Poland's government debt surpasses 60% of GDP, breaching constitutional limit

Eurostat data for the first quarter of 2026 shows Poland's government debt ratio at 61.6% of gross domestic product, crossing the 60% ceiling set by the Polish constitution. The total public debt reached roughly 2.19 trillion zloty (about €505 billion), up by around 184 billion zloty since January, with further increases expected in June.

The surge places Poland among the fastest‑rising debt levels in the European Union, ranking third after Bulgaria and Finland. Despite breaching the constitutional mark, the debt share remains well below the EU average of 82.9%. Approximately 80% of the debt is financed domestically, while foreign investors hold about 29%. To safeguard liquidity and hedge market volatility, the government plans a record net borrowing of 138.6 billion zloty (≈€32 billion) this year. Poland continues to be subject to the EU's excessive‑deficit procedure, which obliges it to reduce the deficit below the 3% of GDP limit and may trigger sanctions if corrective measures are not achieved by 2028.