Public debt burdens ease unevenly across the EU

Public debt fell in several EU countries in Q2 2026, but rose in others. Greece's debt eased to 154.7% of GDP, while Lithuania's climbed to 51.2%.

  • Greece: Government debt fell to 154.7% of GDP, down 3.2 percentage points over the quarter and 12.0 points over the year. It still exceeded a full year's economic output.
  • Lithuania: Public debt rose from 48.2% to 51.2% of GDP, taking it above half the size of the economy.
  • Croatia: Government debt fell to 74.6% of GDP from 76.8% in the previous quarter.
  • Ireland: Public debt fell by €9.6 billion to €205.9 billion, reversing the previous quarter's increase.
  • Slovenia: Government debt increased by €1.4 billion to €47.7 billion, reversing three consecutive quarterly declines.
  • Denmark: Public debt fell to DKK 1.05 trillion, down DKK 6.5 billion over the quarter and 4.7% over the year.

These countries show an uneven picture across the EU, with falling debt totals or debt-to-GDP ratios in several countries alongside increases elsewhere.