Debt as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (debt ratio) of households has decreased by nearly 30% and for non-financial corporations 57% in the last five years, the Central Bank announced on Monday.
Specifically, household assets in financial assets at the end of December 2021 amounted to €57.9 billion, of which 61% relates to cash, deposits and loans, 2% relates to securities, 20% were shares and 17% other financial instruments.
Their debt amounted to €20.1 billion at the end of December 2021, with the relevant debt ratio being at 86% of GDP, showing a slight decrease compared to the previous quarter due to GDP growth. However, compared to December 2016, the household debt ratio shows a significant decrease of up to 30%.
Similarly, the corresponding assets of non-financial corporations amounted to €65.7 billion with a ratio of 17% in cash and deposits, 5% in loans, 1% in securities, 48% in shares and 29% in other financial instruments.
The sector’s debt at the end of December 2021 amounted to €36.2 billion with the debt ratio being at 155% of GDP, recording a slight decrease compared to the previous quarter mainly due to GDP growth.
However, compared to December 2016, the debt ratio of non-financial corporations shows a significant decrease of up to 57%.
The assets of insurance corporations also show a small increase, which in terms of purely financial instruments amounted to €4.3 billion and is distributed as follows: 11% in cash and deposits, 3% in loans, 24% in securities, 49% in shares and 14% in other financial data.
Respectively, the investment funds have assets in financial instruments of €8.2 billion invested 5% in cash and deposits, 13% in loans and securities, 80% in shares and 3% in other financial instruments.
Investments in financial instruments of the pension funds amounted to €3.9 billion and mainly concern cash and deposits at a rate of 26%, 15% in loans, 3% in securities, 44% in shares and 11% in other financial instruments.
Source: Cyprus Mail
