With a Gross Domestic Product of over 4.3 trillion Euros, the German economy was by far the largest in Europe in 2024. The similarly sized economies of the United Kingdom and France were the second and third largest economies in Europe during this year, followed by Italy and Spain. The smallest economy in this statistic is that of the small Balkan nation of Montenegro, which had a GDP of 7.4 billion Euros. In this year, the combined GDP of the 27 member states that compose the European Union amounted to approximately 17.95 trillion Euros. The big five Germany’s economy has consistently had the largest economy in Europe since 1980, even before the reunification of West and East Germany. The United Kingdom, by contrast, has had mixed fortunes during the same period and had a smaller economy than Italy in the late 1980s. The UK also suffered more than the other major economies during the recession of the late 2000s, meaning the French economy was the second largest on the continent for some time afterward. The Spanish economy was continually the fifth-largest in Europe in this 38-year period, and from 2004 onwards, has been worth more than one trillion Euros. The smallest GDP, the highest economic growth in Europe Despite having the smallerst GDP of Europe, Montenegro emerged as the fastest growing economy in the continent, achieving an impressive annual growth rate of 4.5 percent, surpassing Turkey's growth rate of 4 percent. Overall,this Balkan nation has shown a remarkable economic recovery since the 2010 financial crisis, with its GDP projected to grow by 28.71 percent between 2024 and 2029. Contributing to this positive trend are successful tourism seasons in recent years, along with increased private consumption and rising imports. Europe's economic stagnation Malta, Albania, Iceland, and Croatia were among the countries reporting some of the highest growth rates this year. However, Europe's overall performance reflected a general slowdown in growth compared to the trend seen in 2021, during the post-pandemic recovery. Estonia experienced the sharpest negative growth in 2023, with its economy shrinking by 2.3% compared to 2022, primarily due to the negative impact of sanctions placed on its large neighbor, Russia. Other nations, including Sweden, Germany, and Finland, also recorded slight negative growth.

This dataset provides values for GDP ANNUAL GROWTH RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

The statistic shows the growth of the real gross domestic product (GDP) in the EU member states in the second quarter 2024 compared to the same quarter of the previous year. GDP is the total value of all goods and services produced in a country in a year. It is considered to be a very important indicator of the economic strength of a country and a positive change in it is a sign of economic growth. In the second quarter of 2024, the real GDP in Denmark increased by 2.5 percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year. The overall EU GDP amounted to around 15.8 trillion euros around the same time. Global economy and the economic crisis The global economy has been slowly recovery after having been devastated by the global financial crisis in 2008. The economic crisis, which hit Greece, Ireland and Portugal, among other countries, severely, marked the beginning of the European sovereign debt crisis which forced these nations to request a bailout between 2013 and 2014. In November 2014, the unemployment rate in Greece amounted to around a desastrous 25 percent, which means one quarter of Greeks who were of working age were out of work. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate average for the whole European Union was at 10 percent. In addition, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Ireland ranked at the top of the list of the nations in the European Union with the largest national debt in relation to the gross domestic product. In the third quarter of 2014, Greece’s national debt amounted to 176 percent of the gross domestic product. Despite the crisis, the global economy is expected to improve. It is estimated that GDP in the European Union will grow by 1.85 percent in 2015 in comparison to the previous year. Also, the national debt in relation to GDP in Greece, Italy, Portugal and Ireland will decrease between 2015 and 2016.

This dataset provides values for GDP PER CAPITA PPP reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

The economy of the European Union is set to grow by *** percent in 2025, according to forecasts by the European Commission. This marks a significant slowdown compared to previous years, when the EU member states grew quickly in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic. ***** is the country which is forecasted to grow the most in 2025, with an annual growth rate of *** percent. Many of Europe's largest economies, on the other hand, are set to experiencing slow growth or stagnation, with Germany, France, and Italy growing below *** percent.

The fastest growing economy in Europe in 2024 was Malta. The small Mediterranean country's gross domestic product grew at five percent in 2024, beating out Montenegro which had a growth rate of almost four percent and the Russian Federation which had a rate of 3.6 percent in the same year. Estonia was the country with the largest negative growth in 2024, as the Baltic country's economy shrank by 0.88 percent compared with 2023, largely as a result of the country's exposure to the economic effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent economic sanctions placed on Russia. Germany, Europe's largest economy, experience economic stagnation with a growth of 0.1 percent. Overall, the EU (which contains 27 European countries) registered a growth rate of one percent and the Eurozone (which contains 20) grew by 0.8 percent.

