Greece ranked second-lowest in the EU in 2024 in terms of average annual adjusted full-time wages, at €18,000, narrowly above Bulgaria (€15,400), according to Eurostat.
Greek wages are around 55% lower than the EU average, highlighting a persistent income gap.
The picture is even starker when purchasing power is taken into account. Greece recorded the lowest level in the EU, roughly 46% below the EU average. This indicates that low wages are compounded by reduced purchasing power, placing sustained pressure on households and gradually eroding living standards.
Long-term income trends underline the challenge. Between 2004 and 2024, Greece and Italy were the only EU countries to record a decline in real income per capita, with Greece posting the sharpest drop, at 5%, largely reflecting the impact of bailout-package austerity. By contrast, all other member states saw real income growth over the same period.
Social indicators further reflect this strain. Greece has by far the highest share of citizens who say they feel poor, at 67%. It also ranks among the worst performers in terms of energy poverty. In 2024, 19% of Greeks were unable to adequately heat their homes, compared with an EU average of 9%, a figure matched only by Bulgaria.