The 'Swedish Wonder': National debt is falling and the live tracker is green
In an EU where most national debts are rising, Sweden is doing the opposite. With a debt ratio of just 34% and a declining counter, we look at how the 'top of the class' manages this outside the Eurozone.
The map is turning green
Anyone opening the EU Debt Map will see a chart dominated by red spots: countries where national debt is increasing every second. But one country in the north stands out: Sweden. The tracker for Sweden is colored green, indicating that its debt is not rising, but *falling*.
This is no accident; it's the result of disciplined fiscal policy. While France (+€9,115/sec) and even the Netherlands (+€118/sec) are watching their debts grow, the live tracker for Sweden shows a negative number.
Top of the Class
Sweden has one of the lowest national debts in the entire European Union. Where the Maastricht treaty sets a limit of 60% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Sweden is spectacularly below it.
Recent Eurostat figures and data from the Swedish National Debt Office (Riksgälden) confirm that the debt-to-GDP ratio is hovering around **33.5%**. For comparison, the Netherlands is at 43%, and the EU average is over 80%.
How do they do it (outside the Euro)?
A crucial difference compared to countries like the Netherlands and France is that Sweden does not use the Euro; it has its own currency: the Swedish Krona (SEK). This means they can determine their own monetary policy via their central bank, the Riksbank.
This flexibility, combined with a strict fiscal framework, has paid off. The Swedish government recently even reported *budget surpluses*. Simply put: more money is coming in than going out, allowing the national debt to be actively paid down.
See the decline for yourself
It's fascinating to watch the Swedish counter run backward while its neighbors' trackers rise. Click on the Swedish national debt page on the EU Debt Map and see for yourself what the 'Swedish model' looks like in real-time. Compare it to the rest of Europe and witness the contrast with your own eyes.
More articles
As Europe faces the colossal costs of the green and digital transitions, the old rules of austerity are being challenged by a new logic: borrowing not for consumption, but for survival and future growth.
The Dutch national debt is rising by €118 every second. While its 42.7% debt-to-GDP ratio remains well below the EU limit, this live tracker reveals a more complex picture compared to its European neighbors.
New Eurostat data for Q2 2025 reveals a Europe moving in two directions: while some countries’ debt-to-GDP ratios climbed, others managed to bring them down. Here’s what’s driving the shift beneath the surface.
As interest rates rise, governments face a new reality. The question is no longer if debt becomes a problem, but when.