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2018
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Key Data
on Local and Regional Governments
in the European Union
 Socio-economic data

Area Inhabitants GDP GDP per GDP

(km²)* (thousands)** (EUR capita growth
2017 billions) (EUR) rate***
Federations & quasi-federations
Austria 82 409 8 773 369.2 42 086 2.9%
Belgium 30 326 11 352 437.2 38 514 1.7%
Germany 357 376 82 522 3 263.4 39 545 2.2%
Spain 504 712 46 528 1 163.7 25 010 3.1%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 110 372 7 102 50.4 7 101 3.6%
Croatia 56 594 4 154 48.7 11 717 2.8%
Cyprus 5 695 855 19.2 22 477 3.9%
Czech Republic 77 219 10 579 192.0 18 151 4.4%
Denmark 42 924 5 749 288.4 50 163 2.2%
Estonia 43 432 1 316 23.0 17 484 4.9%
Finland 303 892 5 503 223.5 40 616 2.6%
France1 647 795 66 989 2 287.6 34 149 1.8%
Greece 130 820 10 768 177.7 16 506 1.4%
Hungary 93 028 9 798 123.5 12 605 4.0%
Ireland 68 394 4 784 296.2 61 900 7.8%
Italy 295 114 60 589 1 716.9 28 337 1.5%
Latvia 62 210 1 950 26.9 13 772 4.5%
Lithuania 65 286 2 848 41.9 14 697 3.8%
Luxembourg 2 586 591 55.4 93 754 2.3%
Malta 315 460 11.1 24 134 6.6%
Netherlands 33 688 17 082 733.2 42 922 3.2%
Poland 306 194 37 973 465.6 12 261 4.6%
Portugal 92 226 10 310 193.0 18 725 2.7%
Romania 238 391 19 644 187.9 9 563 6.9%
Slovakia 49 036 5 435 85.0 15 636 3.4%
Slovenia 20 145 2 066 43.3 20 949 5.0%
Sweden 407 340 9 995 477.9 47 809 2.4%
United Kingdom 242 513 65 809 2 324.3 35 319 1.8%
EU28 4 370 032 511 523 15 326.5 29 962 2.4%
* Source : OECD and Eurostat regional database.
** Source: OECD and UE national accounts database (main aggregates)
*** In real terms 2017/2016
1. Total area and population include the five French outermost regions.

2
 Number of subnational governments*

2017-2018 Municipal Intermediary Regional or Total

level level state level

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 2 098 9 2 107
Belgium 589 10 6 605
Germany 11 054 401 16 11 471
Spain 8 124 50 17 8 191
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 265 265
Croatia 556 21 576
Cyprus 380 380
Czech Republic 6 258 14 6 272
Denmark 98 5 103
Estonia 79 79
Finland 311 1 312
France 35 357 101 18 35 476
Greece 325 13 338
Hungary 3 178 19 3 197
Ireland 31 31
Italy 7 960 20 7 980
Latvia 119 119
Lithuania 60 60
Luxembourg 102 102
Malta 68 68
Netherlands 380 12 392
Poland 2 478 380 16 2 874
Portugal 308 2 310
Romania 3 181 42 3 223
Slovak Republic 2 930 8 2 938
Slovenia 212 212
Sweden 290 21 311
United Kingdom 391 27 3 421
EU28 87 182 969 263 88 413

* Country notes: see following sheet.

3
 Number of subnational governments*

Country notes
Federations & quasi-federations
1. Austria: the municipal level comprises statutory cities, towns, markets and villages. The nine Bundesländer
include Vienna.
2. Belgium: the upper level consists of six federated entities (three language communities and three regions).
3. Germany: the intermediary level comprises 294 rural districts and 107 district-free cities.
4. Spain: the two “foral” autonomous communities (Basque Country and Navarra) retain more autonomy than
the other regions. Local subdivisions vary according to the autonomous communities. The two autonomous cities
of Ceuta and Melilla are included in the number of municipalities but not in the number of provinces.

Unitary countries
5. Bulgaria: municipalities are sub-divided into smaller towns and villages, totalling 4 991 as of 31 December 2017.
6. Croatia: the number of regions includes the city of Zagreb which has the status of both a county and a city.
The municipal level comprises 128 towns and 428 municipalities.
7. Cyprus: the municipal level includes municipalities and communities.
8. Czech Republic: the municipal level includes municipalities, towns and statutory cities. The number of
regions includes Prague.
9. Denmark: the number of municipalities does not include Christiansø which has a special status.
10. Estonia: the number of municipalities decreased from 213 to 79 (14 of which are urban and 65 rural)
following the administrative reform completed in October 2017.
11. Finland: there are 19 regional councils but only one has an autonomous administration (the island region
of Åland); the other 18 regional entities are statutory joint municipal boards. A reform is under way with the
goal of transforming them into self-governing regions as of 1 January 2019.
12. France: the total number of subnational governments in each level includes those of Corsica and outermost
regions. Following the 2015 regional reform, there are 13 regions instead of 22 in mainland France and 5 outermost
regions (Martinique, Guadeloupe, Guyane, La Réunion and Mayotte). Municipalities are undergoing continuous
consolidation since the creation of the status of the “new municipality” (commune nouvelle) in 2010. From
1 January 2015 to 1 January 2018, 567 “new municipalities” have been created as a result of the association
of 1 893 municipalities.
13. Greece: since the 2010-2011 Kallikratis reform, municipalities are divided into sub-municipal localities
(local and municipal communities). The reform also created 13 self-governing regions from the previous 54
prefectures.
14. Hungary: “settlements” include the capital city of Budapest and its 23 districts, towns of county rank,
towns and villages. The number of counties excludes Budapest.
15. Ireland: the new municipal level established with the 2014 Local Government Act includes 31 county and
city councils. The 2014 reform also created a nationally representative system of sub-county governance, the
Municipal Districts.

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Unitary countries (continued)

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16. Italy: since the introduction of Law n° 56/2014, effective in January 2015, the intermediate level
is no longer composed of directly elected governments, but rather of 14 Metropolitan cities and 84
Provinces, to which are added the Free Municipal Consortia of Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Enna, Ragusa,
Syracuse and Trapani. Their representatives are now elected by mayors and municipal councillors.
Among the 20 regions, 15 have an ordinary status and 5 have a special status (i.e. Sardinia, Sicily,
Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Aosta Valley and Friuli-Venezia Giulia).
17. Latvia: since the 2011 municipal amalgamation reform, Latvia has 119 local governments, including
110 counties and 9 cities under state jurisdiction. Counties are divided into sub-municipal divisions,
including 76 towns under county jurisdiction and 497 civil parishes under county jurisdiction.
19. Luxembourg: since 1 January 2018, the date of entry into force of the last three amalgamation
laws, the number of municipalities decreased from 105 to 102.
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20. Malta: the municipal level is composed of Local Councils.

