3.2ItalyItaly: -3.4 % of GDP-3.4MaltaMalta: -3.4 % of GDP-3.4BelgiumBelgium: -4.4 % of GDP-4.4FinlandFinland: -4.4 % of GDP-4.4AustriaAustria: -4.6 % of GDP-4.6HungaryHungary: -5.1 % of GDP-5.1SlovakiaSlovakia: -5.3 % of GDP-5.3FranceFrance: -5.8 % of GDP-5.8PolandPoland: -6.4 % of GDP-6.4RomaniaRomania: -9.3 % of GDP-9.3
% of GDP. Source: Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-10-07.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2024
% of GDP		Change on 2023
1Denmark4.5+1.1 pts
2Cyprus4.1+2.4 pts
2Ireland4.1+2.7 pts
4Greece1.3+2.7 pts
5Luxembourg0.9+1.6 pts
6Portugal0.6-0.5 pts
7Netherlands-0.7-0.3 pts
8Slovenia-0.9+1.7 pts
9Estonia-1.1+1.6 pts
10Lithuania-1.3-0.6 pts
11Sweden-1.5-0.6 pts
12Latvia-1.8+0.5 pts
13Czechia-2+1.7 pts
14Croatia-2.3-1.2 pts
15Germany-2.7-0.2 pts
16Bulgaria-3-1 pts
17Spain-3.2+0.1 pts
18Italy-3.4+3.7 pts
18Malta-3.4+1 pts
20Belgium-4.4-0.3 pts
20Finland-4.4-1.5 pts
22Austria-4.6-2 pts
23Hungary-5.1+1.9 pts
24Slovakia-5.30 pts
25France-5.8-0.4 pts
26Poland-6.4-1.2 pts
27Romania-9.3-2.7 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 4.5% of GDP in 2024, according to Eurostat, European Commission.

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

Romania, with -9.3% of GDP in 2024.

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