Public money
Where does the government’s money come from?
In 2025, all levels of government in the European Union together received € 8,744 billion. That is about € 19,400 per inhabitant, or € 1,610 per month.
Good to know (click to read)
- "Per inhabitant" is an average: we divide everything by the number of inhabitants, babies and pensioners included. What you pay yourself depends on your wages, what you buy and where you live.
- Part of the taxes is paid by companies, not by the inhabitants themselves.
- If the government spends more than it receives, it borrows the difference. That is how the debt grows.
Where does each euro come from?
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Taxes on income and wealth 29 % · € 5,530 per inhabitant
Personal income tax on your wages or pension, corporation tax paid by companies, tax on savings…
-
Taxes on what you buy 28 % · € 5,340 per inhabitant
VAT, excise duties on fuel, tobacco and alcohol, registration duties…
Of which VAT: € 1,358 billion.
-
Social contributions 31 % · € 5,970 per inhabitant
What employees, employers and the self-employed pay for pensions, illness and unemployment.
-
Other income 13 % · € 2,520 per inhabitant
Interest and dividends, sales of services (e.g. tickets, entrance fees), money from the EU…
Income and spending in 2025
- Received
- € 8,744 billion
- Spent
- € 9,336 billion
Deficit: € 1,310 per inhabitant
The government borrows that difference.
Government debt (2025)
82 % of GDP
About € 34,100 per inhabitant.
GDP is everything a country earns together in a year. 100% means: the debt is as big as one year of income for the whole country. The European rules ask for 60% at most.
Debt as % of GDP, per year
Source: Eurostat, government revenue (gov_10a_main) and debt (gov_10dd_edpt1), CC BY 4.0. All levels of government together, including social security.