Greece leads the Eurozone in poverty and health care shortages in 2024

Greece again found herself at the top of the sad rating Eurozone – according to the report ELSTAT “Living Conditions 2025”the country took first place in terms of level risk of poverty and social exclusionas well as by the number of citizens who did not receive the necessary medical care.

According to data Eurostat for 2024, 26.9% Greeks live at risk of poverty and social exclusion, with the average EU-27 V 21%. The situation is worse only in Romania (27.9%) and Bulgaria (30.3%), which, we recall, will enter the eurozone on January 1, 2026.

The risk of poverty indicator (after social transfers) reflects the share of people whose total equivalent disposable income is less than 60% from the national median. In other words, every fourth resident of Greece lives on an income below the established poverty threshold.

One in five Greeks without medical care

Communication between poverty and limited access to healthcare obvious. According to the report ELSTAT, 21% patients in Greece said they were unable to receive the necessary treatment or testing – this highest in the eurozonewhere the average level is only 3.6%.

Back in 2023 13% Citizens reported that they had to postpone doctor’s appointments, refuse procedures or surgeries for financial reasons, because of queues or difficulties with transportation. In 2024, this percentage has risen to almost a quarter of the population, demonstrating a deteriorating public health situation.

Remain especially vulnerable women And elderly people: among women, unmet needs for medical care are recorded in 14.5%among men – 10.6%. After age 65, the numbers rise sharply, especially in low-income groups.

For comparison: in Finland similar indicator – 12.4%V Estonia — 11.2%whereas Cyprus (0.1%), Malta (0.5%) and Czech Republic (0.6%) demonstrate almost complete provision of medical accessibility.

Many doctors – but little availability

At first glance, the shortage of doctors should not be a problem: in Greece there are 6.6 doctors per 1000 inhabitants – one of the highest rates in Europe. Per 100,000 people there are about 420 hospital beds and more 100 pharmacieswhich also makes the country a leader in infrastructure. However, according to ELSTATthe main barrier remains financial difficulties And uneven distribution of resources between the capital and the periphery, where only 1.9 health centers per 100,000 inhabitants.

The report’s findings make it clear that despite nominal advances in medical statistics, social inequality And poverty continue to undermine the health system, turning Greece into Europe’s dismal leader in human losses from economic consequences.

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