Luxembourg and Ireland once again led the EU in 2024 in terms of GDP per capita, measured by purchasing power standards, while Croatia remained on par with Hungary, with a slight reduction in its gap compared to the EU average, according to Eurostat estimates.

Luxembourg’s GDP per capita, expressed in purchasing power standards, was nearly two and a half times the EU average last year, according to preliminary estimates from Eurostat.

Statisticians note that Luxembourg’s firmly established position at the top of the EU rankings is largely due to the high proportion of foreign workers.

“These workers contribute to GDP creation but are not included in the resident population used to calculate GDP per capita,” they explain.

Estonia, Poland, and Romania lagged behind the EU average by approximately 20%, according to Eurostat calculations.

Croatia was close behind, with its GDP per capita in 2024—measured in purchasing power parity—falling 23% below the EU average, according to preliminary Eurostat estimates. This marks a slight improvement from 2023, when the gap stood at 24%.

Hungary recorded the same shortfall last year, while Slovakia was also close, with GDP per capita exactly 25% below the EU average.