Record Surge of Greek Graduates Moving to Europe in 2025

Data compiled by Greece in Figures shows that in 2025 almost 14,000 more Greek university graduates left for European destinations than in 2024, a 12.1% increase in one year. Since 2000, a total of 128,500 Greek graduates have moved to countries of the European Free Trade Association, which includes all EU members as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

The broader migration of Greeks aged 20‑64 to Europe reached a historic high of 386,100 in 2025, an increase of 30,300 people in a single year. Greeks abroad enjoy an 85.9% employment rate, markedly higher than the rate for graduates who stay in Greece, where the country records the highest graduate unemployment rate in Europe. Despite policy attempts to lure skilled workers back, the outflow continues, underscoring the ongoing brain‑drain challenge.