GDP up by 0.1% in both the euro area and the EU
Overview
In the first quarter of 2026, seasonally adjusted GDP increased by 0.1% in both the euro area and the EU, compared with the previous quarter, according to a preliminary flash estimate published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the fourth quarter of 2025, GDP had increased by 0.2% in both areas.
These preliminary GDP flash estimates are based on data sources that are incomplete and subject to further revisions.
Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP increased by 0.8% in the euro area and by 1.0% in the EU in the first quarter of 2026, after +1.3% in the euro area and +1.4% in the EU in the previous quarter.
Among the Member States for which data are available for the first quarter of 2026, Finland (+0.9%) recorded the highest increase compared to the previous quarter, followed by Hungary (+0.8%), Estonia and Spain (both +0.6%). Declines were recorded in Ireland (-2.0%), Lithuania (-0.4%) and Sweden (-0.2%). The year-on-year growth rate was positive for fourteen countries and negative for one country.
Table
Growth rates of GDP in volume (based on seasonally adjusted* data) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage change compared with the previous quarter |
Percentage change compared with the same quarter of the previous year |
|||||||
2025Q2 |
2025Q3 |
2025Q4 |
2026Q1 |
2025Q2 |
2025Q3 |
2025Q4 |
2026Q1 |
|
Euro area 21 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
1.6 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
0.8 |
Euro area 20 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
1.6 |
1.4 |
1.2 |
0.8 |
EU |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
1.4 |
1.0 |
Belgium |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
Czechia |
0.4 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
0.2 |
2.6 |
2.8 |
2.7 |
2.1 |
Germany |
-0.2 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
Estonia |
0.7 |
0.1 |
-0.1 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
1.0 |
0.8 |
1.3 |
Ireland*** |
-0.6 |
0.0 |
-3.8 |
-2.0 |
18.1 |
11.1 |
3.0 |
-6.3 |
Spain |
0.7 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
0.6 |
2.9 |
2.7 |
2.6 |
2.7 |
France |
0.4 |
0.6 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
1.3 |
1.1 |
Italy |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
0.7 |
Lithuania |
0.7 |
0.3 |
1.9 |
-0.4 |
3.2 |
2.2 |
3.3 |
2.5 |
Hungary |
0.6 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.8 |
0.4 |
0.9 |
0.7 |
1.7 |
Netherlands** |
0.3 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
0.1 |
1.6 |
1.7 |
1.8 |
1.2 |
Austria |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.7 |
1.1 |
0.7 |
0.6 |
Portugal |
0.7 |
0.6 |
0.9 |
0.0 |
1.7 |
2.2 |
1.9 |
2.3 |
Finland** |
-0.1 |
-0.1 |
0.3 |
0.9 |
0.1 |
-0.2 |
0.1 |
1.3 |
Sweden** |
0.9 |
0.7 |
0.4 |
-0.2 |
2.2 |
2.6 |
2.1 |
1.6 |
* Growth rates to the previous quarter and to the same quarter of the previous year presented in this table are both based on seasonally and calendar adjusted figures, except where indicated. Unadjusted data are not available for all Member States which are included in GDP flash estimates. ** Percentage change compared with the same quarter of the previous year calculated from calendar adjusted data. *** Irish GDP flash estimate is categorised as a CSO Frontier Series Output. Particular care must be taken when interpreting the statistics as it may use new methods which are under development and/or data sources which may be incomplete, for example new administrative data sources. Source datasets: namq_10_gdp
|
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The next estimates for the first quarter of 2026 will be released on 13 May 2026.
Notes for users
Revisions
Revisions of quarterly GDP estimates are continuously monitored. Further information can be found on Eurostat website.
With this preliminary flash estimate, euro area and EU GDP figures for earlier quarters are not revised.
All figures presented in this release may be revised with the GDP t+45 flash estimate scheduled for 13 May 2026 and subsequently by Eurostat’s regular estimates of GDP and main aggregates (including employment) scheduled for 5 June 2026 and 20 July 2026.
The preliminary flash estimate of GDP growth for the first quarter of 2026 presented in this release is based on the data of 19 Member States, covering 96% of euro area GDP and 94% of EU GDP.
Release schedule
Comprehensive estimates of European main aggregates (including GDP and employment) are based on countries regular transmissions and published around 65 and 110 days after the end of each quarter. To improve the timeliness of key indicators, Eurostat also publishes flash estimates for GDP (after around 30 and 45 days) and employment (after around 45 days). Their compilation is based on estimates provided by EU Member States on a voluntary basis.
This news release presents preliminary flash estimates for euro area and EU after around 30 days.
Methods and definitions
European quarterly national accounts are compiled in accordance with the European System of Accounts 2010 (ESA 2010).
Gross domestic product (GDP) at market prices measures the production activity of resident production units. Growth rates are based on chain-linked volumes.
Two statistical working papers present the preliminary GDP flash methodology for the European estimates and Member States estimates.
The method used for compilation of European GDP is the same as for previous releases.
Geographical information
Up to 31 December 2025, the euro area included Belgium, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland (EA20). From 1 January 2026, the euro area also includes Bulgaria (EA21).
The aggregate data series commented on in this Euro indicator release refer to the official composition of the euro area in the most recent quarter for which data are available. Thus, Euro indicator releases with data up to the fourth quarter of 2025 comment on EA20 series, while releases with data for the first quarter of 2026 onwards comment on EA21 series.
European Union: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden (EU27).
For more information
Get in touch
Further information on data
Véronique DENEUVILLE
Thierry COURTEL
E-mail: estat-gdp-query@ec.europa.eu