Luxembourg and Ireland Lead EU GDP per Capita (PPP) in 2025 as Disparities Persist Across the EU

Luxembourg and Ireland lead the European Union in GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) in 2025, with Luxembourg at about 239% of the EU average and Ireland at 237%. Bulgaria and Greece are far lower, at around 68%.

EU-wide divergence in PPP income levels

Eurostat uses GDP per capita at PPP to account for differences in price levels between countries. With the EU average set at 100, the index in 2025 ranges from 68 in Bulgaria and Greece to 239 in Luxembourg. Luxembourg’s level is about 3.5 times that of Bulgaria and Greece.

Interpreted in purchasing terms, this means an average EU resident could buy 100 units of a common basket of goods and services. In Bulgaria and Greece, they can purchase about 68 units, while in Luxembourg they can purchase about 239 units; Ireland is close to 237 units.

Largest economies: Luxembourg and Ireland stand out; Germany above the EU average

Among the four largest EU economies, Germany has the highest GDP per capita at PPP relative to the EU average, at 115%. This is the only country in that group above 100%. France is near the EU average at 98%, followed by Italy at 96% and Spain at 92%.

Outside Luxembourg and Ireland, the Netherlands has the highest PPS-adjusted GDP per capita within the EU’s four largest economies, at 134% of the EU average. Denmark follows at 127% and Austria at 117%. Other countries above the EU average include Belgium (115%), Germany (115%), Sweden (110%), Malta (110%) and Finland (101%).

PPP GDP per capita in euros: higher levels concentrated in parts of Western and Northern Europe

Excluding Luxembourg and Ireland, PPS-based GDP per capita above 50,000 euros is found in the Netherlands (55,600 euros) and Denmark (52,800 euros). In Germany, the figure is 47,900 euros, while in France it is 40,700 euros. In ten EU member states, PPS GDP per capita is below 35,000 euros.

Eurostat links the cross-country differences to factors including labor productivity and employment intensity. Overall, Eastern European countries have the lowest PPS GDP per capita, while Western and Northern European members have the highest levels.

How many people live above the EU average?

In 2025, only 10 of the 27 EU countries are above the EU average for PPS GDP per capita, representing roughly 34% of the population. Overall, about one in three EU citizens live in a country with PPS GDP per capita above the EU average.

Candidate countries and EFTA: lower levels for most candidates, higher for EFTA

The data cited exclude candidate EU members, the United Kingdom, and EFTA; however, 2024 data provide additional context. Candidate countries with PPS GDP per capita well below the average include Bosnia and Herzegovina (35%), Albania and North Macedonia (42%), Serbia (52%), Montenegro (53%), and Turkey (72%). With the exception of Turkey, all candidate members have PPS GDP levels lower than typical EU members.

The United Kingdom at 99% is near the EU average, while EFTA members are significantly higher: Norway at 160%, Switzerland at 151%, and Iceland at 131%.

Welfare context: consumption gaps are smaller

Real personal consumption per capita at PPP is described as a key welfare indicator, and the gaps in consumption are smaller than the gaps in PPS GDP.

Taken together, the figures point to substantial differences in Europe’s standard of living and prosperity, with Luxembourg and Ireland at the high end and Bulgaria and Greece at the lower end. The data cited come from Eurostat and related sources and reflect 2025 estimates.