Greece building permits rise 8.8% over twelve-month period

Data released by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) shows that Greek building permits saw an 8.8% increase over the twelve-month period from June 2025 to May 2026. During this annual cycle, a total of 31,155 permits were issued, covering 7,187,501 square meters of surface area and 34,378,018 cubic meters in volume.

In the specific month of May 2026, the total number of permits issued was 2,695, representing a 0.8% decrease compared to May 2025. However, the surface area for May 2026 rose by 4.2%, while the total volume decreased by 3.4% year-on-year.

The private sector accounted for the vast majority of activity, with 2,669 permits issued in May 2026. Over the full twelve-month period ending in May 2026, private construction activity saw a 9.0% increase in the number of permits, a 14.0% increase in surface area, and a 19.9% increase in volume compared to the previous year. Public sector activity accounted for 2.1% of the total construction volume in May 2026.