Government budget and revenue in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany: official figures
North Rhine-Westphalia and its municipalities owed €13,239 per inhabitant to the non-public sector at the end of 2024, 5th highest of 16 Länder.
What is the total debt of North Rhine-Westphalia?
Total debt of North Rhine-Westphalia and its municipalities to the non-public sector was €238.6 billion at the end of 2024, up 1.9% on a year earlier and 30.7% of all Länder and municipal debt.
Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copyIs the debt of North Rhine-Westphalia rising?
Debt per inhabitant in North Rhine-Westphalia rose from €12,283 in 2010 to €13,239 in 2024, a change of +8%.
Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copyDoes North Rhine-Westphalia have a budget deficit?
In 2025 the public budgets of North Rhine-Westphalia (Land and municipalities together) closed with a deficit of €11,276 million, or €626 per inhabitant in deficit; in 2024 the result was a deficit of €8,579 million.
Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copyMore figures
- Of that, the Land government itself accounted for €9,683 per head and the municipalities and municipal associations for €3,556 per head (2024). Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copy
- That debt equalled 27.4% of North Rhine-Westphalia's GDP in 2024, 6th highest of 16 Länder. Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copy
- The Land budget alone recorded a deficit of €248 million in 2025. Source: Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren) · saved copy
How North Rhine-Westphalia compares with other states
Debt of Land and municipalities to the non-public sector per inhabitant (€) (2024)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 5 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Debt of Land and municipalities to the non-public sector per inhabitant (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Berlin | €18,169 |
| 3 | Hamburg | €17,578 |
| 4 | Saarland | €16,482 |
| 5 | North Rhine-Westphalia | €13,239 |
| 6 | Schleswig-Holstein | €12,905 |
| 7 | Saxony-Anhalt | €11,850 |
| 8 | Hesse | €10,106 |
Debt of Land and municipalities as a share of GDP (2024)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 6 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Debt of Land and municipalities as a share of GDP |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Berlin | 32.2% |
| 4 | Saxony-Anhalt | 31.9% |
| 5 | Schleswig-Holstein | 30.1% |
| 6 | North Rhine-Westphalia | 27.4% |
| 7 | Brandenburg | 23.4% |
| 8 | Thuringia | 21.5% |
| 9 | Rhineland-Palatinate | 21.2% |
Budget balance of Land and municipalities per inhabitant (€, negative = deficit) (2025)
North Rhine-Westphalia ranks 12 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Budget balance of Land and municipalities per inhabitant (€, negative = deficit) |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Hesse | -€449 |
| 10 | Schleswig-Holstein | -€578 |
| 11 | Lower Saxony | -€599 |
| 12 | North Rhine-Westphalia | -€626 |
| 13 | Berlin | -€676 |
| 14 | Brandenburg | -€761 |
| 15 | Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | -€787 |
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Sources
- Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder (Arbeitskreis Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren): Nachhaltigkeitsindikatoren der Länder: Tabellenband mit kompletten Zeitreihen zu allen Indikatoren (October 2026 edition), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5f3f1b692389…)
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