Economy, jobs and prices in Central Macedonia, Greece: official figures
GDP per person was 21,900 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 55% of the EU average; 7th highest of 13 regions in Greece. PPS adjust for price differences between countries.
How big is the economy of Central Macedonia?
The regional economy produced €32.9 billion of output (GDP at market prices) in 2024, 13.9% of Greece's GDP.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Central Macedonia?
The unemployment rate (age 15 to 74) was 11.7% in 2025, against 8.9% for Greece and 6.0% across the EU; 2nd highest of 13 regions in Greece.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is youth unemployment in Central Macedonia?
Youth unemployment (age 15 to 24) was 23.3% in 2025, against 19.1% for Greece; 7th highest of 11 regions in Greece.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does Central Macedonia spend on research and development?
Spending on research and development came to 2.22% of GDP in 2024 (1.53% nationally).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Central Macedonia?
The 2021 census counted 129,093 unemployed people in Central Macedonia, an unemployment rate of 16.5% of the labour force (14.2% nationally); 3rd highest of 13 among the regions.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyHow many people work in Central Macedonia?
652,290 residents of Central Macedonia were in work and 781,386 were economically active at the 2021 census, out of a resident population of 1,793,923.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyWhat is the female unemployment rate in Central Macedonia?
Unemployment among women in Central Macedonia was 17.8% at the 2021 census, against 15.5% among men, a gap of 2.3 percentage points.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyHow many pensioners live in Central Macedonia?
Central Macedonia had 402,581 pensioners in 2021, 62 for every 100 people in work (59 nationally), 5th lowest of 13 among the regions.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyHow many people in Central Macedonia are long-term unemployed?
In 2025, 7.4% of the labour force in Central Macedonia had been unemployed for 12 months or more, against 5.0% for Greece as a whole and 1.9% across the EU; 2nd highest of 12 regions in Greece. In 2015 it was 19.4%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Central Macedonia?
Unemployment among women was 14.9% in 2025, against 11.2% for Greece as a whole and 6.2% across the EU; 2nd highest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2015 it was 30.1%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many women in Central Macedonia are in work?
59.6% of women aged 20 to 64 were in work in 2025, against 62.3% for Greece as a whole and 71.3% across the EU; 5th highest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2015 it was 44.7%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs the economy of Central Macedonia growing?
In real terms the economy of Central Macedonia grew by 1.9% in 2024 (gross value added) (Greece: 1.7%); 5th highest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2014 it was -0.7%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Central Macedonia?
There were 474 passenger cars per 1,000 people in 2024 (Greece: 581); 3rd highest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2014 it was 394.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Central Macedonia?
Employers paid an average of €10,318 per employee in 2023, counting wages, salaries and employer social contributions, against €10,954 across Greece; 5th lowest of 13 regions in Greece.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Central Macedonia?
Hotels, campsites and other tourist accommodation recorded 18.7 million nights in 2025, 79% of them by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Central Macedonia?
The largest part of the economy of Central Macedonia in 2024 was trade, transport, hospitality and communications, at 27.2% of gross value added, followed by public administration, education, health and other services (24.3%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Central Macedonia?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 17.2% of output in 2024, against 15.1% for Greece.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Central Macedonia growing?
Gross value added rose from €21.0 billion in 2015 to €28.6 billion in 2024 in current prices, an increase of 36% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Central Macedonia?
Of the 836,160 jobs located in Central Macedonia in 2024, 24% in public services, education, health and other services, 11% in industry and 11.0% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Central Macedonia?