The real gross domestic product (GDP) of Malta is estimated to have grown by *** percent in 2023 and is projected to grow a further **** percent in 2024, which are the highest growth rates across all European countries for each year. In comparison, Estonia, Austria, Finland, and Ireland all had *************** rates in 2023.

The average for 2023 based on 44 countries was 44137.65 U.S. dollars. The highest value was in Monaco: 256580.52 U.S. dollars and the lowest value was in Ukraine: 5069.7 U.S. dollars. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

This dataset provides values for GDP PER CAPITA reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

The average for 2024 based on 40 countries was 68 index points. The highest value was in Ireland: 83 index points and the lowest value was in Belarus: 48 index points. The indicator is available from 1995 to 2024. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

In 2024 the gross domestic product of the European Union amounted to approximately 17.9 trillion euros. GDP is the total value of all goods and services produced in a country within a year. It is an important indicator of the economic strength of a country. The financial crisis and its aftermath The European Union is a union made up of 27 states located within and around Europe, including several of the world’s largest economies. Since its inception in 1993, the European Union has displayed the benefits of uniting several countries together, however have also showed possible consequences. The majority of European countries felt the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis and afterwards the Eurozone crisis, which has had a severe and continuous effect on the general European economy. Additionally, due to the close association between all the countries, several banks around different European countries were forced to shut down. A generally lower standard of life in the EU, particularly around 2009 during the prime of both economical disasters, led to doubt and uncertainty about the future of many European families and consumers. However, as the economic situation all around the world slowly improved, so did the outlook on the future for most consumers. Struggles around Europe resulted in a larger need to stimulate the economy, which was only possible by borrowing and spending more money. As a result, national debt soared. It was also necessary for more economically successful countries to help finance countries that were deep in the crisis, such as Greece.

As of 2025, there are **** official candidate countries for membership in the European Union, as well as Kosovo identified by the European Commission as a potential future candidate. A key element of the Copenhagen Criteria - the conditions which must be fulfilled to join the EU - is the existence of a functioning market economy in the candidate country, with the ability of the country to handle the strong competition and economic pressures which come with joining the European Single Market. While the political and administrative/institutional criteria have been considered the key stumbling block which has prevented the current candidate countries from progressing towards full membership, the current state of the economies of candidate countries is also a cause for concern. According to the most recently available data, all candidate countries have lower GDP per capita than even the poorest EU member state, Bulgaria. Ukraine, the newest candidate country, which was granted candidate status by the EU in response to Russia's invasion of the country in 2022, is the poorest candidate country, as measured by GDP per capita. This represents a serious issue, as the EU has never incorporated a country which is so far from the average economic standards of the Union. On the other hand, the chance to join the EU could provide an economic boost to Ukraine, or any other candidate country, as can be seen with the fast rising GDP per capita of countries which have joined the EU since 2004, such as Czechia, Hungary, and Poland.

Key information about European Union Nominal GDP

• European Union Nominal GDP reached 4,141.8 USD bn in Dec 2022, compared with 4,002.8 USD bn in the previous quarter.
• Nominal GDP in EU is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1999 to Dec 2022, with an average number of 3,579.7 USD bn.
• The data reached an all-time high of 4,357.5 USD bn in Jun 2008 and a record low of 1,739.3 USD bn in Dec 2000.

CEIC converts quarterly Nominal GDP into USD. Eurostat provides Nominal GDP in EUR. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. European Union stands for EU27 excluding UK.


Related information about European Union Nominal GDP

• In the latest reports, EU GDP expanded 1.7 % YoY in Dec 2022.
• Its GDP deflator (implicit price deflator) increased 6.2 % in Dec 2022.
• EU GDP Per Capita reached 38,451.0 USD in Dec 2021.
• Its Gross Savings Rate was measured at 26.0 % in Dec 2022.
• For Nominal GDP contributions, Investment accounted for 24.3 % in Dec 2022.
• Public Consumption accounted for 22.2 % in Dec 2022.
• Private Consumption accounted for 51.8 % in Dec 2022.

The average for 2020 based on 32 countries was 2.47 percent. The highest value was in Croatia: 9.72 percent and the lowest value was in Russia: 0.33 percent. The indicator is available from 1995 to 2020. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

Key information about EU Public Consumption: % of GDP

• European Union Public Consumption accounted for 22.4 % of its Nominal GDP in Dec 2024, compared with a share of 21.0 % in the previous quarter.
• EU Public Consumption share of Nominal GDP ratio is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1995 to Dec 2024, with an average number of 20.7 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 23.9 % in Jun 2020 and a record low of 19.1 % in Sep 2007.

