Greek agriculture faces downturn as ELSTAT reports falling livestock numbers and cultivated area

ELSTAT data show a sharp contraction in Greece’s livestock sector in 2025. The number of sheep fell 17.2% to 6.44 million, cattle fell 12.8% to 519 000 and pigs fell 7.2% to 729 000. Farm counts also dropped: cattle farms –16.9% to 7 898, pig farms –21.3% to 3 373, sheep farms –18.3% to 43 026 and goat farms –13.4% to 25 960. Overall animal units (ZMs) declined 13.3% to 1 430 306.

In 2024, cultivated land decreased 1.3% to 27.06 million hectares, with irrigated area down 4.7%. Barley area fell 19.7%, while cotton, vineyards, orange and apricot orchards also shrank. Conversely, areas for durum wheat, millet and olive groves grew modestly. Production trends included a 21.7% rise in olive fruit and 10.9% rise in olive oil, a 10.2% increase in tomatoes, and smaller gains in oranges, apples and cotton. Beef output rose 7.4%, but pork, lamb, goat meat and milk production fell, while pig numbers rose 5.3%.

These figures highlight ongoing challenges for Greek farmers, with declining livestock inventories and less cultivated land offset by gains in certain high‑value crops.