Denmark leads EU in budget surplus

Denmark ranked highest in public finance surplus relative to GDP among the 27 EU countries in 2023. Updated figures from Statistics Denmark show a surplus of DKK 92.7 billion, or 3.3% of GDP. The assessment is based on a major revision of national accounts completed before the end of September this year. Initially, Denmark and Cyprus were tied with a 3.1% surplus, but after the revision, Denmark’s surplus was adjusted slightly upward, while Cyprus’s was revised down to 2%. This marks the fifth consecutive year Denmark has topped the list in EU financial surplus. Only four EU countries had a surplus, with the remaining 23 facing a deficit. Senior economist Kristian Skriver attributes Denmark’s solid public surplus to withdrawal reforms. In 2023, 17 out of 27 EU countries met the Maastricht Treaty’s deficit limit of 3% of GDP.