CEIC calculates Government Consumption as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Government Consumption Expenditure and quarterly Nominal GDP. Eurostat provides Government Consumption Expenditure in EUR and Nominal GDP in EUR. European Union stands for EU27 excluding UK.


Related information about EU Public Consumption: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, EU GDP expanded 1.0 % YoY in Mar 2023.
• EU Nominal GDP reached 4,430.4 USD bn in Mar 2023.
• Its GDP deflator (implicit price deflator) increased 6.5 % in Mar 2023.
• EU GDP Per Capita reached 38,468.8 USD in Dec 2021.
• Its Gross Savings Rate was measured at 25.7 % in Dec 2024.
• For Nominal GDP contributions, Investment accounted for 21.9 % in Dec 2024.
• Private Consumption accounted for 51.9 % in Dec 2024.

This dataset provides values for GDP reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

During the post-war economic boom, between the Second World War and the 1970s' recession, virtually all areas of Europe experienced significant economic growth. While this period is known as the "Golden Age of Capitalism" in Western Europe, communist countries in Eastern Europe (with socialist economic systems) generally experienced higher GDP growth rates in the 1950s and 1960s. Although most of these economies entered the period at a much less-developed stage than the likes of Britain, France, or West Germany, the Soviet model proved to be an economic success in these decades. Controlling the means of production The transition to communism across Eastern Europe saw the nationalization of most industries, as governments took control of the means of production in their respective countries. As much of Eastern Europe entered the period with relatively-low levels of industrialization compared to the west, this meant that governments could dictate the development of their manufacturing and retail industries. By the end of the 1960s, state-owned endeavors in Eastern Europe were responsible for over 95 percent of national income. Problems did arise, however, when states attempted to take control of the agricultural sector, as many of the families who owned the land were unwilling to part with it. Agriculture proved to be the only major industry not mostly owned by the state during Eastern Europe's communist era; in the long term, agriculture suffered due to the lack of government investment in such state-run economic systems. Variations There is a correlation between the sides taken during the Second World War and the speed of economic growth in each decade; the Allied nations of Czechoslovakia, Poland, the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia all experienced faster economic growth in the 1950s; whereas the Axis nations of Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania saw faster growth in the 1960s. East Germany was the exception to this rule, as its economy was much more developed than other former-Axis powers. The speed of recovery in these countries was the largest contributor to variations in growth rates, although regional variations in governance did influence development in later years (particularly in Yugoslavia).

Key information about European Union GDP Per Capita

• European Union Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per Capita reached 38,454.191 USD in Dec 2021, compared with 34,402.825 USD in Dec 2020.
• EU GDP Per Capita data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1999 to Dec 2021, with an average number of 33,135.176 USD.
• The data reached an all-time high of 38,454.191 USD in Dec 2021 and a record low of 16,892.743 in Dec 2000.
• CEIC calculates GDP per Capita from quarterly Nominal GDP and annual Population and converts it into USD. Eurostat provides Nominal GDP in EUR and Population. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. European Union stands for EU27 excluding UK.

Related information about European Union GDP Per Capita data

• In the latest reports, EU GDP expanded 1.264 % YoY in Mar 2023.
• EU Nominal GDP reached 4,140.452 USD bn in Dec 2022.
• Its GDP deflator (implicit price deflator) increased 6.144 % in Dec 2022.
• Gross Savings Rate of EU was measured at 25.835 % in Dec 2022.

Key information about European Union Private Consumption: % of GDP

• European Union Private Consumption accounted for 51.9 % of its Nominal GDP in Dec 2024, compared with a ratio of 53.2 % in the previous quarter.
• EU Private Consumption contribution to Nominal GDP ratio is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1995 to Dec 2024, with an average share of 55.2 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 56.9 % in Mar 1997 and a record low of 50.0 % in Dec 2020.

CEIC calculates Private Consumption as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Private Consumption Expenditure and quarterly Nominal GDP. Eurostat provides Private Consumption Expenditure in EUR and Nominal GDP in EUR. European Union stands for EU27 excluding UK.


Related information about European Union Private Consumption: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, EU GDP expanded 1.0 % YoY in Mar 2023.
• Its Nominal GDP reached 4,430.4 USD bn in Mar 2023.
• EU GDP Per Capita reached 38,468.8 USD in Dec 2021.
• Its Gross Savings Rate was measured at 25.7 % in Dec 2024.

The average for 2023 based on 45 countries was 0.57 percent. The highest value was in Germany: 4.29 percent and the lowest value was in Andorra: 0 percent. The indicator is available from 1980 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.