In 2009, the government deficit and government debt of both the euro area (EA16) and the EU27 increased compared with 2008, while GDP fell. In the euro area the government deficit to GDP ratio increased from 2.0% in 2008 to 6.3% in 2009, and in the EU27 from 2.3% to 6.8%. In the euro area the government debt to GDP ratio increased from 69.4% at the end of 2008 to 78.7% at the end of 2009, and in the EU27 from 61.6% to 73.6%.

In 2009 the largest government deficits in percentage of GDP were recorded by Ireland (-14.3%), Greece (-13.6%) the United Kingdom (-11.5%), Spain (-11.2%), Portugal (-9.4%), Latvia (-9.0%), Lithuania (-8.9%), Romania (-8.3%), France (-7.5%) and Poland (-7.1%). No Member State registered a government surplus in 2009. The lowest deficits were recorded by Sweden (-0.5%), Luxembourg (-0.7%) and Estonia (-1.7%). In all, 25 Member States recorded a worsening in their government balance relative to GDP in 2009 compared with 2008, and two (Estonia and Malta) an improvement.

At the end of 2009, the lowest ratios of government debt to GDP were recorded in Estonia (7.2%), Luxembourg (14.5%), Bulgaria (14.8%), Romania (23.7%), Lithuania (29.3%) and the Czech Republic (35.4%). Twelve Member States had government debt ratios higher than 60% of GDP in 2009: Italy (115.8%), Greece (115.1%), Belgium (96.7%), Hungary (78.3%), France (77.6%), Portugal (76.8%), Germany (73.2%), Malta (69.1%), the United Kingdom (68.1%), Austria (66.5%), Ireland (64.0%) and the Netherlands (60.9%).

In 2009, government expenditure in the euro area was equivalent to 50.7% of GDP and government revenue to 44.4%. The figures for the EU27 were 50.7% and 44.0% respectively. In both zones, the government expenditure ratio increased between 2008 and 2009, while the government revenue ratio decreased.

Reservations on reported data

Greece: Eurostat is expressing a reservation on the quality of the data reported by Greece, due to uncertainties on the surplus of social security funds for 2009, on the classification of some public entities and on the recording of off-market swaps. Following completion of the investigations that Eurostat is undertaking on these issues in cooperation with the Greek Statistical Authorities, this could lead to a revision for the year 2009 of the order of 0.3 to 0.5 percentage points of GDP for the deficit and 5 to 7 percentage points of GDP for the debt.

Amendment by Eurostat to reported data

United Kingdom: Eurostat has amended the deficit data notified by the United Kingdom for the years 2006 to 2009 for consistency of recording of UMTS licences proceeds in 2000. This leads to an increase in the government deficit in 2007 and 2008 (as well as for financial year 2005/2006, 2007/2008 and 2008/2009) by 1044 mn GBP (0.1% of GDP) and in 2006 and 2009 (financial year 2006/2007) by 1045 mn GBP (0.1% of GDP). There is no change in the reported debt figures.