
The Greek economy might have featured in the most prominent position in the Economist’s recent “Best Performance” list, but it seems the indicators on paper do not align with the public sentiment of the country’s citizens, as the Autumn Eurobarometer reveals.
The report says Greeks are faced with burdensome financial struggles to make ends meet with a staggering 80% of respondents claiming they were unable to pay their bills.
In various polls and studies, the high cost of living is consistently cited as the primary issue facing Greek society with the Eurobarometer survey confirming that although the indicators for the Greek economy are on an upswing, citizens’ everyday reality is removed from this.
What the Chart Reveals about the Standard of Living
When asked about personal standards of living and the financial capability of Greeks, 87% believe that the standard of living will deteriorate in the next year, 12% expect no change, and 1% believe it has improved.
On a European scale, 73% believe that the standard of living will decline next year, 24% anticipate no change, 2% think it has improved, and 1% did not respond.
Eight in Ten Greeks Struggle to Pay Bills
Regarding difficulties in paying bills in the past year, 50% of Greeks say they face occasional challenges, 36% say it happens most of the time, and 14% claim they do not encounter difficulties.
In response to the same question, 62% of citizens in other EU member states state they face no problems paying bills, 28% say they encounter challenges occasionally, 9% report frequent financial management issues, and 1% did not respond.
Greece Tops the List of Countries with the Highest Difficulty in Paying Bills
According to the responses of citizens from the 27 EU member states, the countries with the least difficulty in paying bills are Sweden (6%), Denmark (7%), and Finland (20%).
Greece is the worst off of all the countries as it tops the chart of countries with the highest difficulty in paying bills:
86% Greece
64% Portugal
63% Cyprus
59% Bulgaria
57% Italy
57% Romania
55% Ireland
53% Croatia
37% Latvia
36% France
What Greeks Predict for Their Standard of Living in a Year
In response to a Eurobarometer question about whether their standard of living will improve in a year, 58% of Greeks believe it will deteriorate, 33% expect no change, 7% anticipate improvement, and 2% did not respond.
For the same question, 46% of Europeans believe their standard of living will remain the same, 38% think it will worsen, 13% expect improvement, and 3% did not respond.
Greek Views on the Economy’s Future in a Year
Asked about the state of the national economy in a year, 66% of Greeks believe it will worsen, 24% expect it to remain the same, 9% predict improvement, and 1% did not respond.
In response to the same question, 52% of Europeans believe the situation will worsen, 31% think it will remain the same, 13% expect improvement, and 4% did not respond.
Source: tovima.com


Latest News

WTTC: Travel & Tourism to Create 4.5M New Jobs in EU by 2035
This year, international visitor spending is set to reach 573 billion euros, up by more than 11% year-on-year

IMF: US Tariffs Shake Global Economy, Outlook Downbeat
IMF slashes global growth forecast to 2.8% as U.S. tariffs create uncertainty and ‘negative supply shock

First Step Towards New Audiovisual Industry Hub in Drama
The project is set to contribute to the further development of Greece’s film industry and establish Drama as an audiovisual hub in the region

Airbnb Greece – Initial CoS Ruling Deems Tax Circular Unlawful
The case reached the Council of State following annulment applications filed by the Panhellenic Federation of Property Owners (POMIDA)

Mitsotakis Unveils €1 Billion Plan for Housing, Pensioners, Public investments
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced a new set of economic support measures, worth 1 billion euros, aiming to provide financial relief to citizens.

Alter Ego Ventures Invests in Pioneering Gaming Company ‘Couch Heroes’
Alter Ego Ventures' participation in the share capital of Couch Heroes marks yet another investment by the Alter Ego Media Group in innovative companies with a focus on technology.

Corruption Still Plagues Greece’s Driving Tests
While traffic accidents continue to claim lives on Greek roads daily, irregularities and under-the-table dealings in the training and testing of new drivers remain disturbingly widespread

Pope Francis Died of Stroke and Heart Failure Vatican Confirms
As news of the official cause of death spread, tributes poured in from across the globe. The 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church is united in grief, remembering a pope who championed inclusion, justice, and compassion

Increase in Both Museum Visits, Revenues for 2024
As expected, the Acropolis was the top archeological site in the country, followed by Sounion, Mycenae, the ancient theater of Epidaurus, and Vergina in northern Greece

Where Greece’s Tourists Come From: A Look at 2025’s Top Visitor Markets
The United Kingdom continues to hold the top spot as the largest source of incoming tourism, with 5.6 million seats booked for Greece this summer — up 2.2% from last year. This accounts for 20% of all international air traffic to Greece