
Gross debt in the Netherlands
The government gross debt refers to the total of all sums of money that have to be paid to other countries, communities or institutions. Not included in the gross debt are the demands of a country to foreign ones.The gross debt in the Netherlands in the period from 1998 to 2021 was between 213.5 billion and 605.5 billion USD. The hightest level within the past 23 years was reached in 2014. However, the liabilities in 2021 have been only 530 billion USD The budget deficit in the same year was 25.9 billion USD.
Based on the number of inhabitants, this is a debt of 30,227 USD per person. For comparison, the average debt per person in the same year in the European Union was 33,695 USD.
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Gross debt of the last 23 years in billion USD
Year | Netherlands total | Netherlands per capita | EU per capita |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | 264.75 bn USD | 16,855 USD | 14,079 USD |
1999 | 251.62 bn USD | 15,913 USD | 14,032 USD |
2000 | 217.50 bn USD | 13,657 USD | 11,232 USD |
2001 | 213.50 bn USD | 13,306 USD | 11,255 USD |
2002 | 231.32 bn USD | 14,324 USD | 12,258 USD |
2003 | 290.09 bn USD | 17,879 USD | 15,286 USD |
2004 | 331.24 bn USD | 20,344 USD | 17,595 USD |
2005 | 341.18 bn USD | 20,906 USD | 18,327 USD |
2006 | 331.63 bn USD | 20,288 USD | 18,877 USD |
2007 | 364.80 bn USD | 22,269 USD | 20,898 USD |
2008 | 520.66 bn USD | 31,659 USD | 24,086 USD |
2009 | 494.77 bn USD | 29,931 USD | 25,361 USD |
2010 | 502.03 bn USD | 30,215 USD | 26,496 USD |
2011 | 558.52 bn USD | 33,458 USD | 29,231 USD |
2012 | 555.51 bn USD | 33,155 USD | 28,174 USD |
2013 | 593.62 bn USD | 35,325 USD | 29,981 USD |
2014 | 605.50 bn USD | 35,903 USD | 30,648 USD |
2015 | 494.88 bn USD | 29,214 USD | 25,918 USD |
2016 | 485.28 bn USD | 28,495 USD | 26,261 USD |
2017 | 474.82 bn USD | 27,717 USD | 27,024 USD |
2018 | 479.16 bn USD | 27,807 USD | 28,448 USD |
2019 | 441.72 bn USD | 25,467 USD | 27,168 USD |
2020 | 496.62 bn USD | 28,474 USD | 30,783 USD |
2021 | 529.98 bn USD | 30,227 USD | 33,695 USD |
Comparison of gross debt per capita with the European Union in U.S. dollars
Budget deficit in the Netherlands

The budget balance in the Netherlands in the period between 1998 and 2021 varied between -45.07 billion euros and +15.67 billion euros. In 2021, the Netherlands reached a balance of -26 billion euros.
In ratio to population, this equals a new indebtedness of 1,476 euros per capita in the Netherlands in 2021. For comparison, the average debt per capita in the European Union in the same year was 1,787 euros.
Budget deficit and surplus in the last 23 years
Year | Netherlands total | Netherlands per capita | EU per capita |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | -3.49 bn USD | -222 USD | -398 USD |
1999 | 1.71 bn USD | 108 USD | -204 USD |
2000 | 7.61 bn USD | 478 USD | 112 USD |
2001 | -0.97 bn USD | -60 USD | -299 USD |
2002 | -9.18 bn USD | -569 USD | -565 USD |
2003 | -16.85 bn USD | -1,039 USD | -840 USD |
2004 | -11.23 bn USD | -690 USD | -920 USD |
2005 | -1.74 bn USD | -106 USD | -822 USD |
2006 | 1.53 bn USD | 94 USD | -568 USD |
2007 | -0.78 bn USD | -48 USD | -360 USD |
2008 | 1.92 bn USD | 117 USD | -1,085 USD |
2009 | -45.03 bn USD | -2,724 USD | -2,021 USD |
2010 | -45.07 bn USD | -2,712 USD | -1,970 USD |
2011 | -40.35 bn USD | -2,417 USD | -1,462 USD |
2012 | -33.66 bn USD | -2,009 USD | -1,220 USD |
2013 | -26.30 bn USD | -1,565 USD | -1,027 USD |
2014 | -20.19 bn USD | -1,197 USD | -852 USD |
2015 | -16.01 bn USD | -945 USD | -577 USD |
2016 | 0.09 bn USD | 5 USD | -423 USD |
2017 | 10.98 bn USD | 641 USD | -263 USD |
2018 | 13.07 bn USD | 758 USD | -139 USD |
2019 | 15.67 bn USD | 903 USD | -197 USD |
2020 | -33.79 bn USD | -1,938 USD | -2,312 USD |
2021 | -25.89 bn USD | -1,476 USD | -1,787 USD |
(negative numbers = deficit)