English: The Debt-to-GDP ratio and Budget deficit to GDP ratio have been plotted for all eurozone countries and UK in 2012. The same plot can also be found here with 2009 figures . The figures indicate the fiscal health of the countries in the plot. Generally, the farther up and to the right a country goes, the higher the risk for investors. The following 4 areas have been given a background color in the plot to reflect the level of fiscal health:

• Green (max.60% debt-to-GDP and max.3% deficit), maps the European limits outlined by the Stability and Growth Pact .

• Yellow (60-120% debt-to-GDP if the deficit is below 3%, OR 0-60% debt-to-GDP with a 3-6% deficit), maps the area considered to be unhealthy on the long term. All countries belonging to the area will comply with 1 out of 2 SGP limits and be close to comply with both SGP limits, which mean that the situation is not yet at a "critical" state.

• Orange (min.120% debt-to-GDP if the deficit is below 3%, OR 60-120% debt-to-GDP if the deficit is above 3%, OR 0-60% debt-to-GDP if the deficit is above 6%), covers the three areas commonly referred to as critical levels .

• Red (if the debt-to-GDP exceeds 120% in combination with having a deficit above 3%). In this area, the situation (according to IMF guidelines) is considered to be "unsustainable" . As a general rule of thumb, it is only possible for a country to enter a path of continuously declining debt-to-GDP ratios if it succeeds to achieve budget deficits below 3% of GDP; and IMF have argued this for an average-country will not be possible (without external help) if the debt suddenly exceeds the 120% limit.

Trend over time is important to map. In example, a critical deficit (bigger than 6%) in a single year might occur only because of special temporary one-off circumstances, and if forecasts promise it will by-it-self return to more normal levels in subsequent years (while the debt level also still remain below 120%), then it will in such a situation not be evaluated as being truly critical (despite of having a critical size for a specific year).