Slovakia public debt projected to reach 92 billion euros

The Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) of the Slovak Republic reports that despite three rounds of fiscal consolidation measures, the nation's gross public debt is projected to reach approximately 92 billion euros by the end of 2026. This figure represents roughly 63.7% of the GDP, translating to a debt burden of approximately 16,700 euros per citizen.

Debt servicing costs have risen significantly, with over 1.4 billion euros directed toward debt servicing in the first half of the year, an increase of 390 million euros compared to the previous year. While consolidation efforts increased public revenue by 6.8% year-on-year—largely due to higher VAT collection—economic growth remains sluggish due to factors such as the war in Ukraine and global market uncertainty.

The healthcare sector remains a critical area of concern. Public hospitals face significant debt, with liabilities to the Social Insurance Agency exceeding 500 million euros. Minister Kamil Šaško noted that agreements with creditors were necessary to avoid European Commission sanctions, involving a restructured payment schedule to manage these obligations.