Greece 'crisis' as bombshell report shows one in four on brink of poverty

More than one in four - 26.9% of the population - is on the threshold of poverty or social exclusion, a report published Wednesday (April 30) has revealed. This translates to roughly 2.74 million people in a country of 10.4 million.

The report from Europe's statistical agency places Greece only behind Bulgaria (30.3%) and (27.9%) in the 27-member European Union in terms of the highest proportion of people at risk of poverty, severe material and social deprivation or living in a household with very low work intensity. The EU average stands at 21%, or roughly 93.3 million.

The figures come just as the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) released data on deprivation in Greece, confirming the big gap between the country and the EU average.

According to the report, the situation has worsened between 2023 and 2024, with over 80,000 more individuals added to those living in poverty - a 0.8% increase.

It should be noted that the actual figures are believed to be higher because the most marginalised groups, including the Roma, prisoners or those in camps, are often not represented in statistics.

The Greek government has recently been promoting several so-called support measures aimed at helping Greeks amid soaring and low salaries. Minister of Economy Kyriakos Pierrakakis revealed that tenants will be refunded one month's payment in full every November "in order to alleviate the burden of their expenses".

Greek Prime Minister also announced in March that the minimum wage would rise to Kyriakos Mitsotaki €880 beginning on April 1. This marks an over 6% increase and is the fifth wage increase since 2019, bringing the cumulative increase over six years to 35.4%.

Greece continues to be among the poorest countries in the European Union. In 2024, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Greeks were the second poorest in Europe after Bulgarians, as real wages steadily fell through 2022, dropping 30% from pre-crisis levels in 2009.

On the other end of the scale, the lowest shares were recorded in the (11.3%), Slovenia (14.4%), the Netherlands (15.4%), Poland (16.0%) and Ireland (16.7%).

Eurostat and ELSTAT define "poverty" as equivalent to absolute poverty or destitution. The poverty line is set at €6,030 (£5,134) per year for an individual or €12,663 (£10,782) for a household with two adults and two children under 14.