In the second quarter of 2026, seasonally adjusted GDP increased by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU, compared with the previous quarter, according to an estimate published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the first quarter of 2026, GDP had remained stable in the euro area and had increased by 0.1% in the EU.
Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP increased by 1.2% in the euro area and by 1.4% in the EU in the second quarter of 2026, after +0.6% in the euro area and +0.9% in the EU in the previous quarter.
During the second quarter of 2026, GDP in the United States increased by 0.4% compared to the previous quarter (after +0.5% in the first quarter of 2026). Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, GDP increased by 2.1% (after +2.7% in the previous quarter).
In the second quarter of 2026, Ireland (+10.2%) recorded the highest increase compared to the previous quarter, followed by Slovenia (+1.8%) and Lithuania (+1.7%). Austria (-0.1%) was the only Member State that recorded a decrease compared to the previous quarter.
In the second quarter of 2026, the contribution to GDP growth to the previous quarter from:
household final consumption expenditure was positive for both the euro area and the EU (+0.2 percentage points – pp for both),
government final consumption expenditure was negligible for both the euro area and the EU,
gross fixed capital formation was negligible for the euro area and positive for the EU (+0.1 pp),
changes in inventories was negative for the euro area and the EU (-0.5 pp for both), and
exports less imports was positive for both the euro area (+0.9 pp) and the EU (+0.8 pp).
Based on seasonally adjusted figures, Eurostat estimates that, in the second quarter of 2026, 221.4 million people were employed in the EU, of which 176.4 million were in the euro area.
The number of employed persons increased by 0.1% in both the euro area and the EU, compared with the previous quarter. In the first quarter of 2026, employment had increased by 0.1% in the euro area and had remained stable in the EU.
Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, employment increased by 0.5% in the euro area and by 0.4% in the EU in the second quarter of 2026, after +0.5% in both areas in the first quarter of 2026.
Hours worked increased by 0.1% in both the euro area and the EU in the second quarter of 2026, compared with the previous quarter. Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, hours worked increased by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU.
These data provide a picture of labour input consistent with the output and income measure of national accounts.
In the second quarter of 2026, Portugal (+1.0%), Czechia and Malta (both +0.9%) recorded the highest increase of employment in persons compared to the previous quarter. The highest declines of employment were recorded in Finland (-0.8%) and Greece (-0.4%).
Growth rates of GDP in volume (based on seasonally adjusted* data) |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage change compared with the previous quarter |
Percentage change compared with the same quarter of the previous year |
|||||||
2025Q3 |
2025Q4 |
2026Q1 |
2026Q2 |
2025Q3 |
2025Q4 |
2026Q1 |
2026Q2 |
|
Euro area |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.6 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
0.6 |
1.2 |
EU |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.7 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
0.9 |
1.4 |
Belgium |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
1.0 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
0.5 |
Bulgaria |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
3.1 |
2.9 |
3.0 |
2.8 |
Czechia |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
2.8 |
2.8 |
2.2 |
1.9 |
Denmark |
2.3 |
0.4 |
1.5 |
0.3 |
4.6 |
3.2 |
6.1 |
4.6 |
Germany |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.7 |
1.0 |
Estonia |
0.2 |
0.3 |
1.0 |
0.3 |
1.5 |
1.6 |
2.7 |
1.8 |
Ireland |
1.4 |
-3.3 |
-7.8 |
10.2 |
5.1 |
-0.1 |
-13.4 |
-0.4 |
Greece |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
2.1 |
2.3 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
Spain |
0.6 |
0.8 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
France |
0.4 |
0.3 |
-0.2 |
0.0 |
0.8 |
1.1 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
Croatia |
0.3 |
1.2 |
-0.1 |
0.4 |
2.9 |
3.4 |
2.3 |
1.7 |
Italy |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
Cyprus |
0.8 |
1.2 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
3.5 |
4.2 |
3.0 |
3.3 |
Latvia |
0.9 |
0.7 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
2.3 |
2.7 |
2.6 |
3.0 |
Lithuania |
0.3 |
1.9 |
-0.1 |
1.7 |
2.2 |
3.3 |
2.8 |
3.8 |
Luxembourg |
1.2 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
: |
3.2 |
2.1 |
1.6 |
: |
Hungary |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.8 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
1.8 |
1.7 |
Malta |
1.5 |
1.8 |
0.5 |
1.1 |
4.7 |
6.2 |
4.6 |
5.0 |
Netherlands** |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
1.4 |
1.6 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
Austria |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
-0.1 |
1.3 |
1.1 |
0.8 |
0.4 |
Poland |
1.1 |
1.0 |
0.6 |
1.0 |
4.1 |
3.8 |
3.5 |
3.8 |
Portugal |
0.6 |
0.9 |
0.1 |
0.8 |
2.2 |
1.9 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
Romania |
0.0 |
-1.9 |
-0.1 |
0.0 |
1.4 |
-1.4 |
-1.1 |
-2.0 |
Slovenia |
1.2 |
0.7 |
1.1 |
1.8 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
