According to the data released by Eurostat, the GDP per inhabitant varied in the European Union from 41% to 268%. These data are based on first preliminary estimates for 2009 and provide information for EU27, as well as candidate countries, EFTA and four Western Balkan countries.

These figures for GDP per inhabitant, expressed in Purchasing Power Standards (PPS), are published by Eurostat, the statistical Office of the European Union. They cover the 27 EU Member States, the three candidate countries, three EFTA Member States and four Western Balkan countries.

Luxembourg GDP p.c. at the top of the list

These preliminary data reveal that Finland, France, Spain, Italy, Cyprus and Greece, GDP per inhabitant was within 10% of the EU27 average. Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium were between 15% and 35% above the average, while the highest level of GDP per inhabitant in the EU27 was recorded in Luxembourg.

Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Malta, Portugal and Slovakia were between 10% and 30% lower than the EU27 average. Hungary, Estonia, Poland and Lithuania were between 30% and 50% lower, while Latvia, Romania and Bulgaria were between 50% and 60% below the EU27 average.

Iceland, who formerly applied for its EU membership in Stockholm in July 2009, has registered GDP values 20% above average EU GDP per capita.  Data for Norway and Switzerland have been 77% and 44% above this average.