The ratio of national debt to gross domestic product (GDP) of Greece was estimated at approximately 150.89 percent in 2024. Between 1980 and 2024, the ratio rose by around 128.05 percentage points, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. The ratio is expected to drop by about 25.82 percentage points between 2024 and 2030, showing a continuous downward movement throughout the period.The general government gross debt consists of all liabilities that require payment or payments of interest and/or principal by the debtor to the creditor at a date or dates in the future. Here it is depicted in relation to the country's GDP, which refers to the total value of goods and services produced during a year.

Key information about Greece Government Debt: % of GDP

• Greece Government debt accounted for 158.3 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2024, compared with the ratio of 160.1 % in the previous quarter.
• Greece government debt to GDP ratio data is updated quarterly, available from Dec 1999 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 207.4 % in Mar 2021 and a record low of 96.4 % in Sep 2003.

CEIC calculates quarterly Government Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Government Debt and rolling sum of quarterly Nominal GDP. The Hellenic Statistical Authority provides Government Debt in EUR and Nominal GDP in EUR, based on ESA 2010. Government Debt prior to Q1 2012 is based on ESA 1995.


Related information about Greece Government Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, Greece National Government Debt reached 413.3 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP reached 57.9 USD bn in Mar 2023.

Greece recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 153.60 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2024. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Greece Government Debt to GDP - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Key information about Greece Household Debt: % of GDP

• Greece household debt accounted for 45.2 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2024, compared with the ratio of 46.3 % in the previous quarter.
• Greece household debt to GDP ratio is updated quarterly, available from Dec 1997 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 78.0 % in Dec 2012 and a record low of 14.8 % in Mar 2000.

CEIC calculates annual Household Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Household Debt and quarterly Nominal GDP. The Bank of Greece provides Household Debt in EUR. Hellenic Statistical Authority provides Nominal GDP in EUR. Household Debt includes NPISH.


Related information about Greece Household Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, Greece Household Debt reached 111.2 USD bn in Dec 2022.
• Money Supply M2 in Greece increased 2.5 % YoY in Oct 2024.
• Greece Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 3.7 USD bn in Jan 2025.
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 0.5 Months of Import in Dec 2024.
• Greece Domestic Credit reached 185.2 USD bn in Dec 2024, representing an increased of 2.5 % YoY.

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

External Debt to GDP in Greece decreased to 239 percent of GDP in the second quarter of 2025 from 242 percent of GDP in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Greece External Debt To GDP.

Key information about Greece External Debt: % of GDP

• Greece External Debt accounted for 246.0 % of the country's Nominal GDP in 2023, compared with the ratio of 264.1 % in the previous year.
• Greece External Debt: % of Nominal GDP data is updated yearly, available from Dec 2003 to Dec 2023.
• The data reached an all-time high of 300.8 % in Dec 2021 and a record low of 93.6 % in Dec 2003.

CEIC calculates External Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly External Debt and annual Nominal GDP. The Bank of Greece provides External Debt in EUR. Hellenic Statistical Authority provides Nominal GDP in EUR.


Related information about Greece External Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports of Greece, Current Account recorded a surplus of 717.7 USD mn in Aug 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 304.2 USD mn in Apr 2023.
• Greece Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 119.7 USD mn in Aug 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 2.7 USD bn in Jun 2024.
• The country's External Debt reached 593,149.0 in Jun 2024.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 57.9 USD bn in Mar 2023.

Key information about Greece Private Debt: % of Nominal GDP

• Greece Private Debt accounted for 51.64 % of its Nominal GDP in Dec 2024, compared with a ratio of 50.98 % in the previous quarter
• Greece Private Debt contribution to Nominal GDP ratio is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2001 to Dec 2024, with an average share of 88.43 %
• The data reached an all-time high of 124.39 % in Mar 2013 and a record low of 45.51 % in Mar 2001

CEIC calculates quarterly Private Debt as % of Nominal GDP from monthly Private Debt and quarterly Nominal GDP. The Bank of Greece provides Private Debt in EUR. Hellenic Statistical Authority provides Nominal GDP in EUR.

