Eurostat report highlights economic decline in Greek regions

According to the Eurostat ‘Regions in Europe 2026’ report, several Greek regions are among the economically weakest in the European Union. Five Greek regions reported a real GDP per capita (in Purchasing Power Standards) of less than 50% of the EU average.

The North Aegean region recorded the lowest GDP per capita at 42% of the EU average, followed by East Macedonia-Thrace and Epirus at 45%, West Macedonia at 48%, and Western Greece at 49%. West Macedonia experienced the second fastest GDP decline in the EU between 2019 and 2024, dropping by 18.0%, a trend linked to the region's rapid decarbonization and the phase-out of lignite.

Additionally, the Peloponnese was identified as one of the ten poorest regions in the EU, with 38.1% of its population at risk of poverty or social exclusion.