MADRID, 21 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The euro zone reduced its budget deficit in 2021 to 5.1% of GDP, which is equivalent to 629,819 million euros, compared to the negative imbalance of 7% (807,175 million) the previous year, while it lightened its debt ratio by 95.4% from 97%, which meant a debt of 11.74 billion, according to data published by Eurostat.

In the European Union (EU) as a whole, the public deficit closed 2021 at 4.6% of GDP, compared to 6.7% in 2020, equivalent to an imbalance of 673,113 million euros. Likewise, the accumulated debt in 2021 amounted to 12.76 trillion, 87.9% of GDP, compared to the ratio of 89.8% in 2020.

In 2021, all EU countries except Denmark (3.6%) and Luxembourg (0.8%) recorded a negative budget balance. The largest deficits were recorded in Malta (-7.8%), Greece (-7.5%), Italy (-7.2%), Hungary and Romania (both -7.1%), Latvia (-7% ), Spain (-6.9%) and France (-6.5%). In total, 15 countries of the Twenty-seven closed 2021 with deficits greater than 3% of GDP.

On the other hand, the lowest ratios of public debt to GDP were registered in Estonia (17.6%), Bulgaria (23.9%), Luxembourg (24.5%), Sweden (36.3%) and Denmark ( 36.6%).

At the end of 2021, a total of 14 EU members had public debt ratios above 60% of GDP, the highest being those registered in Greece (194.5%), Italy (150.3%), Portugal ( 125.5%), Spain (118.3%), France (112.8%), Belgium (109.2%) and Cyprus (101%).