Bloomberg said that Sweden posted a surplus last year because of higher tax receipts, lower unemployment benefit payouts and asset sales.

“Despite increased concerns about the debt situation in the world and an expected slowdown in the economy during the second half, Swedish government finances developed strongly in 2011,” the Swedish National Debt Office said.

The country posted a 68 billion kronor ($9.8 billion) surplus, in line with the debt office’s 69 billion kronor forecast, the Stockholm-based agency said in a statement today. This reduced total central government debt to 32 percent of gross domestic product.