Annual inflation in January was also two percent, a key figure for the European Central Bank, which aims to keep prices "close to, but below two percent."

On a month-to-month basis, prices rose by 0.5 percent compared to January 2011, the statistics office added.

"As in previous months, the inflation rate was significantly driven by large increases in the price of heating oil and other fuels, as well as for electricity," it said in a statement.

The ECB will mull how to contain rising inflationary pressures at its forthcoming meeting on Thursday.

Until now, the ECB has said it sees "evidence of short-term upward pressure on overall inflation, mainly owing to energy and commodity prices" but has not hinted it is poised to raise rates.

The bank has kept its key interest rate at a record low of one percent since May 2009 and economists do not expect a change in the coming months even though inflation in the 17-country zone reached 2.4 percent in January.