21. Netherlands: the gradual decrease in the number of municipalities has continued, from 388 in
II

January 2017 to 380 in January 2018 (there were 443 municipalities in 2007). District Water Boards,
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which are considered as decentralised local governments in the national legislation, are excluded from
the count reported in the table.
22. Poland: the total number of counties (powiats) includes 314 counties and 66 cities with county
status.
23. Portugal: municipalities are subdivided into 3 092 sub-municipal localities (freguesias). The
regional level comprises the two autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira.
24. Romania: the number of regions includes the municipality of Bucharest which also has the county
status. The municipal level comprises 320 towns and municipalities and 2 861 communes. Romania also
has a sub-municipal level composed of 12 957 villages.
25. Slovak Republic: the municipal level includes cities, rural municipalities, city districts in Bratislava
(17) and Košice (22), as well as three military districts.
26. Slovenia: among the municipalities, there are 11 urban municipalities with a special status. There
is also a structured sub-municipal level (6 035 settlements).
27. Sweden: among the 21 county councils, 13 have additional responsibilities such as regional
development. In the rest of the country, responsibility for regional development falls on 6 indirectly
elected County Cooperation Bodies, 1 municipality (which also have the role of a County Council) and
1 County Administrative Board.
28. United Kingdom: the three devolved administrations at the regional level are Northern Ireland,
Scotland and Wales. The municipal level consists of 326 local authorities in England, 22 in Wales, 32
in Scotland and, since 1 April 2015, 11 local councils in Northern Ireland (formerly 26). The intermediary
level consists of 27 county councils (only in England). In addition, there is a structured sub-municipal
level of approximately: 9 500 parish councils in England, 730 community councils in Wales, and 1 200
in Scotland.
 Municipality size

2016-2017 Average Average number Median municipal Average

municipal of municipalities size* (number municipal
size* (number per 100 000 of inhabitants) area (km2)
of inhabitants) inhabitants*

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 4 166 24.0 1 790 39.3
Belgium 19 177 5.2 12 045 51.5
Germany 7 449 13.4 1 710 32.3
Spain 5 720 17.5 565 62.1
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 26 604 3.8 10 326 416
Croatia 7 472 13.4 2 865 102
Cyprus 2 250 44.4 n.a. 15
Czech Republic 1 688 59.2 420 12
Denmark 58 459 1.7 42 850 438
Estonia 16 657 6.0 7 707 550
Finland 17 670 5.7 6 060 977
1
France 1 885 53.1 435 16
Greece 33 181 3.0 21 062 403
Hungary 3 088 32.4 815 29
Ireland 151 078 0.7 122 900 2 206
Italy 7 617 13.1 2 430 37
Latvia 16 476 6.1 6 595 523
Lithuania 47 465 2.1 28 342 1 088
Luxembourg 5 727 17.5 2 520 25
Malta 6 477 13.6 4 083 5
Netherlands 44 816 2.2 26 515 89
Poland 15 507 6.4 7 540 124
Portugal 33 524 3.0 14 380 299
Romania 6 986 14.3 3 110 75
Slovak Republic 1 854 54.0 655 17
Slovenia 9 739 10.3 4 730 95
Sweden 34 218 2.9 15 435 1 405
United Kingdom 167 898 0.6 132 240 620
EU28 5 867 17.0 n.a. 50

* Average calculations are based on population data as of 2016.

1. Calculations do not comprise French Guyana for France.

5
 Municipalities by population size class

% of municipalities
2015-2016* Less than 2 000 2 000 to 4 999 5 000 to 19 999 20 000 or more
inhabitants inhabitants inhabitants inhabitants

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 55% 33% 10% 1%
Belgium 1% 11% 62% 26%
Germany 54% 20% 20% 6%
Spain 72% 12% 11% 5%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 4% 15% 55% 26%
Croatia 32% 41% 21% 5%
Cyprus 83% 9% 5% 2%
Czech Republic 89% 7% 3% 1%
Denmark 1% 2% 4% 93%
1
Estonia 5% 16% 70% 9%
Finland 14% 29% 40% 18%
France 86% 9% 4% 1%
Greece 7% 6% 33% 54%
Hungary 76% 15% 7% 2%
Ireland 0% 0% 0% 100%
Italy 44% 26% 24% 6%
Latvia 5% 30% 45% 19%
Lithuania 0% 3% 22% 75%
Luxembourg 37% 37% 23% 3%
Malta 19% 35% 43% 3%
Netherlands 1% 1% 30% 69%
Poland 1% 25% 61% 14%
Portugal 2% 11% 46% 41%
Romania 22% 53% 21% 3%
Slovak Republic 85% 10% 3% 2%
Slovenia 12% 40% 40% 8%
Sweden 0% 5% 53% 42%
United Kingdom 0% 0% 0% 100%
EU28 (UWA) 29% 18% 27% 26%
* Previous years may have been used for some countries (based on last available census).
.
1. Data are from 2018, after the municipal amalgamation reform ended in 2017.

6
 Public expenditure

2017 EUR billions EUR per capita % GDP

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 181.2 20 653 49.1%
Belgium 229.0 20 171 52.4%
Germany 1 433.4 17 369 43.9%
Spain 477.3 10 259 41.0%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 17.8 2 500 35.2%
Croatia 22.0 5 304 45.3%
Cyprus 7.3 8 572 38.1%
Czech Republic 74.5 7 044 38.8%
Denmark 149.6 26 024 51.9%
Estonia 9.2 7 029 40.2%
Finland 120.1 21 824 53.7%
France 1 291.9 19 286 56.5%
Greece 85.3 7 924 48.0%
Hungary 57.4 5 861 46.5%
Ireland 77.2 16 137 26.1%
Italy 839.6 13 857 48.9%
Latvia 10.2 5 238 38.0%
Lithuania 13.9 4 889 33.3%
Luxembourg 23.7 40 179 42.9%
Malta 4.1 8 816 36.5%
Netherlands 312.0 18 266 42.6%
Poland 191.9 5 054 41.2%
Portugal 88.6 8 589 45.9%
Romania 62.7 3 192 33.4%
Slovakia 34.4 6 320 40.4%
Slovenia 18.6 9 025 43.1%
Sweden 234.5 23 459 49.1%
United Kingdom 954.4 14 503 41.1%
EU28 7 021.9 13 728 45.8%