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

The statistic depicts Greece's gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate from 2020 to 2024, with projections up until 2030. GDP refers to the total market value of all goods and services that are produced within a country per year. It is an important indicator of the economic strength of a country. Real GDP is adjusted for price changes and is therefore regarded as a key indicator for economic growth. In 2024, Greece's real GDP increased by about 2.27 percent compared to the previous year. Greece's national finances Greece is viewed as a high-income economy and experienced high economic and social growth and development between the 1950s and the 1970s, which was the highest rate in the world only behind Japan. However, due to the Great Recession in 2009 as well as the Greek government-debt crisis, Greek experienced severe hits to its already somewhat struggling economy. From the mid to late 2000s, national debt escalated severely but has, since 2012, remained relatively stable, primarily due to several debt restructuring deals as well as stimulus packages from countries within the EU. Different forms of financial aid were offered to Greece from countries within the European Union in order to help maintain the country from going completely dysfunctional to the point that Greece would no longer be able to pay back its debts. Greece’s economy primarily strives in the service sector and benefits exceptionally from its tourist industry. However, due to a failing tourist industry as well as struggles with properly managing imports and exports, struggles within the country are further increasing. More competent leadership, cutting costs as well as new structural reforms are necessary in order to slowly bring Greece back to an economically stable country.

Households Debt in Greece decreased to 38.90 percent of GDP in the first quarter of 2025 from 39 percent of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - Greece Households Debt To Gdp- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The statistic shows the ratio of government expenditure to the gross domestic product (GDP) in Greece from 2020 to 2023, with projections up until 2030. In 2023, Greece's government spending amounted to about 49.55 percent of the gross domestic product. Greece's financial turmoil In 2011, the ratio of government expenditure to GDP in Greece started to decrease significantly from 53.73 percent to 46.36 percent in 2014. However, looking at Greece’s ratio compared to the other member states of the European Union, it shows that Greece - while still having a relatively high ratio - is not at the top of the list of countries with a high public ratio. Yet, Greece has a history of spending significantly more than it has been acquiring in government revenue. This unbalanced spending vs revenue situation is expected to change at some point between 2015 and 2016. When spending more than it received, Greece covered its yearly deficits by borrowing money to make up the difference. The accumulation of these deficits resulted in Greece’s growing debt, which in 2014 amounted to a total of 317.31 billion euros, and with the economic crisis, the country has had difficulties in paying back its large debts. However, it appears as if Greece is beginning to keep government spending below revenue in the near future. In order to recover, the country also needs economic growth, and according to the IMF, GDP is expected to increase after 2015 and along with it, Greece will likely see positive growth rates.

Key information about Greece Total Debt: % of GDP

• Greece Total Debt accounted for 534.0 % of the country's GDP in 2024, compared with the ratio of 539.9 % in the previous quarter.
• Greece Total Debt: % of GDP data is updated quarterly, available from Dec 1997 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 715.0 % in Jun 2021 and a record low of 279.2 % in Sep 1998.

CEIC calculates quarterly Total Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Total Debt and quarterly Nominal GDP. Total Debt is calculated as Total Liabilities less Equity & Investment Fund Shares and Financial Derivatives. The Bank of Greece provides Total Debt in EUR. The Hellenic Statistical Authority provides Nominal GDP in EUR.

Key information about Greece External Debt: Short Term: % of GDP

• Greece External Debt: Short Term accounted for 79.9 % of the country's Nominal GDP in 2023, compared with the ratio of 85.1 % in the previous year.
• Greece External Debt: Short Term: % of Nominal GDP data is updated yearly, available from 2003 to 2023.
• The data reached an all-time high of 98.3 % in 2011 and a record low of 15.0 % in 2004.

CEIC calculates Short Term External Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Short Term External Debt and annual Nominal GDP. Short Term External Debt is calculated as the sum of Short Term External Debt breakdowns for General Government, Central Bank, Other Deposit Taking Corporations and Other Sectors. The Bank of Greece provides Short Term External Debt in EUR. Hellenic Statistical Authority provides Nominal GDP in EUR.


Related information about Greece External Debt: Short Term: % of GDP

• In the latest reports of Greece, Current Account recorded a surplus of 717.7 USD mn in Aug 2024.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 304.2 USD mn in Apr 2023.
• Greece Direct Investment Abroad expanded by 119.7 USD mn in Aug 2024.
• Its Foreign Portfolio Investment increased by 2.7 USD bn in Jun 2024.
• Greece External Debt: Short Term value stood at 189.9 USD bn in Dec 2023.
• The country's Nominal GDP was reported at 57.9 USD bn in Mar 2023.

