21/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - Based on first preliminary estimates for 2009 published on Monday 21 June by Eurostat, the gross domestic product (GDP) per inhabitant expressed in purchasing power standards (PPS) varied from 41% to 268% of the EU27 average across member states. In Finland, France, Spain, Italy, Cyprus and Greece, GDP per inhabitant was within 10% of the EU27 average. Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium were between 15% and 35% above the average, while the highest level of GDP per inhabitant in the EU27 was recorded in Luxembourg. Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Malta, Portugal and Slovakia were between 10% and 30% lower than the EU27 average. Hungary, Estonia, Poland and Lithuania were between 30% and 50% lower, while Latvia, Romania and Bulgaria were between 50% and 60% below the EU27 average. (L.C./transl.jl)