7
 Subnational government expenditure

EUR EUR % GDP % public

2017 billions per capita expenditure

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 64.0 7 292 17.3% 35.3%
Local government alone 30.6 3 485 8.3% 16.9%
Belgium 116.4 10 258 26.6% 50.9%
Local government alone 31.3 2 753 7.1% 13.7%
Germany 681.7 8 261 20.9% 47.6%
Local government alone 257.5 3 120 7.9% 18.0%
Spain 239.9 5 155 20.6% 50.3%
Local government alone 67.2 1 444 5.8% 14.1%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 3.6 501 7.1% 20.0%
Croatia 5.6 1 346 11.5% 25.4%
Cyprus 0.3 309 1.4% 3.6%
Czech Republic 20.3 1 918 10.6% 27.2%
Denmark 99.1 17 240 34.4% 66.2%
Estonia 2.3 1 720 9.8% 24.5%
Finland 48.4 8 796 21.7% 40.3%
France 255.3 3 811 11.2% 19.8%
Greece 6.1 567 3.4% 7.2%
Hungary 7.7 788 6.3% 13.4%
Ireland 6.2 1 295 2.1% 8.0%
Italy 239.2 3 948 13.9% 28.5%
Latvia 2.7 1 402 10.2% 26.8%
Lithuania 3.2 1 140 7.8% 23.3%
Luxembourg 2.7 4 584 4.9% 11.4%
Malta 0.0 87 0.4% 1.0%
Netherlands 98.0 5 735 13.4% 31.4%
Poland 62.1 1 635 13.3% 32.4%
Portugal 11.2 1 086 5.8% 12.6%
Romania 16.4 834 8.7% 26.1%
Slovakia 5.9 1 080 6.9% 17.1%
Slovenia 3.6 1 721 8.2% 19.1%
Sweden 119.9 11 993 25.1% 51.1%
United Kingdom 227.8 3 462 9.8% 23.9%
EU28 2 349.5 4 593 15.3% 33.5%
Local government alone 1 633.9 3 194 10.7% 23.3%

8
 Subnational expenditure category
as a share of public expenditure
2017 (% of public expenditure Compensation Public Current social
of the same category) of employees procurement* expenditure

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 54.6% 42.7% 12.2%
Local government alone 24.2% 24.2% 5.4%
Belgium 79.7% 48.9% 23.2%
Local government alone 32.4% 13.5% 3.0%
Germany 78.0% 38.3% 16.9%
Local government alone 25.6% 23.0% 8.9%
Spain 79.0% 83.1% 15.7%
Local government alone 18.1% 24.1% 0.6%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 35.5% 34.6% 0.8%
Croatia 46.7% 36.2% 2.8%
Cyprus 5.1% 11.5% 0.0%
Czech Republic 49.0% 37.9% 0.4%
Denmark 72.8% 64.8% 74.6%
Estonia 39.8% 31.9% 2.7%
Finland 74.9% 63.6% 9.2%
France 28.1% 31.6% 4.4%
Greece 10.8% 13.5% 2.4%
Hungary 22.2% 21.4% 0.7%
Ireland 8.4% 18.2% 4.9%
Italy 39.1% 75.2% 11.8%
Latvia 45.2% 40.4% 6.0%
Lithuania 43.9% 31.6% 3.4%
Luxembourg 18.9% 22.0% 0.4%
Malta 0.6% 3.0% 0.0%
Netherlands 60.7% 34.0% 11.0%
Poland 51.9% 46.4% 13.8%
Portugal 17.5% 29.8% 2.7%
Romania 42.0% 39.4% 5.0%
Slovakia 37.9% 20.8% 0.4%
Slovenia 34.6% 28.4% 2.8%
Sweden 76.9% 70.3% 24.2%
United Kingdom 34.4% 36.2% 15.6%
EU28 50.9% 44.1% 13.4%
Local government alone 35.0% 35.6% 9.5%
* Public procurement is defined here as the sum of intermediate consumption,
gross fixed capital formation and social transfers in kind via market producers.

9
 Breakdown of subnational
government expenditure by category
2017(% of subnational) Compensation Intermediate Current Subsidies Capital Other*
expenditure) of employees consumption social & current expenditure
expenditure transfers
Federations & quasi-federations
Austria 33.4% 19.2% 15.7% 18.9% 10.6% 2.2%
Local government alone 30.9% 22.6% 14.5% 17.6% 12.7% 1.7%
Belgium 36.8% 11.6% 22.0% 18.3% 9.9% 1.4%
Local government alone 55.7% 16.1% 10.6% 5.7% 10.9% 1.0%
Germany 28.2% 15.4% 19.4% 23.7% 10.8% 2.4%
Local government alone 24.5% 22.4% 27.0% 13.6% 11.2% 1.3%
Spain 40.5% 20.2% 13.6% 14.8% 8.7% 2.2%
Local government alone 33.1% 30.6% 1.9% 23.2% 10.3% 1.0%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 46.7% 29.6% 1.5% 9.4% 12.2% 0.5%
Croatia 46.3% 29.2% 3.9% 8.6% 11.8% 0.2%
Cyprus 45.2% 30.4% 0.0% 1.9% 21.2% 1.3%
Czech Republic 42.4% 28.9% 0.6% 12.2% 15.3% 0.7%
Denmark 32.8% 17.0% 38.9% 6.4% 4.5% 0.4%
Estonia 46.8% 27.6% 3.7% 3.3% 18.4% 0.3%
Finland 43.4% 33.5% 9.2% 3.8% 9.8% 0.3%
France 31.9% 20.2% 10.3% 14.9% 20.9% 1.8%
Greece 37.8% 27.4% 14.8% 0.8% 17.6% 1.5%
Hungary 38.3% 29.6% 1.7% 9.6% 20.6% 0.3%
Ireland 28.0% 27.4% 22.8% 0.5% 20.0% 1.4%
Italy 26.8% 29.7% 19.1% 10.1% 10.8% 3.5%
Latvia 45.6% 23.6% 6.9% 6.2% 16.7% 1.0%
Lithuania 54.2% 23.0% 5.5% 4.2% 13.0% 0.1%
Luxembourg 35.0% 22.2% 1.5% 7.4% 33.8% 0.1%
Malta 20.4% 66.4% 0.0% 0.0% 13.2% 0.2%
Netherlands 38.6% 27.0% 17.3% 4.7% 11.5% 0.8%
Poland 39.2% 25.4% 17.6% 4.7% 12.2% 1.0%
Portugal 33.3% 27.0% 8.4% 9.8% 19.4% 2.1%
Romania 46.7% 23.4% 6.6% 5.4% 17.1% 0.7%
Slovakia 50.3% 27.5% 1.1% 6.7% 13.7% 0.7%
Slovenia 46.7% 22.9% 5.8% 8.1% 16.1% 0.4%
Sweden 38.6% 21.9% 16.0% 4.3% 9.9% 9.3%
United Kingdom 31.7% 29.3% 24.5% 1.5% 10.6% 2.5%
EU28 33.0% 21.1% 18.1% 13.8% 11.6% 2.4%
Local government alone 32.6% 24.9% 18.5% 9.3% 12.4% 2.3%

* Other: paid taxes, financial charges (including interest), adjustment for

the change in net equity of households in pension funds.
10
 Breakdown of subnational government
expenditure by area (COFOG)
Education Social General Health Economic Other**
2016 (% of subnational
expenditure) protection* services affairs

