Greece: health and care

What is life expectancy in Greece?

Life expectancy at birth in Greece was 81.9 years in 2024, up from 81.7 in 2023 and 80.1 in 2021, according to Eurostat.

Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn would live if that year's death rates at each age stayed the same. It is not a forecast. It dipped in 2021 because of COVID-19 deaths and has since recovered. Eurostat publishes figures by sex and for each age.

Official sources: Eurostat: Life expectancy by age and sex (demo_mlexpec)

What is the fertility rate in Greece?

Greece's total fertility rate was 1.24 children per woman in 2024, down from 1.26 in 2023 and 1.43 in 2021, according to Eurostat.

The total fertility rate is the average number of children a woman would have if she experienced that year's birth rates at each age throughout her life. About 2.1 is needed to keep a population stable without migration. The World Bank puts Greece's population at 10,413,962 in 2025, about the same as in 2023.

Official sources: Eurostat: Fertility indicators (demo_find) · World Bank: Population, total

How much does Greece spend on health?

Current health spending in Greece was 8.4% of GDP in 2023, down from 9.0% in 2021, according to the World Bank, which uses WHO estimates.

The figure covers public and private spending, including what households pay directly, but not investment in buildings and equipment. The World Bank also lists 6.6 doctors per 1,000 people in 2022; this counts licensed doctors, not only those working in patient care, so it can overstate the number treating patients.

Official sources: World Bank: Current health expenditure (% of GDP) · World Bank: Physicians per 1,000 people

How long do people live in Greece?

81.8 years: that is life expectancy at birth in Greece for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. That is the highest since at least 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 79.5 years; Greece is 21st highest of 52. Worldwide: 32nd of 193.

How many babies die in Greece?

According to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, the infant mortality rate in Greece was 3.2 per 1,000 in 2024. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 3.4 per 1,000, and Greece placed 28th highest of 51. Worldwide: 164th of 192.

How many women die in childbirth in Greece?

5.0 per 100,000: that is the maternal mortality ratio in Greece for 2023, according to the WHO. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at 10.0 per 100,000; its low point was 2005, at 3.0 per 100,000. It is 31st highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 6.0 per 100,000. Worldwide: 166th of 192.

What share of GDP does Greece spend on health care?

According to the WHO, current health spending in Greece was 8.4% of GDP in 2023. Its high point since 2005 was 2010, at 9.6% of GDP; its low point was 2014, at 7.9% of GDP. It is 21st highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 7.5% of GDP. World rank, highest first: 53rd of 191.

What is out-of-pocket health spending in Greece?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 34.3%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 28.3% (2010) to 37.2% (2014). Europe & Central Asia median: 22.0%; Greece is 12th highest of 51. Worldwide: 69th of 191.

How many doctors per person does Greece have?

According to the WHO, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Greece was 6.6 per 1,000 in 2022. No year since 2005 has been higher. Europe & Central Asia median: 3.7 per 1,000; Greece is 1st highest of 42. Of 125 countries with 2022 data, 2nd highest.

How many hospital beds per person does Greece have?

In 2022, hospital beds per 1,000 people in Greece was 4.3 per 1,000, according to the WHO. Its high point since 2005 was 2009, at 4.9 per 1,000; its low point was 2019, at 4.2 per 1,000. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 4.3 per 1,000, and Greece placed 22nd highest of 42. Of 110 countries with 2022 data, 29th highest.

What is measles vaccine coverage in Greece?

91.0%: that is measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Greece for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 31st highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 94.0%. World rank, highest first: 87th of 191.