Budget deficit
General government balance (deficit or surplus) as a share of GDP, annually since 1995.
- Latest
- −4.7%2025
- over one year
- +0.4 pp2024: −5.1%
- Record high
- −1.8%2016
- Record low
- −9.3%2006
- Data since
- 1995−8.6%
Budget deficit
About this indicator
A negative value is a deficit: how much more the state spent than it collected. The Maastricht criterion caps the deficit at 3% of GDP. The largest deficit was in 2006 (above 9%); between 2020 and 2023 – through the pandemic and the energy crisis – it was again around 6–7.5%.
The latest figure (2025) is −4.7%, under the Orbán Viktor government. The series goes back to 1995; the highest value was −1.8% (2016) and the lowest −9.3% (2006).
Source: Eurostat (gov_10dd_edpt1) · Updated: 27 Oct 2026 21:41 UTC · Download data (CSV)
By government
The value when each government took office and when it left (or the latest figure), plus the average during the term.
| Government | At start | At end / now | Change | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Magyar Péter (Tisza)Magyar · 2026–in office | no data yet | – | – | – |
Orbán Viktor (Fidesz)Orbán II–V · 2010–2026 | −4.8% | −4.7% | +0.1 pp | −4.1% |
Bajnai Gordon (MSZP)Bajnai · 2009–2010 | −3.8% | −4.8% | −1.0 pp | −4.8% |
Gyurcsány Ferenc (MSZP)Gyurcsány · 2004–2009 | −6.6% | −3.8% | +2.8 pp | −6.5% |
Medgyessy Péter (MSZP)Medgyessy · 2002–2004 | −4.0% | −6.6% | −2.6 pp | −7.5% |
Orbán Viktor (Fidesz)Orbán I · 1998–2002 | −7.4% | −4.0% | +3.4 pp | −4.1% |
Horn Gyula (MSZP)Horn · 1994–1998 | −8.6%* | −7.4% | +1.2 pp | −6.5% |
* The series starts during this term, so the starting value is the first available observation.
Data table
| Date | Value |
|---|---|
| 2025 | −4.7% |
| 2024 | −5.1% |
| 2023 | −7.0% |
| 2022 | −6.2% |
| 2021 | −7.1% |
| 2020 | −7.5% |
| 2019 | −2.0% |
| 2018 | −2.0% |
| 2017 | −2.5% |
| 2016 | −1.8% |
| 2015 | −2.0% |
| 2014 | −2.8% |
| 2013 | −2.6% |
| 2012 | −2.3% |
| 2011 | −5.2% |
| 2010 | −4.4% |
| 2009 | −4.8% |
| 2008 | −3.8% |
| 2007 | −5.1% |
| 2006 | −9.3% |
| 2005 | −7.8% |
| 2004 | −6.6% |
| 2003 | −7.2% |
| 2002 | −8.8% |
| 2001 | −4.0% |
| 2000 | −3.0% |
| 1999 | −5.3% |
| 1998 | −7.4% |
| 1997 | −5.5% |
| 1996 | −4.4% |
| 1995 | −8.6% |