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 16.6% 22.5% 13.9% 25.1% 14.1% 7.7%
Local government alone 16.9% 22.4% 16.0% 22.1% 11.5% 11.3%
Belgium 27.4% 24.3% 16.7% 3.0% 16.3% 12.4%
Local government alone 21.5% 20.6% 17.2% 0.5% 8.4% 31.7%
Germany 21.1% 27.5% 22.7% 2.2% 11.4% 15.1%
Local government alone 15.6% 35.6% 17.2% 2.1% 13.4% 16.2%
Spain 18.6% 7.4% 21.9% 27.2% 10.3% 14.6%
Local government alone 3.5% 9.6% 35.3% 1.3% 15.2% 35.2%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 32.2% 9.8% 10.2% 8.7% 10.3% 28.8%
Croatia 31.2% 3.7% 35.2% 22.0% 2.6% 5.3%
Cyprus 0.0% 0.0% 40.8% 0.0% 0.0% 59.2%
Czech Republic 28.4% 7.8% 12.4% 13.9% 17.8% 19.7%
Denmark 8.8% 56.2% 3.5% 24.3% 3.6% 3.6%
Estonia 39.5% 8.1% 7.2% 15.7% 13.6% 15.8%
Finland 17.6% 26.5% 17.2% 26.4% 6.5% 5.9%
France 14.7% 19.4% 19.3% 0.7% 18.6% 27.3%
Greece 9.0% 12.7% 26.0% 0.0% 20.5% 31.7%
Hungary 18.5% 11.7% 24.5% 4.2% 20.4% 20.8%
Ireland 10.3% 32.6% 5.1% 0.0% 18.7% 33.3%
Italy 6.1% 4.8% 15.3% 47.7% 12.7% 13.3%
Latvia 41.3% 12.0% 8.3% 9.6% 8.5% 20.3%
Lithuania 39.4% 10.0% 7.1% 19.8% 10.1% 13.6%
Luxembourg 10.2% 12.2% 26.5% 0.6% 15.0% 35.4%
Malta 0.0% 0.0% 36.8% 0.0% 17.4% 45.8%
Netherlands 30.7% 23.8% 6.9% 3.4% 13.4% 21.7%
Poland 27.6% 20.8% 9.9% 15.6% 11.8% 14.3%
Portugal 13.3% 7.8% 30.8% 6.3% 15.6% 26.3%
Romania 23.8% 13.7% 9.5% 15.1% 17.9% 20.0%
Slovakia 40.2% 7.5% 14.0% 3.6% 15.7% 19.0%
Slovenia 38.5% 11.8% 8.9% 12.3% 11.3% 17.2%
Sweden 21.0% 27.6% 10.6% 26.7% 6.5% 7.5%
United Kingdom 24.6% 35.8% 7.9% 2.0% 8.8% 20.7%
EU28 19.2% 23.1% 16.7% 13.3% 11.8% 15.9%
Local government alone 16.9% 24.8% 14.4% 13.8% 12.1% 18.0%
* Social protection expenditure includes both capital and current expenditure.
** Other: defence public order and safety housing and community
amenities recreation, culture and religion environmental protection.
11
 Breakdown of subnational government
expenditure by area (COFOG) as a % of GDP

2016 (% GDP) Education Social General Health Economic Other**

protection* services affairs

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 3.0% 4.1% 2.5% 4.6% 2.6% 1.4%
Local government alone 1.4% 1.9% 1.4% 1.9% 1.0% 1.0%
Belgium 7.3% 6.4% 4.4% 0.8% 4.3% 3.3%
Local government alone 1.5% 1.5% 1.2% 0.0% 0.6% 2.2%
Germany 4.5% 5.8% 4.8% 0.5% 2.4% 3.2%
Local government alone 1.2% 2.8% 1.4% 0.2% 1.1% 1.3%
Spain 3.9% 1.5% 4.5% 5.6% 2.1% 3.0%
Local government alone 0.2% 0.6% 2.0% 0.1% 0.9% 2.0%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 2.2% 0.7% 0.7% 0.6% 0.7% 2.0%
Croatia 3.6% 0.4% 4.1% 2.5% 0.3% 0.6%
Cyprus 0.0% 0.0% 0.6% 0.0% 0.0% 0.9%
Czech Republic 2.9% 0.8% 1.3% 1.4% 1.8% 2.0%
Denmark 3.1% 19.6% 1.2% 8.5% 1.3% 1.3%
Estonia 3.7% 0.8% 0.7% 1.5% 1.3% 1.5%
Finland 4.0% 6.0% 3.9% 6.0% 1.5% 1.3%
France 1.6% 2.2% 2.1% 0.1% 2.1% 3.0%
Greece 0.3% 0.5% 0.9% 0.0% 0.7% 1.1%
Hungary 1.1% 0.7% 1.5% 0.3% 1.2% 1.3%
Ireland 0.2% 0.7% 0.1% 0.0% 0.4% 0.7%
Italy 0.9% 0.7% 2.2% 6.8% 1.8% 1.9%
Latvia 3.9% 1.1% 0.8% 0.9% 0.8% 1.9%
Lithuania 3.1% 0.8% 0.6% 1.6% 0.8% 1.1%
Luxembourg 0.5% 0.6% 1.3% 0.0% 0.7% 1.7%
Malta 0.0% 0.0% 0.1% 0.0% 0.1% 0.2%
Netherlands 4.2% 3.3% 0.9% 0.5% 1.8% 3.0%
Poland 3.6% 2.7% 1.3% 2.0% 1.5% 1.8%
Portugal 0.8% 0.4% 1.7% 0.4% 0.9% 1.5%
Romania 2.1% 1.2% 0.9% 1.4% 1.6% 1.8%
Slovakia 2.6% 0.5% 0.9% 0.2% 1.0% 1.2%
Slovenia 3.2% 1.0% 0.7% 1.0% 0.9% 1.4%
Sweden 5.3% 6.9% 2.7% 6.7% 1.6% 1.9%
United Kingdom 2.5% 3.6% 0.8% 0.2% 0.9% 2.1%
EU28 3.0% 3.6% 2.6% 2.1% 1.8% 2.5%
Local government alone 1.8% 2.7% 1.5% 1.5% 1.3% 1.9%
* Social protection expenditure includes both capital and current expenditure.
** Other: defence public order and safety housing and community
amenities recreation. culture and religion environmental protection.
12
 Public investment

2017 EUR EUR % GDP % total

billions per capita expenditure

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 11.2 1 275 3.0% 6.2%
Belgium 9.8 861 2.2% 4.3%
Germany 68.9 834 2.1% 4.8%
Spain 24.0 516 2.1% 5.0%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 0.9 124 1.8% 5.0%
Croatia 1.3 318 2.7% 6.0%
Cyprus 0.5 633 2.8% 7.4%
Czech Republic 6.6 620 3.4% 8.8%
Denmark 9.5 1 654 3.3% 6.4%
Estonia 1.3 969 5.5% 13.8%
Finland 8.4 1 523 3.7% 7.0%
France 79.6 1 189 3.5% 6.2%
Greece 5.2 487 3.0% 6.1%
Hungary 5.1 516 4.1% 8.8%
Ireland 5.5 1 140 1.8% 7.1%
Italy 34.3 566 2.0% 4.1%
Latvia 1.1 541 3.9% 10.3%
Lithuania 1.3 462 3.1% 9.5%
Luxembourg 2.2 3 758 4.0% 9.4%
Malta 0.2 531 2.2% 6.0%
Netherlands 23.6 1 380 3.2% 7.6%
Poland 17.1 450 3.7% 8.9%
Portugal 3.4 333 1.8% 3.9%
Romania 5.3 270 2.8% 8.5%
Slovakia 2.7 488 3.1% 7.7%
Slovenia 1.3 638 3.0% 7.1%
Sweden 21.2 2 117 4.4% 9.0%
United Kingdom 58.5 888 2.5% 6.1%
EU28 409.8 801 2.7% 5.8%

