The government deficit to GDP ratio decreased from 6.2% in 2010 to 4.1% in 2011 in the euro area, and in the EU from 6.5% to 4.4%. In the euro area the government debt to GDP ratio increased from 85.4% at the end of 2010 to 87.3% at the end of 2011, and in the EU from 80.0% to 82.5%. In 2011 the lowest government deficits relative to GDP were recorded in Luxembourg, Finland and Germany while seventeen Member States had deficits higher than 3% of GDP. Among them, the highest were recorded in Ireland (-13.4%), Greece and Spain (both -9.4%), and the United Kingdom (-7.8%).

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, published government deficit and debt data based on figures reported in the second 2012 notification by EU Member States for the years 2008-2011, for the application of the excessive deficit procedure (EDP). According to such data, in 2011 the government deficit of both the euro area and the EU decreased in absolute terms compared with 2010, while the government debt rose in both zones. In April 2012, it was published that the government deficit in the EU and in the euro area decreased until 4.5% and 4.1% of GDP respectively in 2011.

With regard to the figures by Member States, in 2011 the lowest government deficits relative to GDP were recorded in Luxembourg, Finland and Germany, while Hungary, Estonia and Sweden registered surpluses. Seventeen Member States had deficits higher than 3% of GDP: Ireland (-13.4%), Greece and Spain (both -9.4%), the United Kingdom (-7.8%), Slovenia (-6.4%), Cyprus (-6.3%), Lithuania and Romania (both -5.5%), France (-5.2%), Poland (-5.0%), Slovakia (-4.9%), the Netherlands (-4.5%), Portugal (-4.4%), Italy (-3.9%), Belgium (-3.7%), Latvia (-3.4%) and the Czech Republic (-3.3%). 25 Member States recorded an improvement in their government balance relative to GDP in 2011 compared with 2010 and two a worsening.

The lowest ratios of government debt to GDP were recorded in Estonia (6.1%), Bulgaria (16.3%), Luxembourg (18.3%), Romania (33.4%), Sweden (38.4%) and Lithuania (38.5%), at the end of 2011. Fourteen Member States had government debt ratios higher than 60% of GDP. Among them, the highest were recorded in Greece (170.6%), Italy (120.7%), Portugal (108.1%), Ireland (106.4%), and Belgium (97.8%). Six Member States recorded an improvement in their government debt relative to GDP in 2011 compared with 2010 and 21 a worsening.