In graphics: The eurozone's crisis

If a country is spending more than it is raising through taxation in a year then it has an annual deficit. If it is raising more than it is spending then it has an annual surplus.

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EUROZONE DEFICIT: FULL DATA

DownloadDeficit and surplus figures for the eurozone and the UK _[15kb]

This chart shows that surplus (a number above zero) or deficit (less than zero) as a proportion of GDP (the total value of goods and services produced by the economy).

EU rules say that countries using the euro are not allowed to have an annual deficit of more than 3% of GDP, but several countries have failed to keep to that rule in recent years.

Figures for eurozone deficits for 2011 are expected to be released in late April 2012.

The chart shows data for all of the countries that officially use the euro as well as the UK, which is included to allow for comparisons.

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