The government deficit of both the eurozone and the European Union (EU) decreased in absolute terms in 2013 compared with the previous year, the EU's statistical office Eurostat said on Tuesday.

Figures showed that the eurozone ratio of government deficit to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) decreased from 3.6 percent in 2012 to 2.9 percent in 2013, and in the EU from 4.2 percent to 3.2 percent.

Ten member states had deficits higher than 3 percent of GDP. Among the member statements, Luxembourg and Germany registered a government surplus; the lowest government deficits in percentage of GDP were recorded in Estonia, Denmark, Latvia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Sweden.

Eurostat also said government debt rose in both zones. In the euro area, the government debt to GDP ratio increased from 89.0 percent at the end of 2012 to 90.9 percent at the end of 2013, and in the EU from 83.5 percent to 85.4 percent.

Under EU rules, current and potential eurozone members must keep their budget deficits below 3 percent of GDP and public debt must not exceed 60 percent of GDP. Endit

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