OECD Fiscal Comparisons

The scatter plot above maps each country's government revenue against spending as a share of GDP. Countries above the diagonal balance line run a surplus; those below run a deficit. Bubble size reflects population. Use the Countries panel below the chart to filter countries, or click a bubble to track it through time in Journey Mode.

The fiscal balance — revenue minus spending — is a core indicator of government sustainability. Persistent deficits require borrowing, adding to public debt. Surpluses, while rare, can build buffers for downturns. During crises like the 2008 financial crash or the 2020 pandemic, nearly all countries swing into deep deficit as spending surges and tax receipts collapse.

Revenue as a share of GDP varies widely across Europe. Nordic countries like Finland and France typically collect over 50% of GDP in revenue, while Ireland and the Baltic states sit well below 40%. These differences reflect fundamentally different social contracts about the size and role of government.

Spending patterns tell a parallel story but diverge from revenue in important ways. Countries with ageing populations and generous pension systems — France, Italy, Greece — tend to spend more than they collect. The gap between revenue and spending is the fiscal balance, shown above.