Data / Public finance / The EU

Public finance in the EU

The latest figures for 5 indicators in the EU, how the EU countries compare, and the source of each figure.

Figures last updated on 2026-10-12.

General government gross debt, national accounts

Of 22 EU countries in 2025, Greece had the highest general government gross debt (162.1% of GDP) and Luxembourg the lowest (32.2% of GDP).

Highest, 2025162.1% of GDPGreece
Lowest, 202532.2% of GDPLuxembourg
Greece: 162.1 % of GDPGreece162.1Italy: 148.7 % of GDPItaly148.7France: 116.2 % of GDPFrance116.2Belgium: 108.6 % of GDPBelgium108.6Spain: 106.6 % of GDPSpain106.6Portugal: 93.4 % of GDPPortugal93.4Finland: 88.7 % of GDPFinland88.7Austria: 82.8 % of GDPAustria82.8Hungary: 81 % of GDPHungary81Poland: 72.9 % of GDPPoland72.9
Top 10 EU countries, 2025. % of GDP. Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Highest and lowest EU countries

Full ranking of EU countries. Sources: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD National Accounts at a Glance: gross debt of general government, percentage of GDP (DSD_NAAG_VI@DF_NAAG_VI, LES13_FD4).

Government debt

Government debt as a share of GDP in the EU was 81.7% of GDP in 2025, up 1 percentage point from 2024.

Of 27 EU countries in 2025, Greece had the highest government debt as a share of GDP (146.1% of GDP) and Estonia the lowest (24.1% of GDP).

European Union (27), 202581.7% of GDPUp 1 percentage point from 2024History
Highest, 2025146.1% of GDPGreece
Lowest, 202524.1% of GDPEstonia
Greece: 146.1 % of GDPGreece146.1Italy: 137.1 % of GDPItaly137.1France: 115.6 % of GDPFrance115.6Belgium: 107.9 % of GDPBelgium107.9Spain: 100.7 % of GDPSpain100.7Portugal: 89.7 % of GDPPortugal89.7Finland: 88.5 % of GDPFinland88.5Austria: 81.5 % of GDPAustria81.5Hungary: 74.6 % of GDPHungary74.6Slovenia: 65.7 % of GDPSlovenia65.7
Top 10 EU countries, 2025. % of GDP. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest and lowest EU countries

Full ranking of EU countries. Sources: Eurostat, European Commission, Government deficit and debt (gov_10dd_edpt1).

Government balance

Government balance as a share of GDP in the EU was -3.1% of GDP in 2025, unchanged from 2024.

Of 27 EU countries in 2025, Cyprus had the highest government balance as a share of GDP (3.4% of GDP) and Romania the lowest (-7.9% of GDP).

European Union (27), 2025-3.1% of GDPUnchanged from 2024History
Highest, 20253.4% of GDPCyprus
Lowest, 2025-7.9% of GDPRomania
Cyprus: 3.4 % of GDPCyprus3.4Denmark: 2.9 % of GDPDenmark2.9Ireland: 1.8 % of GDPIreland1.8Greece: 1.7 % of GDPGreece1.7Portugal: 0.7 % of GDPPortugal0.7Sweden: -1.3 % of GDPSweden-1.3Netherlands: -1.6 % of GDPNetherlands-1.6Lithuania: -1.8 % of GDPLithuania-1.8Estonia: -2 % of GDPEstonia-2Luxembourg: -2 % of GDPLuxembourg-2
Top 10 EU countries, 2025. % of GDP. Source: Eurostat, European Commission.

Highest and lowest EU countries

Full ranking of EU countries. Sources: Eurostat, European Commission, Government deficit and debt, net lending or borrowing (gov_10dd_edpt1).

Military expenditure

Of 27 EU countries in 2025, Poland had the highest military spending as a share of GDP (4.5% of GDP) and Ireland the lowest (0.2% of GDP).

Highest, 20254.5% of GDPPoland
Lowest, 20250.2% of GDPIreland
Poland: 4.5 % of GDPPoland4.5Latvia: 3.6 % of GDPLatvia3.6Estonia: 3.4 % of GDPEstonia3.4Denmark: 3.3 % of GDPDenmark3.3Lithuania: 3.1 % of GDPLithuania3.1Greece: 3 % of GDPGreece3Finland: 2.6 % of GDPFinland2.6Sweden: 2.5 % of GDPSweden2.5Romania: 2.3 % of GDPRomania2.3Germany: 2.3 % of GDPGermany2.3
Top 10 EU countries, 2025. % of GDP. Source: World Bank.

Highest and lowest EU countries

Full ranking of EU countries. Sources: World Bank, Military expenditure, % of GDP (MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS).

Government spending on education (COFOG)

Government spending on education (COFOG) in the EU was 4.7% of GDP in 2024, unchanged from 2023.

Of 27 EU countries in 2024, Sweden had the highest government spending on education (7.3% of GDP) and Ireland the lowest (2.7% of GDP).

European Union (27), 20244.7% of GDPUnchanged from 2023History
Highest, 20247.3% of GDPSweden
Lowest, 20242.7% of GDPIreland

Highest and lowest EU countries

Full ranking of EU countries. Sources: Eurostat, European Commission, General government expenditure by function (COFOG), education, total general government expenditure, percentage of GDP (gov_10a_exp).

Sources and citations

Each figure comes from the table cited here. Cite the publisher; these citations include any notice the publisher requires.

  1. OECD. OECD National Accounts at a Glance: gross debt of general government, percentage of GDP (DSD_NAAG_VI@DF_NAAG_VI, LES13_FD4). https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_NAAG_VI%40DF_NAAG_VI&df[ag]=OECD.SDD.NAD. Accessed 2026-10-12. Data reuse terms and downstream attribution: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/terms-conditions.html
  2. Eurostat. Government deficit and debt (gov_10dd_edpt1). https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/gov_10dd_edpt1/default/table. Retrieved 2026-10-07.
  3. 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.
  4. World Bank, World Development Indicators. Military expenditure, % of GDP (MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS. Retrieved 2026-10-09. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
  5. Eurostat. General government expenditure by function (COFOG), education, total general government expenditure, percentage of GDP (gov_10a_exp). https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/gov_10a_exp/default/table. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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