3.5 |
4.8 |
Slovakia |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
Finland** |
0.0 |
0.4 |
0.8 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
1.2 |
1.6 |
Sweden** |
0.6 |
1.1 |
-0.1 |
1.6 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.0 |
3.3 |
Iceland |
0.7 |
-0.9 |
3.7 |
-3.0 |
1.0 |
2.3 |
3.7 |
0.3 |
Norway |
1.2 |
-0.6 |
0.4 |
0.7 |
2.3 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
1.6 |
Switzerland |
-0.4 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
1.9 |
0.9 |
1.0 |
0.7 |
2.6 |
United States |
1.1 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
2.3 |
2.0 |
2.7 |
2.1 |
: Data not available * 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. Source datasets: namq_10_gdp and naidq_10_gdp (for United States data) |
GDP and expenditure components seasonally adjusted, chain-linked volumes |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage change compared with the previous quarter |
Percentage change compared with the same quarter of the previous year |
||||
Euro area |
EU |
Euro area |
EU |
||
GDP |
2025 Q3 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
1.2 |
1.4 |
2025 Q4 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
|
2026 Q1 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.6 |
0.9 |
|
2026 Q2 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
1.2 |
1.4 |
|
Household & NPISH final consumption expenditure |
2025 Q3 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
1.3 |
1.5 |
2025 Q4 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
1.2 |
1.4 |
|
2026 Q1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
1.0 |
1.1 |
|
2026 Q2 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
|
Government final consumption expenditure |
2025 Q3 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
1.4 |
1.6 |
2025 Q4 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
1.6 |
1.8 |
|
2026 Q1 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
2.3 |
2.6 |
|
2026 Q2 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
1.9 |
2.0 |
|
Gross Fixed Capital Formation |
2025 Q3 |
1.0 |
1.2 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
2025 Q4 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
2.9 |
2.8 |
|
2026 Q1 |
-0.2 |
-0.3 |
0.3 |
0.7 |
|
2026 Q2 |
-0.1 |
0.5 |
1.4 |
2.3 |
|
Exports |
2025 Q3 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
2.3 |
2.7 |
2025 Q4 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
2.2 |
2.6 |
|
2026 Q1 |
-0.6 |
-0.3 |
-0.1 |
0.7 |
|
2026 Q2 |
3.4 |
3.2 |
3.9 |
4.2 |
|
Imports |
2025 Q3 |
1.1 |
1.1 |
3.6 |
3.7 |
2025 Q4 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
3.6 |
3.6 |
|
2026 Q1 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
1.9 |
2.4 |
|
2026 Q2 |
1.5 |
1.6 |
3.6 |
3.9 |
|
Contribution of expenditure components to change of GDP seasonally adjusted, chain-linked volumes |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Contribution in percentage points to GDP change compared with the previous quarter |
Contribution in percentage points to GDP change compared with the same quarter of the previous year |
||||
Euro area |
EU |
Euro area |
EU |
||
Household & NPISH final consumption expenditure |
2025 Q3 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
2025 Q4 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
|
2026 Q1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
|
2026 Q2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
|
Government final consumption expenditure |
2025 Q3 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
2025 Q4 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
|
2026 Q1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
|
2026 Q2 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
|
Gross Fixed Capital Formation |
2025 Q3 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
2025 Q4 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
|
2026 Q1 |
0.0 |
-0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
|
2026 Q2 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.5 |
|
Changes in Inventories* |
2025 Q3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
2025 Q4 |
-0.4 |
-0.4 |
0.0 |
-0.1 |
|
2026 Q1 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
|
2026 Q2 |
-0.5 |
-0.5 |
-0.4 |
-0.5 |
|
Exports |
2025 Q3 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
1.1 |
1.4 |
2025 Q4 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
|
2026 Q1 |
-0.3 |
-0.1 |
-0.1 |
0.4 |
|
2026 Q2 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
1.9 |
2.1 |
|
Imports |
2025 Q3 |
-0.5 |
-0.5 |
-1.6 |
-1.7 |
2025 Q4 |
-0.2 |
-0.2 |
-1.6 |
-1.7 |
|
2026 Q1 |
-0.3 |
-0.3 |
-0.8 |
-1.1 |
|
2026 Q2 |
-0.7 |
-0.7 |
-1.6 |
-1.8 |
|
Growth rates of employment in persons* |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Percentage change compared with the previous quarter |
Percentage change compared with the same quarter of the previous year |
|||||||
2025Q3 |
2025Q4 |
2026Q1 |
2026Q2 |
2025Q3 |
2025Q4 |
2026Q1 |
2026Q2 |
|
Euro area |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
EU |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
Belgium |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
Bulgaria |
0.2 |
0.3 |
-0.1 |
-0.2 |
2.3 |
2.5 |
1.2 |
-0.4 |
Czechia |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
0.9 |
1.4 |
1.4 |
1.1 |
1.5 |
Denmark |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0.9 |
1.0 |
Germany |
-0.1 |
-0.1 |
-0.1 |
-0.1 |
-0.2 |
-0.3 |
-0.4 |
-0.5 |
Estonia |
0.6 |
-1.8 |
0.9 |
0.5 |
1.0 |
