Poverty persists at alarming rates in Greece. Data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) for 2023 reveals that 26.1% of the Greek population, or 2,658,400 individuals, are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. This figure shows little change from the 2022 rate of 26.3%, indicating a continued struggle for a significant portion of the country's residents.

Children aged 17 and under face the highest risk of poverty or social exclusion at 28.1%, which remains unchanged from 2022.

Adults aged 18-64 in low work intensity households account for 9.5% of their age group, decreasing by 1.4 percentage points from 2022. Men at risk are 8.5%, while women are at 10.6%.

The poverty line is set at €6,030 annually for a single-person household and €12,663 for a two-adult, two-child household. This threshold represents 60% of the median disposable income, calculated at €10,050, against an average household disposable income of €18,755 annually.

Risk of poverty persists despite social benefits

In 2023, referencing income from 2022, 18.9% of the population was at risk of poverty after accounting for social transfers, marking a slight increase of 0.1 percentage points from the year prior. This rate had seen a consistent decline from 21.4% in 2015, with a notable exception in 2021.

Out of 4,304,193 households, 826,639 are considered at risk of poverty, affecting 1,929,761 individuals from the total estimated 10,202,862 people living in private households across the country.

Child poverty, affecting those aged 0-17, stands at 21.8%, showing a modest reduction of 0.6 percentage points from 22.4% in 2022. For adults aged 18-64, the risk is 18.6%, slightly down from 18.9% in 2022, while for those aged 65 and above, it has risen to 17.6% from 15.8%.

When evaluating poverty risk with alternative thresholds to 60% of the median total disposable equivalent income, the rates vary as follows:

  • At a 40% threshold, the risk is 6.5%
  • At a 50% threshold, it increases to 11.6%
  • And at a 70% threshold, the risk further escalates to 25.1%

At-risk-of-poverty rates are recorded in 6 regions

In six regions (Crete, Epirus, South Aegean, Attica, Central Greece, and Thessaly), the risk of poverty or social exclusion rates are lower than the national average. Conversely, in seven other regions (Peloponnisos, Western Greece, Western Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, North Aegean, Central Macedonia, and Ionian Islands), these rates exceed the national average.

It’s important to note that certain populations at high risk of poverty, such as homeless individuals, undocumented migrants, and nomadic Roma, are underrepresented in surveys. This suggests that the actual situation is probably more severe than reported.

For 2023, the estimated risk of poverty stands at 27.5% for individuals with education up to early secondary school, decreases to 18.5% for those with complete secondary or post-secondary education, and further drops to 6.7% for individuals with tertiary education.

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