In the third quarter of 2024, Greece's national debt was the highest in all the European Union, amounting to 158 percent of Greece's gross domestic product. In spite of Greece's total being high by EU standards, it marks a substantial decrease from the historical high point reached by the country's national debt of 207 percent of GDP in 2020. Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, and Portugal also all have government debt worth over one year's production of their economies, while the small Baltic country of Estonia has the smallest national debt when compared with GDP, at only 24 percent. In debitum incrementum?A country’s national debt, also known as government debt or public debt, is defined as all borrowings owed by the government of a country. It usually comprises internal debt – owed to other governmental departments – and external debt, which is held by the public and is owed to government bond owners. National debt can be caused by a struggling economy in general, or by low tax income, which usually leads to money being borrowed from other governments for support, which in turn cannot be paid back right away. At first glance, a high national debt is not always a sign of a struggling economy – but since increasing debt can slow down economic growth significantly, it is imperative for the respective government to seek a steady reduction in the long run.

The statistic shows the gross national debt of the United States from 2019 to 2024 in relation to the gross domestic product (GDP), with projections up until 2030. In 2024, the national debt of the United States was at around 120.79 percent of the gross domestic product. See the US GDP for further information. US finances There has been a dramatic increase in the public debt of the United States since 1990, although the month-to-month change has been quite stable over the last few months. Public debt is defined as the amount of money borrowed by a country to cover budget deficits. A ranking of individual state debt in the United States shows that California is leading by a clear margin, with more than double the amount of runner-up New York. Vermont, North Dakota and South Dakota are the states with the lowest amount of debt. Even before the recession of 2008, the national debt of the United States had been increasing steadily and excessively, and it is predicted to rise even further. Budget cuts and fewer job opportunities as a result of the crisis are taking their toll on the American economy, which is still recovering. Trade figures as well as unemployment are still below average. Subsequently, the national debt and the national debt of the United States per capita have more or less quadrupled since the 1990s. Interestingly, the United States is not even among the top ten of countries with the highest public debt in relation to gross domestic product in international comparison. Japan, Greece and Italy – among others – report far higher figures than the United States.

The statistic shows Japan's national debt from 2020 to 2023 in relation to gross domestic product (GDP), with projections up until 2030. In 2023, the national debt of Japan amounted to about 239.97 percent of the gross domestic product. An eye on Japan’s national debt Japan’s national debt ranks first among countries with the highest debt levels in the world, far surpassing the debt levels of Greece - which ranks number two - whose financial crisis has been in the spotlight recently. Italy is third, followed by Jamaica, Lebanon and Enritrea. Currently, Japan’s national debt amounts more than a thousand trillion yen and the country’s debt is predicted to keep rising for the foreseeable future, albeit only slightly. Japan’s national debt is not without consequence for the global economy, because the country claims the fourth-largest share in global gross domestic product. Therefore, the effects on the global economy would and could have a much greater global impact than that of a country such as Greece - considering its share of the global economy adjusted for purchase power parity was less than 0.29 percent in 2011. The debt levels of China, the United States and India should also be watched closely as they together make up the largest share of global GDP. At the moment, Japan’s inflation rate is among the lowest in the world, but as Japan attempts to reduce its national debt, this could change.

This scatter chart displays birth rate (per 1,000 people) against central government debt (% of GDP) in Greece. The data is about countries per year.

This statistic shows the unemployment rate in Greece from 1999 to 2024. In 2024, the unemployment rate in Greece was around 10.13 percent. Today, Greece reports the highest unemployment rate of all EU states. Greece's financial situation Greece is a developed country with a high-income economy, whose primary industry revolves around tourism and shipping. Agriculture also plays an important role for the country’s economy, more specifically for the EU. Greece had experienced large amounts of economic growth from the 1950s to the 1970s, however was economically devastated by the Great Recession in 2009 as well its own government debt crisis. Since the early 2000s, small increases in national debt were present within the Greek economy. These small increases turned into rather substantial surges between 2008 and 2011, which resulted in a large amount of accumulated public debt. However, financial assistance from several countries around the world as well as stimulus packages from the EU were issued to Greece, with the hopes of structural adjustments in the government and better decision making within the country in order to decrease national debt and increase productivity. The financial assistance helped stabilize Greece’s debt over the past several years, however many countries are arguing just how useful this support is, mostly because Greece has not made significant strides to improve its economy. As a result, consumers have become less optimistic about the possibility of a short term economic recovery in Greece. Additionally, investors have remained hesitant on investing into the country, generally due to an increasing debt-to-GDP ratio, which is ranked atop all countries in the European Union. The so-called debt-to-GDP ratio is an important indicator of a country’s ability to pay back its debts without incurring further debt.