European regional GDP leagues

The statistical office of the European Union, Eurostart, released Thursday data of regional GDP per capita in 2010. In 2010, GDP per capita, expressed in terms of purchasing power standards, in the EU’s 270 territorial units regions ranged from 26% of the EU average in the region of Severozapaden in Bulgaria, to 328% of the average in Inner London in the United Kingdom.

More than one region in seven with GDP per capita above 125% of the average.

The leading regions in the ranking of regional GDP per capita in 2010 were Inner London in the United Kingdom (328% of the average), the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (266%), Bruxelles/Brussels in Belgium (223%), Hamburg in Germany (203%), Île de France in France and Groningen in the Netherlands (both 180%), Bratislava in Slovakia (176%), Praha in the Czech Republic (172%), Stockholm in Sweden (168%) and Wien in Austria (165%).

Among the 41 regions exceeding the 125% level, eight were in Germany, five each in the Netherlands and Austria, four in Belgium, three each in Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom, two each in Finland and Sweden, one each in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, France and Slovakia, as well as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It should be noted, however, that in some regions the GDP per capita figures can be significantly influenced by commuter flows. Net commuter inflows in these regions push up production to a level that could not be achieved by the resident active population on its own. The result is that GDP per capita appears to be overestimated in these regions and underestimated in regions with commuter outflows.

…and one in four below 75%

The lowest regions in the ranking were all in Bulgaria and Romania, with the lowest figures recorded in Severozapaden in Bulgaria (26% of the average), followed by Severen tsentralen in Bulgaria and Nord-Est in Romania (both 29%) and Yuzhen tsentralen in Bulgaria (30%). Among the 68 regions below the 75% level, fifteen were in Poland, seven each in the Czech Republic, Greece and Romania, six in Hungary, five each in Bulgaria and Italy, three each in France (all overseas departments), Portugal and Slovakia, two in the United Kingdom, one each in Spain and Slovenia, as well as Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.