Economic Growth in Euro Area
The Euro area's GDP growth over the last decade was modest and uneven across member states. The region experienced gradual recovery post-Eurozone crisis, but growth remained constrained by structural weaknesses and unfavorable demographics. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant contraction in 2020. Recovery since then has been robust but uneven, with peripheral economies posting large expansions while heavyweight Germany largely stagnated.
In the year 2024, the economic growth in Euro Area was 0.78%, compared to 1.45% in 2014 and 0.52% in 2023. It averaged 1.49% over the last decade. For more GDP information, visit our dedicated page.
Euro Area GDP Chart
Note: This chart displays Economic Growth (GDP, annual variation in %) for Euro Area from 2014 to 2024.
Source: Macrobond.
Euro Area GDP Data
2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Economic Growth (GDP, ann. var. %) | -6.2 | 6.3 | 3.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
GDP (EUR bn) | 11,615 | 12,614 | 13,723 | 14,605 | 15,157 |
Economic Growth (Nominal GDP, ann. var. %) | -4.3 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 6.4 | 3.8 |
GDP growth records best reading since Q2 2022 in Q1
Ireland boosts Q1’s print: A second statistical release by Eurostat put GDP growth at 0.6% on a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis in Q1, up from the previous estimate of 0.3% and Q4’s upwardly revised 0.3%. The print marked an over two-year high. That said, excluding the sharp acceleration in the Irish economy—highly volatile due to its heavy presence of multinationals—sequential growth was stable at 0.3%. On an annual basis, economic growth edged up to 1.5% in Q1 from the previous period's 1.2% increase and marked the fastest expansion since Q1 2023.
Investment and exports lead the charge: Domestically, fixed investment growth accelerated to 1.8% in sequential terms in Q1, following the 0.7% increase recorded in the prior quarter, boosted by ECB rate cuts and a sharp acceleration in Ireland. Less positively, household spending growth fell to 0.2% in Q1, marking the weakest expansion since Q2 2024 (Q4 2024: +0.5% s.a. qoq). Moreover, public spending ground to a halt in Q1 after growing 0.4% in Q4. On the external front, exports of goods and services rose 1.9% in the first quarter due to front-loading ahead of U.S. tariffs, marking the best reading since Q2 2024 (Q4 2024: 0.0% s.a. qoq). Meanwhile, imports of goods and services bounced back, growing 1.4% in Q1 (Q4 2024: -0.1% s.a. qoq).
Momentum to cool ahead: Our panel expects sequential GDP growth to grind to a near-halt in Q2–Q3 before regaining some strength in Q4. Fixed investment is expected to moderate after Q1’s stellar reading, while exports should cool markedly as the boost from front-loading fades and Euro area countries face a 10% blanket tariff and 25% levy on aluminium, cars and steel. The evolution of EU-U.S. trade talks is the main factor to track, with a comprehensive trade deal posing an upside risk to the outlook.
Panelist insight: Analysts at the EIU commented: “Short-term growth will be highly volatile owing to erratic US policymaking and secondary impacts from the US-China trade war. Even if a US-EU trade deal is agreed, we expect US import tariffs to rise significantly from previous levels, which will weaken export prospects.”
How should you choose a forecaster if some are too optimistic while others are too pessimistic? FocusEconomics collects European GDP projections for the next ten years from a panel of 77 analysts at the leading national, regional and global forecast institutions. These projections are then validated by our in-house team of economists and data analysts and averaged to provide one Consensus Forecast you can rely on for each indicator. By averaging all forecasts, upside and downside forecasting errors tend to cancel each other out, leading to the most reliable GDP forecast available for European GDP.
Download one of our sample reports to visualize what a Consensus Forecast is and see our European GDP projections.
Want to get access to the full dataset of European GDP forecasts? Send an email to info@focus-economics.com.
Latest Global GDP News
-
New Zealand: GDP growth records fastest upturn since Q2 2023 in the first quarter GDP reading: GDP growth accelerated to 0.8% on a seasonally adjusted quarter on quarter basis in the first quarter, up... -
Ghana: GDP growth improves in Q1 The economy starts the year on a stronger footing: GDP growth rose to 5.3% year on year in the first... -
Uruguay: GDP growth inches down in the first quarter Economy remains robust: GDP growth waned to 3.4% year on year in the first quarter from 3.5% in the fourth... -
United Kingdom: Economic activity falls at sharpest pace since October 2023 in April GDP reading: GDP decreased 0.3% in month-on-month seasonally adjusted terms in April, which contrasted March’s 0.2% increase and undershot market... -
Greece: Economy grinds to a halt in Q1 GDP flatlines in Q1: The economy stagnated on seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter terms in Q1, contrasting the 0.8% expansion recorded in... -
Euro Area: GDP growth records best reading since Q2 2022 in Q1 Ireland boosts Q1’s print: A second statistical release by Eurostat put GDP growth at 0.6% on a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter... -
South Africa: Economy unexpectedly escapes contraction by a whisker in Q1 Economic growth slows to a near-halt in Q1: GDP rose a mere 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis in...