-1.1 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
Ireland |
-0.1 |
1.0 |
-0.6 |
0.3 |
0.9 |
1.9 |
0.0 |
0.7 |
Greece |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
-0.4 |
1.1 |
0.9 |
0.5 |
0.1 |
Spain |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.3 |
0.5 |
2.7 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
2.3 |
France |
-0.1 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Croatia |
1.2 |
0.2 |
-0.1 |
0.0 |
1.6 |
1.8 |
1.2 |
1.1 |
Italy |
0.2 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
0.3 |
0.6 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
1.4 |
Cyprus |
0.5 |
0.7 |
0.0 |
0.5 |
1.4 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
1.6 |
Latvia |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.1 |
-0.1 |
-0.5 |
1.3 |
1.3 |
1.1 |
Lithuania |
1.0 |
-2.3 |
1.8 |
-0.1 |
-0.3 |
-1.9 |
-0.3 |
-0.1 |
Luxembourg** |
0.5 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
1.4 |
1.5 |
1.6 |
1.8 |
Hungary |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
Malta |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.3 |
0.9 |
3.7 |
4.3 |
4.7 |
4.4 |
Netherlands |
0.2 |
-0.3 |
0.1 |
-0.1 |
0.8 |
0.4 |
0.1 |
-0.2 |
Austria |
-0.1 |
0.0 |
-0.2 |
0.0 |
-0.1 |
0.0 |
-0.2 |
-0.2 |
Poland |
0.2 |
0.3 |
0.1 |
-0.2 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
1.3 |
0.2 |
Portugal |
0.9 |
0.5 |
-0.2 |
1.0 |
2.7 |
2.8 |
1.9 |
2.2 |
Romania |
-1.2 |
1.3 |
-1.1 |
-0.2 |
-2.5 |
-2.5 |
-1.2 |
-1.3 |
Slovenia |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
-0.4 |
-0.2 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
Slovakia |
-0.1 |
0.1 |
-0.1 |
0.1 |
-0.2 |
-0.2 |
-0.1 |
0.0 |
Finland |
0.0 |
0.2 |
-0.2 |
-0.8 |
-0.8 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
-0.9 |
Sweden |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
Iceland |
0.3 |
-0.1 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
0.6 |
0.1 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
Norway |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
Switzerland |
-0.1 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.8 |
: Data not available * Percentage change in the number of persons employed in resident production units compared with the previous quarter based on seasonally adjusted data. Percentage change compared with the same quarter of the previous year based on non-seasonally adjusted data. ** Data based on T+30 flash estimate See predefined tables: tec00108 (quarterly change), teina305 (annual change), tec00109 (levels) Source dataset: namq_10_a10_e (including breakdowns by industry) |
Flash estimates of employment and GDP growth were published in the Euro indicators release issued on 14 August 2026. They were based on a more limited data set than the one used for the present release and additionally, on preliminary estimates that have now been revised by some Member States. Revisions for the last quarter are highlighted in bold in the table below:
Growth rates Estimates |
To the previous quarter (Q/Q-1) |
To the previous year (Q/Q-4) |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Previous |
Current |
Previous |
Current |
|||||
Euro area |
EU |
Euro area |
EU |
Euro area |
EU |
Euro area |
EU |
|
GDP |
0.4 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
1.0 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
1.4 |
Employment |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
With this release, euro area and EU employment and GDP figures for earlier quarters are also revised.
All estimates presented in this release may be revised with the database update scheduled for 20 October 2026.
Revisions of quarterly GDP estimates are continuously monitored. Further information can be found on Eurostat website.
This news release presents estimates for euro area and EU GDP and employment based on national accounts transmissions from all Member States due after t+2 months.
A further estimation is done at around t+110 days after some countries transmit updated estimates.
To increase the timeliness of key indicators, Eurostat also publishes flash estimates for GDP (after around 30 and 45 days) and employment (after around 45 days). The flash estimates are based on estimates provided by most EU Member States on a voluntary basis.
European quarterly national accounts are compiled in accordance with the European System of Accounts 2010 (ESA 2010). They include key policy indicators on GDP and employment.
Gross domestic product (GDP) at market prices measures the production activity of resident producer units. Growth rates are based on chain-linked volumes.
Employment covers employees and self-employed working in resident production units (domestic concept). Employment flash estimates are limited to total employment in persons, but regular estimates also cover hours worked and industry breakdowns.
Euro area (EA21): Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.
European Union (EU27): 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.
Website section on national accounts, notably information on European GDP and employment estimates
Database section on national accounts and Eurostat metadata on quarterly national accounts
Statistics Explained articles on measuring quarterly GDP and presentation of updated quarterly estimates
European System of Accounts 2010
Release calendar for Euro indicators
European Statistics Code of Practice
Media requests
Eurostat Media Support
E-mail: eurostat-mediasupport@ec.europa.eu
Further information on data
Thierry COURTEL (GDP)
E-mail: estat-gdp-query@ec.europa.eu
Jenny RUNESSON (Employment)