Surplus for Swedish central government in May 2023

Press release 8 kesäkuuta 2023

Swedish central government payments resulted in a surplus of SEK 39.1 billion in May. The Debt Office's forecast was a surplus of SEK 23.1 billion. The surplus being higher than expected is primarily due to higher tax income.

The primary balance was SEK 10.2 billion higher than the forecast. Tax income was approximately SEK 7 billion higher. Payments from government agencies were SEK 3 billion lower, mainly due to lower payments from the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency.

The Debt Office’s net lending to government agencies etc. was SEK 5.8 billion lower than forecasted. This is mainly due to lower borrowing to the Swedish Pensions Agency and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration.

Interest payments on the central government debt were in line with the forecast.

For the twelve-month period up to the end of May 2023, central government payments resulted in a surplus of SEK 92 billion.

Central government debt amounted to SEK 981 billion at the end of May.

The outcome for June 2023 will be published on July 7, 2023 at 8.00 a.m.

The date for publishing a new forecast on the Swedish economy and central government borrowing is October 26.

Budget balance and central government net borrowing requirement (SEK million) 
 OutcomeForecastDev.Acc. Dev. [2]Outcome 12-month

Budget balance

39 079

23 164

15 915

15 915

91 845

Net borrowing requirement [1]

-39 079

-23 164

-15 915

-15 915

-91 845

Primary balance [3]

-50 947

-40 717

-10 230

-10 230

-34 276

Net lending to agencies etc. [4]

7 903

13 747

-5 845

-5 845

-90 376

Interest payments on central government debt

3 965

3 805

160

160

32 807

  - Interest on loans in SEK

2 741

2 878

-137

-137

20 394

  - Interest on loans in foreign currency

160

202

-42

-42

179

  - Realised currency gains and losses

1 064

725

339

339

12 234

[1] The net borrowing requirement corresponds to the budget balance with opposite sign.

[2] Sum of monthly forecast deviations since last forecast.

[3] Net of the state's primary expenditure and income.

[4] The net of government agencies etc. deposits and loans in the state’s internal bank. The net lending includes both current government operations and temporary occurrences which can be decided on short notice. The net lending affects the net borrowing requirement and central government debt, but is not covered by the Central government expenditure ceiling.

Report Sweden's Central Government Debt May 2023

More data on the borrowing requirement and government debt

The monthly outcome of the central government net borrowing requirement is included in the official statistics of Sweden.

The Debt Office published their latest forecast on the Swedish economy and central government borrowing on May 25 2022: Forecast and analysis 2023:2

Press inquiries

Mats Lilja, press officer

The Debt Office's operations shall be characterized by an openness to the public and the media. The right of access to official business is a cornerstone of Swedish democracy.

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Mats Lilja, press officer
Press phone (office hours): +46(0)8-613 47 01, mobile +46(0)721-561 527
E-mail: Mats Lilja