13
 Subnational government investment

2017 EUR EUR % GDP % subnational % public

billions per capita expenditure investment

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 4.6 528 1.3% 7.2% 41.5%
Local government alone 3.1 349 0.8% 10.0% 27.4%
Belgium 8.7 766 2.0% 7.5% 89.0%
Local government alone 3.1 271 0.7% 9.9% 31.5%
Germany 45.4 551 1.4% 6.7% 66.0%
Local government alone 22.2 269 0.7% 8.6% 32.3%
Spain 16.3 350 1.4% 6.8% 67.8%
Local government alone 6.0 128 0.5% 8.9% 24.9%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 0.4 61 0.9% 12.1% 48.7%
Croatia 0.5 130 1.1% 9.7% 40.9%
Cyprus 0.0 58 0.3% 18.8% 9.2%
Czech Republic 3.0 282 1.6% 14.7% 45.5%
Denmark 4.3 754 1.5% 4.4% 45.6%
Estonia 0.4 303 1.7% 17.6% 31.3%
Finland 4.7 860 2.1% 9.8% 56.5%
France 45.5 680 2.0% 17.8% 57.2%
Greece 1.0 97 0.6% 17.0% 19.8%
Hungary 1.3 130 1.0% 16.5% 25.2%
Ireland 1.1 225 0.4% 17.4% 19.8%
Italy 18.2 300 1.1% 7.6% 52.9%
Latvia 0.4 227 1.7% 16.2% 42.1%
Lithuania 0.4 143 1.0% 12.6% 31.0%
Luxembourg 0.9 1 459 1.6% 31.8% 38.8%
Malta 0.0 11 0.0% 12.9% 2.1%
Netherlands 10.3 602 1.4% 10.5% 43.6%
Poland 6.9 182 1.5% 11.1% 40.4%
Portugal 1.9 181 1.0% 16.7% 54.4%
Romania 2.3 119 1.2% 14.3% 44.1%
Slovakia 0.8 147 0.9% 13.7% 30.2%
Slovenia 0.6 269 1.3% 15.7% 42.2%
Sweden 11.2 1 119 2.3% 9.3% 52.9%
United Kingdom 20.2 307 0.9% 8.9% 34.5%
EU28 211.5 413 1.4% 9.0% 51.6%
Local government alone 170.7 334 1.1% 10.4% 41.7%

14
 Subnational government investment
by area (COFOG)
2016 (% of subnational Economic Education General Housing and Environmental Other*
expenditure) affairs public community protection
services amenities
Federations & quasi-federations
Austria 35.4% 13.3% 10.7% 1.5% 1.1% 38.0%
Local government alone 34.4% 18.3% 12.0% 2.2% 1.0% 32.1%
Belgium 28.5% 24.0% 26.4% 3.8% 4.7% 12.7%
Local government alone 22.9% 17.2% 6.9% 9.4% 9.8% 33.8%
Germany 29.3% 20.1% 25.4% 5.0% 4.7% 15.6%
Local government alone 33.9% 26.3% 2.1% 9.6% 8.0% 20.1%
Spain 40.3% 8.3% 17.4% 7.0% 5.3% 21.7%
Local government alone 52.3% 2.4% 9.1% 13.6% 5.5% 17.1%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 12.6% 11.7% 3.5% 45.2% 7.3% 19.7%
Croatia 2.3% 6.4% 75.7% 0.1% 0.1% 15.3%
Cyprus 0.0% 0.0% 40.0% 27.9% 15.1% 16.9%
Czech Republic1 35.6% 19.3% n.a 0.1% 16.0% 28.9%
Denmark2 22.6% 18.3% 5.5% n.a 1.1% 52.5%
Estonia1 42.9% 29.0% n.a 4.8% 2.1% 21.3%
Finland2 24.7% 24.8% 11.2% n.a 0.3% 39.1%
France 29.8% 13.6% 16.0% 13.5% 10.2% 16.9%
Greece 73.5% 0.4% 3.1% 8.4% 8.2% 6.5%
Hungary 25.4% 8.7% 36.0% 3.1% 10.6% 16.2%
Ireland 36.5% 0.0% 6.9% 9.6% 6.2% 40.8%
Italy 26.3% 10.1% 13.4% 15.0% 7.6% 27.6%
Latvia2 23.1% 31.9% n.a 17.8% 1.5% 25.7%
Lithuania 47.1% 19.3% 4.6% 7.0% 0.9% 21.1%
Luxembourg 19.3% 9.8% 13.5% 7.3% 17.8% 32.3%
Malta 79.2% 0.0% 20.8% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Netherlands2 33.8% 24.2% 7.8% n.a 22.2% 12.0%
Poland2 43.3% 12.2% 10.2% n.a 6.0% 28.4%
Portugal 42.1% 5.4% 10.7% 9.5% 14.4% 17.9%
Romania 47.3% 6.1% 3.8% 18.3% 11.5% 13.0%
Slovakia 34.4% 17.2% 1.4% 22.2% 7.2% 17.5%
Slovenia 29.3% 14.5% 2.9% 17.3% 17.2% 18.7%
Sweden 15.2% 17.2% 21.2% 11.0% 1.0% 34.4%
United Kingdom 37.4% 11.1% 9.4% 35.7% 3.4% 3.1%
EU28 31.5% 15.5% 16.6% 10.5% 7.1% 18.9%
Local government alone 32.3% 15.6% 11.3% 12.7% 8.2% 19.9%
* Other: defence, public order and safety, health, recreation, culture and religion social protection.
1. Due to negative values (disinvestment), "general public services"
are not taken into account for the breakdown of investment by function.
2. Due to negative values (disinvestment), "housing and community amenities"
are not taken into account for the breakdown of investment by function.
15
 Public revenue

2017 EUR billions EUR per capita % GDP

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 178.6 20 358 48.4%
Belgium 224.5 19 773 51.3%
Germany 1 474.6 17 869 45.2%
Spain 441.1 9 480 37.9%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 18.2 2 567 36.1%
Croatia 22.4 5 393 46.0%
Cyprus 7.7 8 974 39.9%
Czech Republic 77.6 7 334 40.4%
Denmark 152.5 26 526 52.9%
Estonia 9.2 6 979 39.9%
Finland 118.8 21 592 53.2%
France 1 232.6 18 400 53.9%
Greece 86.8 8 059 48.8%
Hungary 55.0 5 615 44.5%
Ireland 76.2 15 925 25.7%
Italy 799.9 13 202 46.6%
Latvia 10.1 5 170 37.5%
Lithuania 14.1 4 967 33.8%
Luxembourg 24.6 41 599 44.4%
Malta 4.5 9 765 40.5%
Netherlands 320.0 18 735 43.7%
Poland 184.2 4 850 39.6%
Portugal 82.8 8 035 42.9%
Romania 57.2 2 913 30.5%
Slovakia 33.5 6 157 39.4%
Slovenia 18.7 9 032 43.1%
Sweden 240.6 24 067 50.3%
United Kingdom 909.5 13 821 39.1%
EU28 6 875.4 13 441 44.9%

