Greece posted the largest annual decline in its debt-to-GDP ratio of any EU country in the second quarter of 2026, accor...

Greece posted the largest annual decline in its debt-to-GDP ratio of any EU country in the second quarter of 2026, according to provisional Eurostat figures released this week. The ratio fell to 140.8%, down 11.2 percentage points from a year earlier, beating Cyprus in second place, which dropped 9.5 points. Slovenia and Portugal followed with declines of 4.5 and 3.4 points respectively. The actual debt figure also fell, from about 368.6 billion euros a year ago to roughly 358.6 billion euros at the end of June. The ratio dropped another 2.7 points from the first quarter of this year alone, a sign the trend is accelerating even as the euro area moved in the opposite direction, with its average ratio climbing to 88.8%. Greece still holds the EU's highest debt ratio, sitting just ahead of Italy at 139.9%. But the broader picture has shifted noticeably. Eurostat's annual data put Greece's 2025 government surplus at 2% of GDP, around 4.94 billion euros, up from 1.4% in 2024. Greece was one of only five EU countries to run a surplus last year, alongside Cyprus, Denmark, Ireland, and Portugal. Year-end figures show how much ground has been covered. Greece's debt ratio stood at 153.5% of GDP at the close of 2024, fell to 145.4% by end of 2025, and is now at 140.8% through June 2026. The next Eurostat quarterly release is scheduled for January 22, 2027. #Greece #Economy #Eurostat