Government debt is the total stock of what the state owes, built up from years of deficits. We show it two ways: as a percentage of GDP (best for comparing countries) and in absolute euro millions (the headline size).
The 60% reference
Maastricht set a reference of debt below 60% of GDP. Many EU members are far above it; a few carry debt above 100% or even 150%.
When is debt a problem?
It depends on the interest rate versus the growth rate: if the economy grows faster than the cost of borrowing, debt can be carried more easily.
High debt narrows a government's room for manoeuvre and exposes it to rising bond yields.
The trend matters more than any single year — is the ratio drifting up or coming down?
Source: Eurostat, Maastricht consolidated gross debt, annual.