Government net lending/borrowing in Croatia

International Monetary Fund · Annual · Importance

IMF forecast (WEO): 2026: -2.9% 2027: -2.9% 2028: -2.8% 2029: -2.6% 2030: -2.5% 2031: -2.4%

-11.1 (1999) ANUAL · % of GDP · Annual · CSV

Period	% of GDP
Jan 1999	-11.1
Jan 1998	-6.4
Jan 1997	-4.9
Jan 1996	-4.4
Jan 1995	-4.2
Jan 1994	-0.8
Jan 1993	-2.7
Jan 1992	-5.7

About this indicator

Source

International Monetary Fund

Frequency

Annual

Release

Published annually (with quarterly advance estimates in some economies), subject to revision with the national accounts.

What it is

Measures the balance of Croatia's general government accounts: a deficit arises when spending exceeds revenue, and a surplus when the reverse holds. Compiled by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) and expressed as a percentage of GDP.

How it's calculated

Calculated as general government net lending or borrowing under the European ESA 2010 accounting framework, validated by Eurostat, and expressed relative to GDP. It is the reference figure for the Maastricht 3% deficit ceiling.

Market implications

It drives Croatia's borrowing needs and its compliance with EU fiscal rules, which carry extra weight since the country adopted the euro in 2023. A wider-than-expected deficit tends to pressure risk premia and credit ratings.

Limitations

It is a low-frequency series prone to revision. The headline balance should be read alongside the primary balance (which strips out interest costs) and the cyclical component, while one-off operations can distort any single year's figure.