The number of people working in Central Macedonia rose by 20.7% between 2015 and 2024, to 836,160.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- 22.4% of the unemployed in Central Macedonia in 2021 were looking for their first job (28,908 people), versus 24.1% across Greece. Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copy
- 43.6% of all residents of Central Macedonia were economically active, working or looking for work, at the 2021 census (44.3% nationally), and 320,943 were pupils or students. Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copy
How Central Macedonia compares with other regions
Unemployment rate at the 2021 census (2021)
Central Macedonia ranks 3 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate at the 2021 census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dytiki Makedonia | 18.7% |
| 2 | Dytiki Elláda | 18.4% |
| 3 | Central Macedonia | 16.5% |
| 4 | Ipeiros | 16.0% |
| 5 | Thessalia | 15.7% |
| 6 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 15.6% |
| 7 | Ionia Nisia | 15.5% |
Pensioners per 100 employed people, 2021 census (2021)
Central Macedonia ranks 9 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Pensioners per 100 employed people, 2021 census |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Peloponnisos | 69 |
| 7 | Dytiki Elláda | 69 |
| 8 | Voreio Aigaio | 68 |
| 9 | Central Macedonia | 62 |
| 10 | Ionia Nisia | 59 |
| 11 | Crete | 50 |
| 12 | Attica | 49 |
Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) (2025)
Central Macedonia ranks 2 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dytiki Makedonia | 10.0% |
| 2 | Central Macedonia | 7.4% |
| 3 | Sterea Elláda | 5.7% |
| 4 | Ipeiros | 5.6% |
| 5 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 5.3% |
| 6 | Attica | 4.9% |
| 7 | Dytiki Elláda | 4.9% |
Unemployment rate, women (2025)
Central Macedonia ranks 2 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, women |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dytiki Makedonia | 21.2% |
| 2 | Central Macedonia | 14.9% |
| 3 | Sterea Elláda | 14.5% |
| 4 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 13.6% |
| 5 | Ionia Nisia | 12.7% |
| 6 | Ipeiros | 12.1% |
| 7 | Dytiki Elláda | 12.0% |
Employment rate, women aged 20-64 (2025)
Central Macedonia ranks 5 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, women aged 20-64 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Crete | 66.7% |
| 3 | Peloponnisos | 64.7% |
| 4 | Ipeiros | 62.8% |
| 5 | Central Macedonia | 59.6% |
| 6 | Ionia Nisia | 59.1% |
| 7 | Thessalia | 58.9% |
| 8 | Voreio Aigaio | 58.8% |
Real growth in gross value added (2024)
Central Macedonia ranks 5 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real growth in gross value added |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 2.5% |
| 3 | Thessalia | 2.2% |
| 4 | Ipeiros | 2.1% |
| 5 | Central Macedonia | 1.9% |
| 6 | Crete | 1.8% |
| 7 | Dytiki Elláda | 1.7% |
| 8 | Peloponnisos | 1.6% |
Passenger cars per 1,000 people (2024)
Central Macedonia ranks 3 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Passenger cars per 1,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Attica | 903 |
| 2 | Crete | 500 |
| 3 | Central Macedonia | 474 |
| 4 | Ionia Nisia | 460 |
| 5 | Dytiki Makedonia | 429 |
| 6 | Ipeiros | 418 |
| 7 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 412 |
Compensation per employee (euros) (2023)
Central Macedonia ranks 9 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Compensation per employee (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Attica | €11,300 |
| 7 | Dytiki Elláda | €10,630 |
| 8 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | €10,471 |
| 9 | Central Macedonia | €10,318 |
| 10 | Voreio Aigaio | €10,291 |
| 11 | Ipeiros | €9,987 |
| 12 | Notio Aigaio | €9,823 |
Nights spent in tourist accommodation (2025)
Central Macedonia ranks 4 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Nights spent in tourist accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notio Aigaio | 41.8 million |
| 2 | Crete | 35.2 million |
| 3 | Ionia Nisia | 20.4 million |
| 4 | Central Macedonia | 18.7 million |
| 5 | Attica | 12.8 million |
| 6 | Peloponnisos | 6.3 million |
| 7 | Thessalia | 4.4 million |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2024)
Central Macedonia ranks 6 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Peloponnisos | 22.6% |
| 4 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 21.5% |
| 5 | Thessalia | 19.5% |
| 6 | Central Macedonia | 17.2% |
| 7 | Ipeiros | 14.4% |
| 8 | Dytiki Elláda | 14.1% |
| 9 | Attica | 11.7% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2024)
Central Macedonia ranks 8 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Dytiki Elláda | 22.5% |
| 6 | Crete | 21.4% |
| 7 | Notio Aigaio | 20.9% |
| 8 | Central Macedonia | 20.8% |
| 9 | Peloponnisos | 20.7% |
| 10 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 19.2% |
| 11 | Thessalia | 19.0% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2024)
Central Macedonia ranks 7 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Thessalia | 27.1% |
| 5 | Dytiki Elláda | 25.9% |
| 6 | Dytiki Makedonia | 24.4% |
| 7 | Central Macedonia | 24.3% |
| 8 | Crete | 19.4% |
| 9 | Peloponnisos | 19.2% |
| 10 | Attica | 18.9% |
More on Central Macedonia: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government and politics · Greece
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP per person (purchasing power standards), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c21f724d14a6…)
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- Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT): 2021 Population-Housing Census tables SAM04 A01 (residents by sex, education and activity status, regional units), SAM04 B03 (same, municipalities), SAM05 A01 (conventional dwellings by occupancy, period of construction and building type), SAM05 A07 (occupied dwellings by floor space per person) and SAM05 B02 (occupied dwellings by tenure), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 86872ba6c2c0…)
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- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2coe: Compensation of employees by NUTS 2 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 895d7cc9e826…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tran_r_vehst: Stock of vehicles by category and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5adf37bcb393…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Unemployment rates by sex, age, educational attainment level and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ac151d8a46d5…)
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