In 2021, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita expressed in purchasing power standards (PPS) ranged between 55% of the EU average in Bulgaria and 277% in Luxembourg.
This information comes from the new flash estimates of purchasing power parities and GDP for 2021 published by Eurostat today. The article presents some of the findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained article.
The data show substantial differences between the EU Member States in terms of GDP per capita, used to measure economic activity. In 2021, Luxembourg and Ireland recorded the highest levels of GDP per capita, at 177% and 121% above the EU average.
They were followed at a distance by Denmark (33% above), the Netherlands (32% above), Sweden (23% above) and Belgium (22% above).
In contrast, Croatia (30% below the EU average), Slovakia (32% below), Greece (35% below) and Bulgaria (45% below) registered the lowest GDP per capita.
Source dataset: prc_ppp_ind
For more information:
- Eurostat Statistics Explained article on purchasing power parities and GDP per capita - flash estimate
- Eurostat website section dedicated to purchasing power parities
- Eurostat database on purchasing power parities
- Eurostat metadata on purchasing power parities
Methodological notes:
- Flash estimates for 2021 presented in this news article are based on GDP and population data for 2021, extracted on 13 March 2022, and the most recent PPPs available. Revised estimates will be published in June 2022.
- Luxembourg: The high GDP per capita in Luxembourg is partly due to the country's large share of cross-border workers in total employment. While contributing to GDP, these workers are not taken into consideration as part of the resident population which is used to calculate GDP per capita.
- Ireland: The high level of GDP per capita in Ireland can be partly explained by the presence of large multinational companies holding intellectual property. The associated contract manufacturing with these assets contributes to GDP, while a large part of the income earned from this production is returned to the companies’ ultimate owners abroad.
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