16
 Public tax revenue

2017 EUR EUR % GDP % public

billions per capita revenue

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 100.2 11 424 27.1% 56.1%
Belgium 134.7 11 865 30.8% 60.0%
Germany 773.3 9 371 23.7% 52.4%
Spain 259.4 5 574 22.3% 58.8%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 10.7 1 511 21.3% 58.9%
Croatia 12.7 3 050 26.0% 56.6%
Cyprus 4.9 5 705 25.4% 63.6%
Czech Republic 38.7 3 660 20.2% 49.9%
Denmark 133.6 23 239 46.3% 87.6%
Estonia 5.1 3 845 22.0% 55.1%
Finland 69.6 12 650 31.1% 58.6%
France 681.0 10 165 29.8% 55.2%
Greece 49.0 4 552 27.6% 56.5%
Hungary 31.5 3 215 25.5% 57.3%
Ireland 55.7 11 636 18.8% 73.1%
Italy 502.6 8 296 29.3% 62.8%
Latvia 6.1 3 109 22.6% 60.1%
Lithuania 7.2 2 521 17.2% 50.7%
Luxembourg 15.2 25 771 27.5% 61.9%
Malta 3.0 6 511 27.0% 66.7%
Netherlands 180.2 10 551 24.6% 56.3%
Poland 98.0 2 580 21.0% 53.2%
Portugal 48.7 4 728 25.2% 58.8%
Romania 30.7 1 563 16.3% 53.7%
Slovakia 15.3 2 823 18.1% 45.8%
Slovenia 9.4 4 533 21.6% 50.2%
Sweden 196.1 19 617 41.0% 81.5%
United Kingdom 638.3 9 699 27.5% 70.2%
EU28 4 110.8 8 036 26.8% 59.8%

17
 Subnational government revenue

2017 EUR EUR % GDP % public

billions per capita revenue

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 64.0 7 290 17.3% 35.8%
Local government alone 30.4 3 467 8.2% 17.0%
Belgium 117.2 10 321 26.8% 52.2%
Local government alone 31.7 2 789 7.2% 14.1%
Germany 706.7 8 564 21.7% 47.9%
Local government alone 266.2 3 226 8.2% 18.1%
Spain 243.0 5 222 20.9% 55.1%
Local government alone 74.0 1 591 6.4% 16.8%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 3.7 519 7.3% 20.2%
Croatia 5.6 1 342 11.5% 24.9%
Cyprus 0.3 344 1.5% 3.8%
Czech Republic 21.9 2 070 11.4% 28.2%
Denmark 99.2 17 249 34.4% 65.0%
Estonia 2.2 1 677 9.6% 24.0%
Finland 48.2 8 754 21.6% 40.5%
France 256.1 3 823 11.2% 20.8%
Greece 6.5 608 3.7% 7.5%
Hungary 7.7 785 6.2% 14.0%
Ireland 6.4 1 332 2.2% 8.4%
Italy 239.9 3 959 14.0% 30.0%
Latvia 2.7 1 379 10.0% 26.7%
Lithuania 3.3 1 170 8.0% 23.6%
Luxembourg 2.8 4 723 5.0% 11.4%
Malta 0.0 97 0.4% 1.0%
Netherlands 96.9 5 673 13.2% 30.3%
Poland 62.5 1 645 13.4% 33.9%
Portugal 11.8 1 143 6.1% 14.2%
Romania 16.6 845 8.8% 29.0%
Slovakia 5.9 1 076 6.9% 17.5%
Slovenia 3.6 1 735 8.3% 19.2%
Sweden 118.5 11 860 24.8% 49.3%
United Kingdom 217.9 3 312 9.4% 24.0%
EU28 2 370.9 4 635 15.5% 34.5%
Local government alone 1 642.4 3 211 10.7% 23.9%

18
 Subnational government revenue
by type
2017 (% of subnational Taxes Grants & Tariffs Property Social
government revenue) subsidies & fees income contributions

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 10,0% 73,8% 11,3% 2,3% 2,6%
Local government alone 14,8% 65,2% 15,8% 2,2% 2,1%
Belgium 26,3% 56,7% 8,7% 1,7% 6,6%
Local government alone 30,5% 49,5% 12,0% 3,0% 5,0%
Germany 57,2% 26,3% 11,5% 1,1% 3,9%
Local government alone 39,0% 42,1% 16,0% 1,5% 1,4%
Spain 40,4% 51,1% 7,9% 0,4% 0,2%
Local government alone 51,2% 37,9% 9,8% 0,6% 0,4%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 12,8% 74,8% 9,3% 3,1% 0,0%
Croatia 36,8% 50,6% 10,6% 2,0% 0,0%
Cyprus 20,0% 45,4% 34,4% 0,1% 0,0%
Czech Republic 46,3% 38,9% 13,5% 1,1% 0,1%
Denmark 36,0% 58,9% 4,6% 0,3% 0,1%
Estonia 3,2% 85,3% 10,1% 0,9% 0,4%
Finland 47,3% 29,1% 21,3% 2,3% 0,0%
France 52,5% 30,3% 15,7% 1,1% 0,3%
Greece 25,8% 63,8% 9,5% 0,9% 0,0%
Hungary 35,4% 52,7% 11,2% 0,5% 0,1%
Ireland 20,0% 48,2% 27,6% 0,6% 3,6%
Italy 42,2% 44,6% 11,5% 1,1% 0,5%
Latvia 60,1% 31,2% 7,4% 0,5% 0,8%
Lithuania 4,4% 88,1% 6,0% 1,4% 0,0%
Luxembourg 30,9% 49,1% 19,1% 0,8% 0,1%
Malta 0,0% 92,4% 7,6% 0,0% 0,0%
Netherlands 10,3% 72,7% 13,3% 2,2% 1,4%
Poland 32,4% 58,4% 7,5% 1,2% 0,4%
Portugal 40,8% 33,2% 17,8% 2,8% 5,4%
Romania 10,2% 84,2% 4,0% 1,5% 0,0%
Slovakia 7,4% 74,3% 16,7% 1,0% 0,6%
Slovenia 40,8% 39,8% 17,7% 0,5% 1,3%
Sweden 54,5% 33,7% 9,3% 1,4% 1,0%
United Kingdom 17,2% 65,7% 14,8% 0,9% 1,5%
EU28 42,0% 43,3% 11,6% 1,2% 2,0%
Local government alone 37,3% 47,4% 13,1% 1,3% 0,9%

