Higher ratios last year were recorded in Ireland (13.1 pct), Greece (9.1 pct), Spain (8.5 pct), the UK (8.3 pct), Slovenia (6.4 pct), and Cyprus (6.3 pct). Three of 32 European countries did not provide respective data to the EU statistics office.
The ratios similar to Lithuania’s were recorded in Romania and France (5.2 pct each), and in Poland (5.1 pct). Latvia’s government deficit stood at 3.5 percent of GDP last year. Estonia with a surplus of 1 percent was one of four countries with government revenues exceeding expenditure.
The largest surplus – 13.6 percent – was recorded in Norway.