In spite of a poor economic forecast for the coming year, from the Dutch Statistics Office, the Netherlands had almost the best standard of living in the European Union last year - according to Eurostat, the EU's statistics agency.

The gross domestic product (GDP) per head was more than one third higher than the EU average. Only in Luxembourg was GDP per person higher. Denmark had the highest price levels. Bulgaria had the lowest standard of living at half the average GDP for the EU as a whole.

The economic crisis means there was relatively less wealth in Greece, Italy and Spain. The GDP per person in Greece was ten percent below the EU average, in 2009 it was only six percent less. Ireland had the third highest GDP in the 27-member European Union.
 

(nc/tf)

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