GeoRealityMatch
Panoramic view of Athens city buildings with mountains in the background, framed by trees.Scenic view of Athens cityscape from a hilltop with clear skies.

Greece

Europe · Southern Europe

High safetyModerate cost of livingVery high development

People live long. Incomes are low for Europe.

Digital NomadOffers a digital nomad visa and home internet at 94 Mbps.ExpatCombines very high development and high safety.RetireeCombines very high life expectancy and high safety.
vs Portugalvs Spainvs Italy
Safety

53rd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.828lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#53 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.8per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
53.8Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the European median

Median disposable income
€11,700per adult, a year, after tax and transfersLow
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
13.7New York = 100ModerateNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
12.5years of median income to buy a median flatModerateNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 10% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and fell 6% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$25K$50K$45,264 PPP$26,948Inflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $24,416 a person, $28,076 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2007, $28,441 a person, $28,896 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2008, $31,696 a person, $30,441 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2009, $29,425 a person, $29,963 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2010, $26,653 a person, $27,839 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2011, $25,505 a person, $25,693 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2012, $21,624 a person, $24,583 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2013, $21,573 a person, $25,731 at PPP, inflation -0.9%2014, $21,475 a person, $26,450 at PPP, inflation -1.3%2015, $17,981 a person, $26,608 at PPP, inflation -1.7%2016, $17,919 a person, $27,505 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2017, $18,632 a person, $28,682 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2018, $19,873 a person, $29,792 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2019, $19,335 a person, $31,927 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2020, $17,887 a person, $29,533 at PPP, inflation -1.2%2021, $20,653 a person, $33,528 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2022, $20,885 a person, $39,448 at PPP, inflation 9.6%2023, $23,344 a person, $42,614 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2024, $24,626 a person, $44,171 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2025, $26,948 a person, $45,264 at PPP, inflation 2.5%$0$25K$50KInflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $24,416 a person, $28,076 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2007, $28,441 a person, $28,896 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2008, $31,696 a person, $30,441 at PPP, inflation 4.2%2009, $29,425 a person, $29,963 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2010, $26,653 a person, $27,839 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2011, $25,505 a person, $25,693 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2012, $21,624 a person, $24,583 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2013, $21,573 a person, $25,731 at PPP, inflation -0.9%2014, $21,475 a person, $26,450 at PPP, inflation -1.3%2015, $17,981 a person, $26,608 at PPP, inflation -1.7%2016, $17,919 a person, $27,505 at PPP, inflation -0.8%2017, $18,632 a person, $28,682 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2018, $19,873 a person, $29,792 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2019, $19,335 a person, $31,927 at PPP, inflation 0.3%2020, $17,887 a person, $29,533 at PPP, inflation -1.2%2021, $20,653 a person, $33,528 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2022, $20,885 a person, $39,448 at PPP, inflation 9.6%2023, $23,344 a person, $42,614 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2024, $24,626 a person, $44,171 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2025, $26,948 a person, $45,264 at PPP, inflation 2.5%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
81.8years, at birthVery high
#33 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
77WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100HighWHO · 2023
Air pollution
14.4PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Higher youth unemployment than most of Europe

Youth unemployment
19.1%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceHigh
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
94 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
592EF English Proficiency Index scoreHighEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet94 MbpsFast
Mobile140 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaHard

Minimum income
€3,500 a month
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Yes
Application fee
€225about $248
  • Tax treatmentSpecial or flat rate
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed
  • Apply onlineIn person or at a consulate
  • Path to residencyYes
  • NationalitiesSome are restricted
Official pageImmigration portal
Scenic view of Athens cityscape from a hilltop with clear skies.
How it changed

Greece's Human Development Index

0.908Very high human development

34th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 24th of 44 in Europe.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #32Andorra0.913
  2. #32Cyprus0.913
  3. #34Greece0.908
  4. #35Poland0.906
  5. #36Estonia0.905
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.770 in 1990 to 0.908 in 2023.

0.750.850.950.90819902000201020231990: 0.7701991: 0.7801992: 0.7821993: 0.7841994: 0.7901995: 0.7921996: 0.7961997: 0.8031998: 0.8131999: 0.8162000: 0.8282001: 0.8372002: 0.8362003: 0.8422004: 0.8512005: 0.8632006: 0.8712007: 0.8662008: 0.8712009: 0.8742010: 0.8762011: 0.8742012: 0.8742013: 0.8792014: 0.8862015: 0.8882016: 0.8842017: 0.8872018: 0.8932019: 0.8962020: 0.8962021: 0.8972022: 0.8972023: 0.9080.750.850.9519902000201020231990: 0.7701991: 0.7801992: 0.7821993: 0.7841994: 0.7901995: 0.7921996: 0.7961997: 0.8031998: 0.8131999: 0.8162000: 0.8282001: 0.8372002: 0.8362003: 0.8422004: 0.8512005: 0.8632006: 0.8712007: 0.8662008: 0.8712009: 0.8742010: 0.8762011: 0.8742012: 0.8742013: 0.8792014: 0.8862015: 0.8882016: 0.8842017: 0.8872018: 0.8932019: 0.8962020: 0.8962021: 0.8972022: 0.8972023: 0.908

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
81.8 years2024at birthUp 2.6 years from 79.2 years in 2005
Internet users
86%2024of people onlineUp 54 points from 32% in 2006
Urban population
79%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 5 points from 75% in 2006
Births per woman
1.242024births per womanDown 0.10 from 1.34 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
22%2021of energy usedUp 14 points from 8% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
32024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 1 from 4 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
5 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 4.4 t from 9.4 t in 2005
Forest area
30%2023of land under forestUp 1 point from 29% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Slow economy, big lifestyle upside for the money, and a digital nomad visa available. The case for living here is long lives. The case against is low incomes and high youth unemployment, both for Europe.

About Greece

Greece is a Mediterranean country of ancient ruins, clear Aegean water, whitewashed villages, and a food culture built on olive oil, seafood, and shared meals that stretch late into warm evenings. The islands each have their own distinct personality, while the mainland offers mountains, gorges, and a depth of historical heritage that shaped Western civilisation. Greeks can be loud, direct, and generous to a fault, and those who match that energy will feel completely at home.

Practical facts

  • CapitalAthens
  • LanguagesGreek
  • Currencyeuro (EUR)
  • Area128,900 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
Weigh Greece against your priorities
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Borders

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On the Ground

My Greek Lifestyle

7 Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Greece

Daniel · British-Venezuelan, 14 years in Greece

An unfiltered take on what guidebooks skip — the language barrier that isolates you if you stay in expat circles, brutal seasonality that empties islands each winter, and bureaucracy that will test your patience. Jobs are scarce and running a local business is hard. His verdict after 14 years? Still worth it — but go in with eyes open.

Quick answers

What is Greece's Human Development Index?

Greece's Human Development Index is 0.908 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #34 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Greece safe?

Greece scores 1.83 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #53 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Greece?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Greece at 54.0 (New York = 100); that is #109 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Greece?

Life expectancy at birth in Greece is 81.8 yrs (World Bank), ranked #33 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Greece?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Greece at 140.8, ranked #46 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.