In 2025, 26.9% of the country’s population, i.e. 2.74 million people, will live in risk of poverty or social exclusionaccording to the report on Poverty in Greece 2025 of the Hellenic Poverty Alleviation Network (EAPN Greece).

In fact, the percentage is increased by 0.8 percentage points units relative to previous year.

According to the data, child poverty remains high (22.4%)while o risk of material and social deprivation also increasedaccording to the data of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).

OR work intensitythe low wagesh job insecurity and the mismatch between incomes and high prices at species of first necessity and energy consumption still trap workers in poverty despite any partial improvements.

The Minimum Guaranteed Income (EEE) covers just 60% of the poverty linea rate insufficient by European standards. The annual report includes a special report and analysis on the EEE measure, taking into account the testimonies of those served and the professionals who grant it, concluding with specific policy proposals to the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family and the Ministry of Finance.

The research of OKiP shows its deterioration housing insecurityof the stress that stems from mental health issuesand his digital blackoutwhile vulnerabilities are emerging among refugees, single-parent families, the elderly, women experiencing violence, informal caregivers, and rural populations.

Hidden homelessness and energy poverty have intensifiedrevealing the gaps in the current protection system. The suspension of the TEBA program, its assignment to the Regions and the two-year delay in the implementation of its new phase as EBYS has further limited access to basic goods for vulnerable populations.

Major research projects completed in 2025

Three notable research initiatives are included in this year’s Poverty report providing findings and policy recommendations on structural/systemic problems as well as new emerging poverty profiles:

  • the POVE.R.RE project (Panteion University | EL.ID.EK.) highlighted hidden rural poverty and gender-based housing insecurity, linking social deprivation to climate impacts,
  • the REVERTER program (E.K.POI.ZO. | National Technical University of Metsovia | KAPE, LIFE EE) highlighted the need for fully funded, simplified energy upgrading programs for vulnerable households, to address energy poverty, and
  • the E.PA.F.E.S. program (Hellenic Network for the Fight against Poverty | Hellenic Network for the Right to Housing and Housing | BUILD EE) mapped the weaknesses and good practices of local social policy in five (5) axes (social services, housing, homelessness, energy poverty, child poverty). He underlined the importance of empowering municipalities and CSOs with sufficient resources and expertise and the need to cooperate with each other, with the Regions and with the central government.

Taken together, these projects highlight that effective anti-poverty policy requires research and identifying needs at local level, cross-sectoral coordination, and participatory governance that includes people affected by poverty.

Governance and participation

The report finds the limited stakeholder involvement parts in the planning and evaluation of the National Strategy for Social Inclusion and the Poverty Reduction. Most CSOs and people affected by poverty interviewed during the survey reported little participation in the consultation and underlined the need for institutionalized mechanisms for their participation. Echoing European demands, people affected by poverty defend the principle “nothing for us without us” — demanding permanent representation, accountability, and co-creation of social policies.

Main recommendations

The report calls for decisive and multidimensional action in the following axes:

  1. Identifying and supporting invisible populations: mapping and supporting invisible populations through the collection of complementary data, participatory planning, and an emphasis on emerging mental health conditions associated with new poverty profiles. Adaptation of social policies based on new and local needs.
  2. Reform of structures: strengthening and strengthening of local self-government, better coordination between ministries, institutionalized framework of cooperation of OKiP with the formation and decision-making centers at all levels of government and ensuring transparency and evaluation of the implementation of social policies.
  3. Support those who support: securing long-term funding and capacity building for CSOs and care providers to sustain critical services provided at community level.
  4. Empowerment of experts: institutionalizing the equal participation of people affected by poverty, respecting their rights away from exclusion and discrimination.
  5. Ensuring fiscal and political cohesion: changing the unequal tax system with fairer participation in the tax burden; policies related to the green and digital transition to be socially fair and inclusive; exclusion of social costs from fiscal adjustment.

As a conclusion of the report, Greece faces persistent, evolving and emerging forms of poverty. The purchasing power of wages and pensions is the lowest in Europe. The taxation system disproportionately burdens economically weak households. Social policies implemented for the most vulnerable populations fail to lift them out of poverty. There is a need for more effective cooperation at all levels of government. The empowerment of civil society and the substantial participation of those directly affected are prerequisites for achieving the Europe 2030 goals for poverty reduction.

The report on Poverty in Greece 2025 highlights that sustainable progress does not only depend on indicators of the economy but from ratabilitythe dignity and her empowering all those living in poverty.