Graph and download economic data for Central government debt, total (% of GDP) for Greece (DEBTTLGRA188A) from 1997 to 2023 about Greece, debt, government, and GDP.

Several European Union member states have struggled with high levels of public debt in the period since the Global Financial Crisis. In particular, Greece's debt skyrocketed during the recession which followed the crisis, culminating in a period of intense political and social upheaval during the early 2010s in which the country came close to having to leave the Euro single currency zone. Along with Italy, Portugal, Spain and France, Greece is part of a group of EU members who have seen their debt soar to a value worth over one year's aggregate production in their economies (i.e. 100% of GDP) due to slow economic growth coupled with increasing public liabilities due to the need to provide emergency support to their domestic financial systems. Belgium, while also a part of this group of high-debt ratio countries has quite different circumstances, as its debt ratio has in fact fallen since the 1990s, remaining 20 percent below its 1995 level, even after a spike due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Historical chart and dataset showing Greece debt to gdp ratio by year from 1997 to 2023.

External Debt in Greece increased to 567734.73 EUR Million in the first quarter of 2025 from 562865.64 EUR Million in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Greece External Debt - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Greece Central Government Debt: Over 5 Years data was reported at 276,176.700 EUR mn in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 262,560.330 EUR mn for Jun 2018. Greece Central Government Debt: Over 5 Years data is updated quarterly, averaging 259,357.015 EUR mn from Dec 2014 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 276,176.700 EUR mn in Sep 2018 and a record low of 235,995.300 EUR mn in Jun 2015. Greece Central Government Debt: Over 5 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Greece – Table GR.F009: Central Government Debt.

Greece Central Government Debt: 1 to 5 Years data was reported at 33,636.500 EUR mn in Sep 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 37,302.200 EUR mn for Jun 2018. Greece Central Government Debt: 1 to 5 Years data is updated quarterly, averaging 33,154.800 EUR mn from Dec 2014 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 38,500.100 EUR mn in Mar 2018 and a record low of 27,184.900 EUR mn in Sep 2016. Greece Central Government Debt: 1 to 5 Years data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Greece – Table GR.F009: Central Government Debt.

Greece Central Government Debt: Annual data was reported at 328,703.840 EUR mn in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 326,358.140 EUR mn for 2016. Greece Central Government Debt: Annual data is updated yearly, averaging 239,364.000 EUR mn from Dec 1997 (Median) to 2017, with 21 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 367,978.000 EUR mn in 2011 and a record low of 114,570.800 EUR mn in 1997. Greece Central Government Debt: Annual data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Greece – Table GR.F009: Central Government Debt.

Greece: Government debt as percent of GDP: The latest value from 2023 is 161.9 percent, a decline from 172.7 percent in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 61.85 percent, based on data from 137 countries. Historically, the average for Greece from 1995 to 2023 is 139.69 percent. The minimum value, 97.4 percent, was reached in 1998 while the maximum of 207 percent was recorded in 2020.

Greece Government Debt: 43 years of historical data from 1980 to 2023.

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Private Debt to GDP in Greece increased to 68.60 percent in 2024 from 65.90 percent in 2023. Greece Private Debt to GDP - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on July of 2025.

Greece Central Government Debt: Up to 1 Year data was reported at 46,220.900 EUR mn in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 45,516.900 EUR mn for Jun 2018. Greece Central Government Debt: Up to 1 Year data is updated quarterly, averaging 37,651.121 EUR mn from Dec 2014 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 46,220.900 EUR mn in Sep 2018 and a record low of 31,769.900 EUR mn in Mar 2016. Greece Central Government Debt: Up to 1 Year data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ministry of Finance. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Greece – Table GR.F009: Central Government Debt.

This statistic shows the percentage change on the previous year for general government consolidated gross debt as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) in Greece from 2011 to 2017. The largest change in this period occurred in 2012 when there was a decline of -26.8 percent.