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Government Bond Yields — International Comparison 2026

Government bonds offer one of the safest investments available, backed by sovereign governments. APYData tracks yields for treasury bills and bonds across multiple countries — US, UK, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Australia and more — updated with official data from OECD and national treasuries.

15
Products compared
4.58%
Best APY available
3.89%
Average APY
# Entity Product APY Score Risk Liquidity View
1
UK Debt Management Office
UK Gilt 10 años 4.58% 7.5 Low Market hours
2
New Zealand Debt Management Office
Nueva Zelanda Government Bond 10 años 4.47% 7.4 Low Market hours
3
Norges Bank
Noruega Treasury Bill 3 meses 4.38% 7.4 Low Market hours
4
Australian Office of Financial Management
Australia Government Bond 10 años 4.37% 7.4 Low Market hours
5
US Department of the Treasury
US Treasury Bond 10 años 4.29% 7.4 Low Market hours
6
US Department of the Treasury
US Treasury Bill 3 meses 4.17% 7.3 Low Market hours
7
UK Debt Management Office
UK Treasury Bill 3 meses 4.13% 7.3 Low Market hours
8
Norges Bank
Noruega Government Bond 10 años 3.95% 7.3 Low Market hours
9
Australian Office of Financial Management
Australia Treasury Bill 3 meses 3.83% 7.2 Low Market hours
10
Tesoro Público (España)
Obligaciones del Estado 30 años 3.60% 7.2 Low Market hours
11
Ministero dell'Economia (Italia)
BTP 10 años 3.59% 7.2 Low Market hours
12
Agence France Trésor (Francia)
OAT 10 años 3.37% 7.1 Low Market hours
13
Bank of Canada
Canadá Government Bond 10 años 3.24% 7.1 Low Market hours
14
Tesoro Público (España)
Obligaciones del Estado 10 años 3.22% 7.1 Low Market hours
15
New Zealand Debt Management Office
Nueva Zelanda Treasury Bill 3 meses 3.21% 7.1 Low Market hours
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Complete Guide: Investing in Government Bonds in 2026

High-quality sovereign debt is the safest reference asset in the financial system. In 2026, it is also one of the most competitive products available to conservative savers — historically unusual.

European Government Bond Yields in 2026

Within the Eurozone, yields vary by credit rating. Germany (AAA) offers the lowest rates (~2.50% 10Y) but maximum safety. Spain (A, ~3.27%) and Italy (BBB, ~3.50%) offer higher yields with slightly more fiscal and political risk. UK Gilts (AA, ~4.40%) lead on yield but carry GBP currency risk for EUR-based investors.

Government Bonds vs Bank Deposits

The key difference is the guarantee mechanism: bank deposits have the DGS limit (€100k per institution). Government bonds carry sovereign credit with no limit, but also no automatic payout mechanism if the sovereign defaults. For amounts above €100,000, government bonds may be preferable as they are not subject to the DGS cap.

How to Buy European Government Bonds

Spain (Letras del Tesoro): Directly at tesoro.es — no fees, minimum €1,000, monthly auctions. Submit a non-competitive offer to accept the auction rate.

Other EU sovereigns: Via bond ETFs (iShares, Vanguard) on Euronext or Xetra — diversified, liquid, TER 0.07–0.20%. Or directly through brokers like Freedom24 or Interactive Brokers.

Key Risk: Interest Rate Risk

If you hold a bond to maturity, you receive the full face value regardless of intermediate price movements. If you sell before maturity and rates have risen, you will receive less than face value. For investors who can genuinely hold to maturity, this risk is eliminated. Shorter-term T-Bills and Letras minimise this risk for those who may need to sell early.

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Frequently asked questions
What are Treasury Bills?
Treasury bills (T-bills) are short-term government debt securities with maturities of 3 to 12 months. They are issued at a discount to face value and are among the safest investments available, backed by the issuing government.
How do I buy government bonds?
You can buy government bonds directly through national treasury websites (TreasuryDirect for US, DMO for UK, tesoro.es for Spain), through your bank or broker, or via bond ETFs. Direct purchase is usually the cheapest option.
What is the difference between bills, notes and bonds?
They differ by maturity: bills are short-term (up to 1 year), notes are medium-term (2–10 years) and bonds are long-term (10–30 years). Generally, longer maturities offer higher yields but more interest rate sensitivity.