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Eurozone bailout countries

Five euro countries took a rescue programme from euro area lenders between 2010 and 2018: Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Cyprus.

The full list

Rescued before the ESM existed, 2010–2011 3

First programmes agreed between May 2010 and May 2011, funded by the Greek Loan Facility, the EFSM and the EFSF, each alongside the IMF.

• 🇬🇷Greece
• 🇮🇪Ireland
• 🇵🇹Portugal

Rescued by the ESM, 2012–2013 2

Programmes paid out by the ESM: Spain's for its banks only, agreed July 2012; Cyprus's agreed April 2013, with the IMF.

• 🇪🇸Spain
• 🇨🇾Cyprus

Not on the list

• Latvia: Received EU balance of payments assistance as a member outside the euro.
• Hungary: Received EU balance of payments assistance, a facility only for EU members outside the euro area.
• Romania: Received EU balance of payments assistance, a facility only for EU members outside the euro area.

Questions

How many eurozone countries were bailed out?

Five euro countries took a rescue programme from euro area lenders between 2010 and 2018: Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Cyprus.

Which countries are on the list?

Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Cyprus.

What is an easy way to remember them?

3 + 2: Greece, Ireland and Portugal in 2010 and 2011; Spain (for its banks only) and Cyprus in 2012 and 2013. Greece took three programmes.

More lists

Each name checked against at least two sources, one of them European Stability Mechanism, on 3 October 2026. Next review by 3 October 2028.
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