Ljubljana - Slovenia had a budget deficit of EUR 3.5 billion last year, according to preliminary data from the Finance Ministry, which is considerably below the deficit predicted in the annual budget.

Total budget revenue declined by just over 10% year-on-year to EUR 9.08 billion, whereas expenditure surged by nearly 27% to EUR 12.56 billion, largely due to outlays associated with the coronavirus epidemic.

In the revised budget for the year, revenue was planned at EUR 9.2 billion and expenditure at EUR 13.4 billion, with the deficit projected at EUR 4.2 billion or over 9% of GDP.

The figures show just over EUR 2 billion was spent on measures and other outlays associated with the coronavirus epidemic, significantly lower than budgeted.