1.1. Contact organisation
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
5, rue Alphonse Weicker
L-2721 Luxembourg
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
17 May 2018
2.2. Metadata last posted
20 May 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
20 May 2025
The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 17 on revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development which is embedded in the European Commission’s Priorities under 'A new era for European Defence and Security' and 'Protecting our democracy, upholding our values'.
SDG 17 calls for a global partnership for sustainable development. It highlights the importance of macroeconomic stability and of mobilising financial resources for developing countries. It also stresses the importance of trade and equitable rules for governing it. The goal also emphasises the importance of access to science and technology, in particular internet-based information and communications technology.
To help others to advance their economies, it is pivotal to keep the EU’s own economies on a sustainable development path. Macroeconomic management that aims to ensure financial stability in the EU is therefore one pillar of the EU’s contribution to implementing the SDGs. Government debt should consequently be limited to a manageable level and not exceed 60 % of GDP, as laid down in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. This forms the basis of the Stability and Growth Pact and the Excessive Deficit Procedure (EDP), which ensures fiscal sustainability.
In 2024, the ambitious reform of the EU’s economic governance framework, aimed at strengthening Member States’ debt sustainability and promoting sustainable and inclusive growth in all Member States, entered into force.
4.1. Data description
The indicator is defined in the 2012 consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and furter elaborated in Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2009, as amended and Regulation (EU) No 549/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (ESA 2010) and subsequent legal amendments, supplemented by further interpretation and guidance from Eurostat, in particular the Manual on Government Deficit and Debt as the ratio of total government gross debt at nominal value outstanding at the end of the year to GDP at current market prices.
The government debt is defined as the total consolidated gross debt at nominal value at the end of the year in the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA 2010): currency and deposits (AF.2), debt securities (AF.3) and loans (AF.4). The general government sector comprises the subsectors of central government, state government, local government and social security funds.
4.2. Unit of measure
% of GDP and million EUR (current prices), in the source data set gov_10dd_edpt1, data is available in million of national currency.
4.3. Reference Period
The data refers to the stock at the end of the calendar year.
4.4. Accuracy - overall
The indicator is produced according to the high-level quality standards of European Statistics. Details on accuracy can be found in the metadata of the source dataset (see link to related metadata).
4.5. Source data
See gov_10dd
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
ESS
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: European Statistical System (ESS).
Data provider: Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), based on data reported by the countries.
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
The indicator is updated biannually. Complete and updated ESS data release information can be accessed via Eurostat release calendar.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+1 year5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within one year after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
All EU MS6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Data are comparable between all EU Member States.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series (including EU aggregates) starts in 2000.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological break is longer than 4 data points.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of the indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in the EU context).
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
See table sdg_17_40.
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs: overview.
Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.
