Euro Area Private Debt to GDP

Credit to the private non-financial sector (households and companies) as a percentage of GDP.

Private Debt to GDP in the Euro Area increased to 153.50 percent of GDP in Q1 2026 from 153.30 percent of GDP in Q4 2025.

153.5%
▲ +0.2 ppQ1 2026 · previous 153.3%Quarterly · percent of GDP · Source: Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

Euro Area Private Debt to GDP — History

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Euro Area Private Debt to GDP — analysis in simple words

Latest reading

Private Debt to GDP in the Euro Area increased to 153.50 percent of GDP in Q1 2026 from 153.30 percent of GDP in Q4 2025.

Over the last three quarters it rose once and fell twice.

Recent trend

A year earlier (Q1 2025) it was 155.3%, so the latest figure is 1.8 percentage points lower.

Over the past five years the average was 162.9%, with a range from 153.3% to 179.2%. The latest value is below that five-year average.

Historical context

This data series starts in Q1 1999 and has 109 quarterly observations. The latest reading is higher than 35% of all of them.

The highest value on record is 184.1% (Q1 2021) and the lowest is 112.5% (Q1 1999). The long-run average is 155.7%.

Statistics

Latest
153.5%Q1 2026
Previous
153.3%
5-year average
162.9%
Long-run average
155.7%since Q1 1999
All-time high
184.1%Q1 2021
All-time low
112.5%Q1 1999
Observations
109Quarterly

Recent Data

PeriodValueChange
Q1 2026153.5%▲ +0.2 pp
Q4 2025153.3%▼ −0.4 pp
Q3 2025153.7%▼ −0.8 pp
Q2 2025154.5%▼ −0.8 pp
Q1 2025155.3%▼ −0.5 pp
Q4 2024155.8%▼ −0.4 pp
Q3 2024156.2%▼ −0.9 pp
Q2 2024157.1%▼ −0.3 pp
Q1 2024157.4%▼ −1.9 pp
Q4 2023159.3%▼ −1.3 pp
Q3 2023160.6%▼ −1.8 pp
Q2 2023162.4%▼ −2.2 pp
Q1 2023164.6%▼ −3.1 pp
Q4 2022167.7%▼ −3.0 pp
Q3 2022170.7%▼ −0.7 pp
Q2 2022171.4%▼ −1.7 pp
Q1 2022173.1%▼ −1.9 pp
Q4 2021175.0%▼ −2.0 pp
Q3 2021177.0%▼ −2.2 pp
Q2 2021179.2%▼ −4.9 pp
Q1 2021184.1%▲ +1.7 pp
Q4 2020182.4%▲ +2.3 pp
Q3 2020180.1%▲ +2.7 pp
Q2 2020177.4%▲ +8.6 pp
Q1 2020168.8%▲ +2.5 pp
Q4 2019166.3%▼ −1.1 pp
Q3 2019167.4%▲ +0.1 pp
Q2 2019167.3%▲ +0.4 pp
Q1 2019166.9%▲ +0.2 pp
Q4 2018166.7%

Private Debt to GDP — Euro Area vs Peers

Latest available reading for each economy (periods may differ). Euro Area highlighted.

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More Euro Area indicators

Understanding Private Debt to GDP — a simple guide

What it measures

Credit to the private non-financial sector — households and non-financial companies — as a percentage of GDP (BIS).

How it is calculated

Loans and debt securities owed by households and non-financial companies ÷ GDP × 100 (BIS).

Simple example

A ratio of 90% means private borrowers owe almost one year of national output.

▲ When it is high or rising

High or fast-rising private debt can increase financial stability risks.

▼ When it is low or falling

Low private debt can mean room for credit growth, or limited access to finance.

Why it matters for the economy and markets

Private leverage affects financial stability; rapid credit booms have historically preceded banking stress.

How to read it

The BIS “credit-to-GDP gap” approach looks at how far the ratio is above its long-run trend rather than the level alone.

Data source

Bank for International Settlements (BIS) (series WS_TC/P.A.M.770.A), quarterly data from Q1 1999 to Q1 2026. Values are shown exactly as published by the source and may be revised later.

How to use the chart

Use the 5Y / 10Y / 25Y / Max buttons to change the time range, or drag the slider under the chart. Hover (or tap) on the line to see the exact value for any period. Dashed lines and hatched bars are IMF projections, not actual data. The “Download CSV” button gives you the full data series.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current private debt to gdp of Euro Area?
Euro Area private debt to gdp was 153.5% in Q1 2026, compared with 153.3% in the previous period, according to Bank for International Settlements (BIS).
What is the highest and lowest private debt to gdp of Euro Area?
Since Q1 1999, the highest reading was 184.1% (Q1 2021) and the lowest was 112.5% (Q1 1999).
What does private debt to gdp measure?
Credit to the private non-financial sector — households and non-financial companies — as a percentage of GDP (BIS).

Data are sourced from official international organisations (IMF, World Bank, BIS) and national authorities, and are shown for educational and informational purposes only. They are not investment advice and no recommendation is made. Figures may be revised by the source; IMF figures for the current and future years are projections. This page was last updated on Saturday, October 17, 2026.