Poland closed 2011 with public debt at 56.4% of GDP, fractionally above a prior estimate of 56.3%, after racking up a general government deficit of 5.0% of GDP for the year, down from a 5.1% prior estimate, EU statistical office Eurostat said in a statement.

The figures are calculated on the EU's ESA-'95 accounting methodology used for Maastricht convergence measurement. That differs slightly from Poland's own accounting standard, applied in Public Finance Law and Constitution where thresholds of public debt at 50%, 55% and 60% of GDP trigger automated austerity.