Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in Bulgaria and Romania is more than 50% below the EU27 average across the member states, according to official figures.

Based on preliminary estimates for 2012, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita expressed in purchasing power standards varied from 47% to 271% of the EU27 average across the member states, Eurostat reported.

The highest level of GDP per capita in the EU27 was recorded in Luxembourg with a level of more than two and a half times the EU27 average.

Austria, Ireland, the Netherlands and Sweden were around 30% above the average.

Denmark, Germany, Belgium and Finland were between 15% and 25% above the average, while the United Kingdom and France were around 10% above.

In Italy and Spain, GDP per capita was just below the EU27 average. Cyprus was around 10% below the average, while Malta, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Greece and Portugal were between nearly 15% and 25% lower.

Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Hungary and Latvia were between 30% and 40% lower than the average, while Romania and Bulgaria were more than 50% below the average.

Croatia, which is about to become a member state is already well ahead of Romania and Bulgaria, with GDP per capita at 61% the EU average.