Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in European Union
European Union: Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) was -2.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in European Union, 1973–2024
Source: Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
European Union recorded -2.6% for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in 2024.
The figure is up 17.6% on the previous year and down 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in European Union peaked at 0.6% in 1973 and was at its lowest, -6.5%, in 2020.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in European Union, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 0.6% | — |
| 1974 | -0.2% | -141.5% |
| 1975 | -2.6% | +998.2% |
| 1976 | -1.5% | -41.7% |
| 1977 | -1.4% | -10.1% |
| 1978 | -2.1% | +52.5% |
| 1979 | -2.4% | +14.6% |
| 1980 | -2.6% | +8.2% |
| 1981 | -2.4% | -8.3% |
| 1982 | -3.0% | +25.0% |
| 1983 | -2.9% | -1.6% |
| 1984 | -2.6% | -10.9% |
| 1985 | -2.5% | -3.5% |
| 1986 | -3.5% | +39.7% |
| 1987 | -3.5% | -1.1% |
| 1988 | -2.6% | -24.6% |
| 1989 | -2.1% | -20.9% |
| 1990 | -1.6% | -24.1% |
| 1991 | -2.2% | +37.5% |
| 1992 | -2.8% | +30.6% |
| 1993 | -4.2% | +48.8% |
| 1994 | -3.8% | -10.1% |
| 1995 | -5.6% | +47.1% |
| 1996 | -3.5% | -37.5% |
| 1997 | -1.9% | -45.8% |
| 1998 | -1.3% | -28.9% |
| 1999 | -0.7% | -50.8% |
| 2000 | -0.4% | -45.9% |
| 2001 | -0.7% | +91.9% |
| 2002 | -1.9% | +174.0% |
| 2003 | -2.3% | +22.6% |
| 2004 | -2.0% | -11.4% |
| 2005 | -1.7% | -15.4% |
| 2006 | -0.9% | -45.3% |
| 2007 | -0.4% | -62.8% |
| 2008 | -1.5% | +326.4% |
| 2009 | -5.0% | +232.1% |
| 2010 | -4.9% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | -3.1% | -36.4% |
| 2012 | -3.4% | +8.5% |
| 2013 | -2.8% | -16.2% |
| 2014 | -2.3% | -19.9% |
| 2015 | -1.8% | -20.0% |
| 2016 | -1.5% | -16.0% |
| 2017 | -1.1% | -26.3% |
| 2018 | -0.6% | -47.1% |
| 2019 | -0.5% | -13.4% |
| 2020 | -6.5% | +1150.9% |
| 2021 | -4.8% | -25.5% |
| 2022 | -3.3% | -30.8% |
| 2023 | -3.1% | -5.6% |
| 2024 | -2.6% | -17.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -1.4% | -2.6% | 0.6% | 7 |
| 1980s | -2.8% | -3.5% | -2.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | -2.8% | -5.6% | -0.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | -1.7% | -5.0% | -0.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | -2.2% | -4.9% | -0.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | -4.1% | -6.5% | -2.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More public sector data for European Union
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Frequently asked questions
- What is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in European Union?
- Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) in European Union was -2.6% in 2024, according to Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 0.6% in 1973.
- What is the lowest net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was -6.5% in 2020.
- How does European Union rank for net lending (+) / net borrowing (-)?
- European Union ranks 1st out of 2 groups with data for 2024.
- Is net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from Government Finance Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Net lending (+) / net borrowing (-) (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net lending (+) / net borrowing (–) equals government revenue minus expense, minus net investment in nonfinancial assets. It is also equal to the net result of transactions in financial assets and liabilities. Net lending/net borrowing is a summary measure indicating the extent to which government is either putting financial resources at the disposal of other sectors in the economy or abroad, or utilizing the financial resources generated by other sectors in the economy or from abroad. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.