Latvia remains one of the EU's less-indebted members / Article - EUROPE SAYS
While Latvia may not have one of the largest economies in the European Union, it does at least still have the benefit of relatively low levels of public debt. Eurostat data published on July 21st show that at. . .
While Latvia may not have one of the largest economies in the European Union, it does at least still have the benefit of relatively low levels of public debt. Eurostat data published on July 21st show that at the end of the first quarter of 2026, the general government gross debt to GDP ratio in the euro area (EA21) stood at 88. 9%, an increase compared with 87. 7% at the end of the fourth quarter of 2025. In the EU, the ratio also increased from 81. 8% to 82. 9%. Compared with the first quarter of 2025, the government debt to GDP ratio increased in both the euro area (from 87. 2% to 88. 9%) and the EU (from 81. 4% to 82. 9%). The highest ratios of government debt to GDP at the end of the first quarter were seen in Greece (143%), Italy (138%) and France (117%). The lowest ratios were in Estonia (25%), Denmark (26%) and Bulgaria (28%). Latvia’s ratio of government debt to GDP at the end of the first quarter was 46. 9% – unchanged compared to the fourth quarter of 2025. Photo: EurostatDebt to GDP ratio, Q1, 2026Compared with the fourth quarter of 2025, seventeen Member States registered an increase in their debt to GDP ratio at the end of the first quarter of 2026, eight registered a decrease, and the ratio remained stable in Latvia and Czechia. The largest increases in the ratio were observed in Hungary (+3. 1 percentage points – pp), Lithuania (+2. 9 pp), Luxembourg (+2. 8 pp), Ireland (+2. 2 pp), Croatia (+2. 1 pp), Austria (+2. 0 pp), France and Poland (both +1. 9 pp) and Italy (+1. 8 pp). The largest decreases were recorded in Greece (-2. 6 pp), Bulgaria (-1. 3 pp), the Netherlands (-1. 0 pp) and Slovenia (-0. 9 pp). Photo: EurostatHowever, compared to the first quarter of 2025, Latvia’s debt to GDP ratio grew by 1. 9%. Seen a mistake?Select text and press Ctrl+Enter to send a suggested correction to the editorSelect text and press Report a mistake to send a suggested correction to the editorTell us about a mistakeTags:EconomyEconomy of EUEconomy of European UnionEconomy of the EUEconomy of the European UnionEU economyEurope