19
 Subnational government tax revenue

2017 EUR EUR % GDP % subnational % public

billions per capita revenue tax revenue

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 6.4 727 1.7% 10.0% 6.4%
Local government alone 4.5 513 1.2% 14.8% 4.5%
Belgium 30.8 2 710 7.0% 26.3% 22.8%
Local government alone 9.7 851 2.2% 30.5% 7.2%
Germany 404.1 4 897 12.4% 57.2% 52.3%
Local government alone 103.9 1 259 3.2% 39.0% 13.4%
Spain 98.1 2 108 8.4% 40.4% 37.8%
Local government alone 37.9 815 3.3% 51.2% 14.6%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 0.5 67 0.9% 12.8% 4.4%
Croatia 2.1 494 4.2% 36.8% 16.2%
Cyprus 0.1 69 0.3% 20.0% 1.2%
Czech Republic 10.1 958 5.3% 46.3% 26.2%
Denmark 35.7 6 214 12.4% 36.0% 26.7%
Estonia 0.1 54 0.3% 3.2% 1.4%
Finland 22.8 4 137 10.2% 47.3% 32.7%
France 134.6 2 009 5.9% 52.5% 19.8%
Greece 1.7 157 1.0% 25.8% 3.5%
Hungary 2.7 278 2.2% 35.4% 8.6%
Ireland 1.3 266 0.4% 20.0% 2.3%
Italy 101.3 1 671 5.9% 42.2% 20.1%
Latvia 1.6 829 6.0% 60.1% 26.7%
Lithuania 0.1 52 0.4% 4.4% 2.1%
Luxembourg 0.9 1 461 1.6% 30.9% 5.7%
Malta 0.0 0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Netherlands 10.0 587 1.4% 10.3% 5.6%
Poland 20.3 533 4.3% 32.4% 20.7%
Portugal 4.8 466 2.5% 40.8% 9.9%
Romania 1.7 86 0.9% 10.2% 5.5%
Slovakia 0.4 80 0.5% 7.4% 2.8%
Slovenia 1.5 707 3.4% 40.8% 15.6%
Sweden 64.6 6 464 13.5% 54.5% 32.9%
United Kingdom 37.4 568 1.6% 17.2% 5.9%
EU28 995.5 1 946 6.5% 42.0% 24.2%
Local government alone 612.1 1 197 4.0% 37.3% 14.9%

20
 Public budget balance and debt

2017 Budget balance Debt*

EUR billions % GDP EUR billions % GDP

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria -2.6 -0.7% Austria 289.5 78.4%
Belgium -4.5 -1.0% Belgium 452.2 103.1%
Germany 41.2 1.3% Germany 2 092.6 64.1%
Spain -36.2 -3.1% Spain 1 144.3 98.3%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 0.5 0.9% Bulgaria 12.8 25.4%
Croatia 0.4 0.8% Croatia 38.1 78.0%
Cyprus 0.3 1.8% Cyprus 18.7 97.5%
Czech Republic 3.1 1.6% Czech Republic 68.5 34.6%
Denmark 2.9 1.0% Denmark 104.9 36.4%
Estonia -0.1 -0.3% Estonia 2.1 9.0%
Finland -1.3 -0.6% Finland 137.3 61.4%
France -59.3 -2.6% France 2 218.4 97.0%
Greece 1.5 0.8% Greece 317.4 178.6%
Hungary -2.4 -2.0% Hungary 90.5 73.6%
Ireland -1.0 -0.3% Ireland 201.3 68.0%
Italy -39.7 -2.3% Italy 2 263.1 131.8%
Latvia -0.1 -0.5% Latvia 10.8 40.1%
Lithuania 0.2 0.5% Lithuania 16.6 39.7%
Luxembourg 0.8 1.5% Luxembourg 12.7 23.0%
Malta 0.4 3.9% Malta 5.6 50.8%
Netherlands 8.0 1.1% Netherlands 416.1 56.7%
Poland -7.7 -1.7% Poland 240.2 50.6%
Portugal -5.7 -3.0% Portugal 242.6 125.7%
Romania -5.5 -2.9% Romania 64.6 35.0%
Slovakia -0.9 -1.0% Slovakia 43.2 50.9%
Slovenia 0.0 0.0% Slovenia 31.9 73.6%
Sweden 6.1 1.3% Sweden 190.0 40.6%
United Kingdom -44.9 -1.9% United Kingdom 2 013.3 87.7%
EU28 -146.6 -1.0% EU28 12 504.7 81.6%

* Debt: EU definition.

21
 Subnational government
balance and debt
2017 Budget balance Debt*
EUR EUR % public
billions % GDP billions % GDP debt

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 0.0 0.0% Austria 36.6 9.9% 12.6%
Local government alone -0.2 0.0% 15.0 4.1% 5.2%
Belgium 0.7 0.2% Belgium 83.0 19.0% 18.4%
Local government alone 0.4 0.1% 23.9 5.5% 5.3%
Germany 25.0 0.8% Germany 759.3 23.3% 36.3%
Local government alone 8.8 0.3% 147.2 4.5% 7.0%
Spain 3.1 0.3% Spain 317.1 27.2% 27.7%
Local government alone 6.8 0.6% 29.0 2.5% 2.5%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 0.1 0.3% Bulgaria 0.6 1.2% 4.6%
Croatia 0.0 -0.0% Croatia 0.7 1.4% 1.8%
Cyprus 0.0 0.2% Cyprus 0.2 1.3% 1.3%
Czech Republic 1.6 0.8% Czech Republic 3.3 1.7% 4.8%
Denmark 0.1 0.0% Denmark 19.7 6.8% 18.8%
Estonia -0.1 -0.3% Estonia 0.8 3.3% 36.7%
Finland -0.2 -0.1% Finland 19.8 8.9% 14.5%
France 0.8 0.0% France 201.8 8.8% 9.1%
Greece 0.4 0.2% Greece 1.4 0.8% 0.4%
Hungary 0.0 -0.0% Hungary 0.4 0.3% 0.5%
Ireland 0.2 0.1% Ireland 4.3 1.4% 2.1%
Italy 0.7 0.0% Italy 128.2 7.5% 5.7%
Latvia 0.0 -0.2% Latvia 1.5 5.6% 13.9%
Lithuania 0.1 0.2% Lithuania 0.6 1.4% 3.5%
Luxembourg 0.1 0.1% Luxembourg 1.0 1.7% 7.5%
Malta 0.0 0.0% Malta 0.0 0.0% 0.1%
Netherlands -1.1 -0.1% Netherlands 56.2 7.7% 13.5%
Poland 0.4 0.1% Poland 17.6 3.8% 7.3%
Portugal 0.6 0.3% Portugal 10.3 5.4% 4.3%
Romania 0.2 0.1% Romania 3.5 1.8% 5.4%
Slovakia 0.0 -0.0% Slovakia 1.8 2.1% 4.2%
Slovenia 0.0 0.1% Slovenia 0.8 1.8% 2.4%
Sweden -1.3 -0.3% Sweden 50.5 10.6% 26.6%
United Kingdom -9.9 -0.4% United Kingdom 107.4 4.6% 5.3%
EU28 21.4 0.1% EU28 1 828.4 11.9% 14.6%
Local government alone 8.5 0.1% 847.4 5.5% 6.8%

* Debt: EU definition.

