( CNN ) -- Fourteen out of 27 countries in the European Union had public debt exceeding 60 % of their gross domestic product at the end of 2010 , according to official statistics . The report by Eurostat , the statistical office of the European Union , showed that the ratio of government debt to GDP across all 27 member states increased from 74.4 % in 2009 to 80.0 % in 2010 . For the 17 euro zone countries , the debt is even higher , increasing from 79.3 % in 2009 to 85.1 % last year . Topping the European debt league is Greece with 142.8 % government debt to GDP ratio , followed by Italy ( 119.0 % ) , Belgium ( 96.8 % ) Ireland ( 96.2 % ) , Portugal ( 93.0 % ) , Germany ( 83.2 % ) , France ( 81.7 % ) Hungary ( 80.2 % ) and the United Kingdom ( 80.0 % ) . The lowest government debt to GDP ratios were recorded in Estonia ( 6.6 % ) , Bulgaria ( 16.2 % ) and Luxembourg ( 18.4 % ) , according to the Eurostat report . Under the Stability and growth pact , agreed when the euro began in 1999 , member states are supposed to ensure their debt does not exceed 60 % of their GDP .
Fourteen out of 27 European Union countries in the European Union had public debt exceeding 60 % of their GDP . Greece and Italy had debt exceeding 100 % of their GDP . The UK was at a similar level as Germany, but with much lower levels of debt.