
Gross debt in Portugal
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 Portugal in the period from 1998 to 2021 was between 61.7 billion and 318.4 billion USD. The highest level of the last years at 318 billion US Dollar was reached in 2021. The budget deficit in the same year was 7.1 billion USD.
Based on the number of inhabitants, this is a debt of 30,839 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 | Portugal total | Portugal per capita | EU per capita |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | 61.68 bn USD | 6,070 USD | 14,079 USD |
1999 | 62.52 bn USD | 6,118 USD | 14,032 USD |
2000 | 64.27 bn USD | 6,246 USD | 11,232 USD |
2001 | 69.77 bn USD | 6,733 USD | 11,255 USD |
2002 | 80.94 bn USD | 7,768 USD | 12,258 USD |
2003 | 105.58 bn USD | 10,095 USD | 15,286 USD |
2004 | 127.07 bn USD | 12,121 USD | 17,595 USD |
2005 | 142.52 bn USD | 13,569 USD | 18,327 USD |
2006 | 153.81 bn USD | 14,618 USD | 18,877 USD |
2007 | 174.91 bn USD | 16,590 USD | 20,898 USD |
2008 | 199.26 bn USD | 18,873 USD | 24,086 USD |
2009 | 214.82 bn USD | 20,327 USD | 25,361 USD |
2010 | 238.62 bn USD | 22,569 USD | 26,496 USD |
2011 | 280.43 bn USD | 26,562 USD | 29,231 USD |
2012 | 279.01 bn USD | 26,535 USD | 28,174 USD |
2013 | 297.60 bn USD | 28,458 USD | 29,981 USD |
2014 | 305.63 bn USD | 29,385 USD | 30,648 USD |
2015 | 261.56 bn USD | 25,252 USD | 25,918 USD |
2016 | 271.46 bn USD | 26,291 USD | 26,261 USD |
2017 | 279.23 bn USD | 27,109 USD | 27,024 USD |
2018 | 294.38 bn USD | 28,625 USD | 28,448 USD |
2019 | 279.85 bn USD | 27,206 USD | 27,168 USD |
2020 | 308.94 bn USD | 30,003 USD | 30,783 USD |
2021 | 318.42 bn USD | 30,839 USD | 33,695 USD |
Comparison of gross debt per capita with the European Union in U.S. dollars
Budget deficit in Portugal

The budget balance in Portugal in the period between 1998 and 2021 varied between -27.14 billion euros and +276.74 million euros. In 2021, Portugal reached a balance of -7.07 billion euros.
In ratio to population, this equals a new indebtedness of 685 euros per capita in Portugal 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 | Portugal total | Portugal per capita | EU per capita |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | -3,999.96 M USD | -394 USD | -398 USD |
1999 | -3,369.53 M USD | -330 USD | -204 USD |
2000 | -3,842.73 M USD | -373 USD | 112 USD |
2001 | -5,732.20 M USD | -553 USD | -299 USD |
2002 | -4,498.41 M USD | -432 USD | -565 USD |
2003 | -5,966.40 M USD | -570 USD | -840 USD |
2004 | -11,740.80 M USD | -1,120 USD | -920 USD |
2005 | -12,225.27 M USD | -1,164 USD | -822 USD |
2006 | -9,033.41 M USD | -859 USD | -568 USD |
2007 | -7,235.42 M USD | -686 USD | -360 USD |
2008 | -9,745.67 M USD | -923 USD | -1,085 USD |
2009 | -24,155.29 M USD | -2,286 USD | -2,021 USD |
2010 | -27,140.66 M USD | -2,567 USD | -1,970 USD |
2011 | -18,784.48 M USD | -1,779 USD | -1,462 USD |
2012 | -13,362.31 M USD | -1,271 USD | -1,220 USD |
2013 | -11,558.19 M USD | -1,105 USD | -1,027 USD |
2014 | -16,911.67 M USD | -1,626 USD | -852 USD |
2015 | -8,870.45 M USD | -856 USD | -577 USD |
2016 | -3,994.36 M USD | -387 USD | -423 USD |
2017 | -6,543.45 M USD | -635 USD | -263 USD |
2018 | -845.71 M USD | -82 USD | -139 USD |
2019 | 276.74 M USD | 27 USD | -197 USD |
2020 | -13,345.69 M USD | -1,296 USD | -2,312 USD |
2021 | -7,069.12 M USD | -685 USD | -1,787 USD |
(negative numbers = deficit)