22
 European Structural and Investment Funds
(ESIF)*: implementation of EU financing
2014-2020
Planned 2014-2020 Planned 2014-2020 Decided (as of Certified (as of
(EUR billions) (EUR per capita**) 31/12/2017) 31/12/2017)

Federations & quasi-federations

Austria 4 923 561 57% 31%
Belgium 2 742 242 71% 13%
Germany 27 935 339 60% 21%
Spain 39 835 856 35% 10%
Unitary countries
Bulgaria 9 876 1 391 61% 14%
Croatia 10 727 2 582 43% 9%
Cyprus 917 1 073 49% 18%
Czech Republic 23 865 2 256 53% 11%
Denmark 1 547 269 62% 19%
Estonia 4 424 3 362 60% 19%
Finland 3 765 684 73% 41%
France 27 274 407 50% 19%
Greece 21 382 1 986 51% 17%
Hungary 25 014 2 553 100% 13%
Ireland 3 362 703 80% 30%
Italy 44 656 737 46% 9%
Latvia 5 634 2 889 62% 18%
Lithuania 8 386 2 945 51% 20%
Luxembourg 140 237 50% 30%
Malta 828 1 799 52% 8%
Netherlands 1 947 114 69% 21%
Poland 86 112 2 268 57% 13%
Portugal 25 856 2 508 67% 23%
Romania 30 883 1 572 44% 12%
Slovakia 15 287 2 813 52% 12%
Slovenia 3 931 1 903 52% 14%
Sweden 3 627 363 64% 25%
United Kingdom 16 471 250 71% 16
EU28 451 345 882 56% 15%

* The ESIF include five different funds: the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) at the European Social Fund (ESF),
the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.
** 2017 population Source: European Commission (2018), Open Data Portal for the European Structural and Investment Funds:
ESIF database: https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/

23
 Recommendation of the OECDCouncil
on Effective Public Investment
Across Levels of Government
The impact of public investment depends largely on how governments manage it, and notably
how different levels of government co-ordinate and develop capacities to design and implement
investment projects. To make the most of multi-level governance of public investment and to
promote good practices, the OECD has developed a Recommendation on Effective Public
Investment Across Levels of Government which has been adopted by the OECD Council in 2014
as an official OECD instrument.
PILLAR I
Co-ordinate public investment across levels of government and policies
1. Invest using an integrated strategy tailored to different places
2. Adopt effective instruments for co-ordinating across national and subnational levels
of governments
3. Co-ordinate horizontally among subnational governments to invest at the relevant scale

PILLAR II
Strengthen capacities for public investment and promote policy learning
across levels of government
4. Assess upfront the long-term impacts and risks of public investment
5. Engage with stakeholders throughout the investment cycle
6. Mobilise private actors and innovative financing arrangements to diversify sources
of funding and strengthen capacities
7. Reinforce the expertise of public officials and institutions involved in public investment
8. Focus on results and promote learning from experience

PILLAR III
Ensure proper framework conditions for public investment at all levels
of government
9. Develop a fiscal framework adapted to the investment objectives pursued
10. Require sound and transparent financial management at all levels of government
11. Promote transparency and strategic use of public procurement at all levels of government
12. Strive for quality and consistency in regulatory systems across levels of government

A Toolkit provides implementation guidance for the Recommendation. This on-line resource supports
implementation and peer learning, with indicators and good practices from countries, regions, and
municipalities. The objective is to help governments assess the strengths and weaknesses of their public
investment capacity, with a particular focus on the subnational level, and to help policy-makers set
priorities for improvement.

www.oecd.org/effective-public-investment-toolkit/
24
 Sources and methodology

SOURCES AND DISCLAIMER

Data at country level are derived mainly from Eurostat and the OECD National Accounts harmonised according to the
new standards of the System of National Accounts (SNA 2008 and ESA 2010), implemented by most EU countries since
December 2014. They are complemented by data from national statistical institutes for some countries or indicators (in
particular, territorial organisation). Data were extracted in May 2018 and are from 2017, unless otherwise specified.
Note by Turkey:
As regard to the Cyprus question, Turkey reserves its position as stated in its declaration of 1 May 2004. The information
in the report under the heading Cyprus relates to the southern part of the Island. There is no single authority representing
both Turkish and Greek Cypriot people on the Island. Turkey recognises the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Note by all the European Union Member States of the OECD and the European Commission:
The Republic of Cyprus is recognised by all members of the United Nations with the exception of Turkey. The information
in this report relates to the area under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.

METHODOLOGY
The term "public" is used for "general government" sector (S.13). It includes four sub-sectors: central/federal
government and related public entities (S.1311); federated governments ("states”) and related public entities (S.1312);
local governments i.e. regional and local governments and related public entities (S.1313) and social security funds (S.1314).
Data are consolidated within S.13 as well as within each subsector (neutralisation of financial cross-flows).
Subnational government: is defined here as the sum (non-consolidated) of subsectors S.1312 (federated government
or "state") and S.1313 (local government).
Expenditure: comprises current expenditure (compensation of employees, intermediate consumption, social expenditure,
subsidies and other currrent transfers, taxes, financial charges, adjustments) and capital expenditure.
Expenditure/investment by area are defined according to the ten functions defined in the Classification of the
Functions of Government (COFOG): general public services; defence; public order and safety; economic affairs; environmental
protection; housing and community amenities; health; recreation, culture and religion; education; and social protection.
Capital expenditure: consists of investments (see below) and capital transfers (i.e. investment grants and subsidies in
cash or in kind made by subnational governments to other institutional units).
Investment: includes gross capital formation and acquisitions, less disposals of non-financial non-produced assets. Gross
fixed capital formation (or fixed investment) is the main component of investments. NB: since the new standards of the
SNA 2008/ESA 2010, expenditures on research and development and weapons systems are included in gross fixed capital
formation.
Revenue: comprises tax revenue, transfers (current and capital grants and subsidies), tariffs and fees, property income
and social contributions.
Tax revenue: comprises taxes on production and imports (D2), current taxes on income and wealth (D5) and capital
taxes (D91). It includes both own-source (or "autonomous") taxes and shared taxes (tax revenue shared between
central and subnational governments). NB: the SNA 2008/ESA 2010 has introduced some changes concerning the
classification of some shared taxes. In several countries, certain tax receipts have been recently reclassified as transfers
and no longer as shared taxes.
Budget balance: deficit/surplus is defined as the net lending/net borrowing. It measures the difference between all
expenditure and revenue.
Debt: based on ESA 2010 and EU Maastricht protocol, gross debt includes the sum of the following liabilities: currency
and deposits + debt securities + loans. It differs from the OECD definition which also includes insurance pension and
standardised guarantees and other accounts payable. Most debt instruments are valued at market prices.
Currency: data were extracted in euros.
EU averages are weighted, unless otherwise specified (i.e. unweighted average or UWA).

Please cite as:

OECD (2018), Key data on Local and Regional Governments
in the European Union (brochure), OECD, Paris,
www.oecd.org/regional/regional-policy
Contact: isabelle.chatry@oecd.org © OECD 2018