Gross capital formation in European Union
European Union: Gross capital formation was 22.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Gross capital formation in European Union, 1970–2025
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gross capital formation in European Union is 22.0%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 1.8% on the previous year and up 7.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gross capital formation in European Union peaked at 30.2% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 19.7%, in 2013.
European Union ranks 33rd of 43 groups on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 56 years of available data.
Gross capital formation in European Union, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 30.2% | — |
| 1971 | 29.0% | -4.0% |
| 1972 | 28.4% | -2.0% |
| 1973 | 28.9% | +2.0% |
| 1974 | 29.0% | +0.2% |
| 1975 | 25.8% | -11.0% |
| 1976 | 26.8% | +4.0% |
| 1977 | 25.9% | -3.4% |
| 1978 | 25.2% | -2.9% |
| 1979 | 26.1% | +3.7% |
| 1980 | 26.7% | +2.4% |
| 1981 | 24.3% | -9.1% |
| 1982 | 23.7% | -2.4% |
| 1983 | 22.9% | -3.2% |
| 1984 | 23.0% | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 22.9% | -0.5% |
| 1986 | 22.8% | -0.3% |
| 1987 | 22.9% | +0.5% |
| 1988 | 24.0% | +4.6% |
| 1989 | 24.8% | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 25.0% | +0.9% |
| 1991 | 24.5% | -2.1% |
| 1992 | 23.5% | -4.1% |
| 1993 | 21.5% | -8.4% |
| 1994 | 21.9% | +1.8% |
| 1995 | 22.3% | +1.8% |
| 1996 | 21.7% | -2.6% |
| 1997 | 21.9% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 22.6% | +3.4% |
| 1999 | 22.8% | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 23.4% | +2.7% |
| 2001 | 22.9% | -2.4% |
| 2002 | 21.8% | -4.6% |
| 2003 | 21.7% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 22.0% | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 22.3% | +1.1% |
| 2006 | 23.3% | +4.8% |
| 2007 | 24.2% | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 23.8% | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 20.4% | -14.2% |
| 2010 | 20.9% | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 21.5% | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 20.1% | -6.7% |
| 2013 | 19.7% | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 20.1% | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 20.5% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 20.7% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 21.3% | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 21.9% | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 22.5% | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 22.1% | -1.6% |
| 2021 | 23.1% | +4.3% |
| 2022 | 24.2% | +4.8% |
| 2023 | 22.5% | -6.9% |
| 2024 | 21.6% | -4.2% |
| 2025 | 22.0% | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 27.5% | 25.2% | 30.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.8% | 22.8% | 26.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.8% | 21.5% | 25.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.6% | 20.4% | 24.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.9% | 19.7% | 22.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 22.6% | 21.6% | 24.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More economy & growth data for European Union
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 2.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 23,360 current US$ per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4961 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 7.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 33,955 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.7211 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross national expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 9.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.5591 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015 US$), per capita 26,328 constant 2015 US$ per person (2025)
- Exports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 2.34 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gross capital formation in European Union?
- Gross capital formation in European Union was 22.0% in 2025, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks.
- What is the highest gross capital formation recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 30.2% in 1970.
- What is the lowest gross capital formation recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.7% in 2013.
- How does European Union rank for gross capital formation?
- European Union ranks 33rd out of 43 groups with data for 2025.
- Is gross capital formation rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks, published as part of Gross capital formation (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Gross capital formation includes acquisitions less disposals of produced assets for purposes of fixed capital formation, inventories or valuables. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.