Health in Crete, Greece: official figures
Life expectancy at birth was 82.4 years in 2024 (81.9 for Greece); 3rd highest of 13 regions in Greece.
How many doctors are there in Crete?
Crete had 6.33 doctors per 1,000 residents in 2024 (3,955 in total) against a national 6.67, 4th highest of 13 among the regions.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyIs Crete losing doctors?
The number of doctors in Crete fell from 3,983 in 2014 to 3,955 in 2024 (-0.7%), compared with +9.4% nationally.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyHow many dentists are there in Crete?
Crete had 670 dentists in 2024, 1.07 per 1,000 residents, 4th highest of 13 among the regions.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyHow many GPs are there in Crete?
In 2024 Crete had 332 general practitioners and 238 internists, 53 GPs per 100,000 residents.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyHow many health centres are there in Crete?
19 public health centres operated in Crete in 2025, staffed by 260 doctors, 41.6 health-centre doctors per 100,000 residents, 6th highest of 13 among the regions.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyWhat is the death rate in Crete?
Adjusting for age, 966.0 people per 100,000 died in 2021, compared with 1,079.3 nationally and 1,073.4 in the EU; 3rd lowest of 13 regions in Greece. Age-standardised rates allow fair comparison between places with older and younger populations.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die of cancer in Crete?
Cancer killed 212.6 people per 100,000 in 2023 (age-standardised), compared with 232.5 nationally and 233.1 in the EU; 4th lowest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2015 it was 228.6.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die of heart disease in Crete?
Heart and circulatory diseases caused 256.5 deaths per 100,000 in 2023 (age-standardised), compared with 297.9 nationally and 312.9 in the EU; 2nd lowest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2015 it was 333.8.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die of respiratory disease in Crete?
Respiratory diseases caused 104.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2023 (age-standardised), compared with 92.7 nationally and 75.2 in the EU; 2nd highest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2015 it was 137.7.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the suicide rate in Crete?
In 2023, 5.8 people per 100,000 took their own life (age-standardised), compared with 4.3 nationally and 10.4 in the EU; 2nd highest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2015 it was 8.0.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die in accidents in Crete?
Accidents, injuries, violence and other external causes killed 40.6 per 100,000 in 2023 (age-standardised), compared with 40.5 nationally and 49.4 in the EU; 6th lowest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2015 it was 37.9.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the infant mortality rate in Crete?
The infant mortality rate was 2.1 per 1,000 live births in 2024, compared with 3.7 nationally and 3.5 in the EU; 3rd lowest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2014 it was 3.1.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many hospital beds does Crete have?
Hospitals in Crete had 410 beds for every 100,000 residents in 2024, compared with 423 nationally; 7th highest of 13 regions in Greece.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many doctors are there in Crete?
There were 637 doctors per 100,000 people in 2024, compared with 674 nationally; 4th highest of 13 regions in Greece.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyCan people in Crete get medical care?
11.3% of people said they could not get a medical examination they needed in 2025 because it was too expensive, too far or the waiting list was too long, compared with 11.5% nationally; 5th lowest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2018 it was 6.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die on the roads in Crete?
Road accidents killed 55 people per million residents in 2023, compared with 62 nationally; 4th lowest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2013 it was 86.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is life expectancy for men and women in Crete?
Women in Crete could expect to live to 85.2 and men to 79.8 at 2024 death rates, a gap of 5.4 years.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow long do people live after 65 in Crete?
People who reached 65 could expect 20.8 more years of life in 2024 (Greece: 20.3).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- 273 paediatricians, 146 obstetrician-gynaecologists and 86 psychiatrists practised in Crete in 2024. Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copy
- Doctors working in the health centres of Crete went from 226 in 2021 to 260 in 2025 (+15.0%). Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copy
- Health centres in Crete employed 259 nursing staff and 216 other non-medical staff in 2025, and had 273 items of medical equipment. Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copy
How Crete compares with other regions
Doctors per 1,000 residents, 2024 (2024)
Crete ranks 4 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Doctors per 1,000 residents, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Attica | 8.56 |
| 2 | Ipeiros | 7.91 |
| 3 | Central Macedonia | 6.96 |
| 4 | Crete | 6.33 |
| 5 | Thessalia | 5.83 |
| 6 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 5.55 |
| 7 | Ionia Nisia | 5.13 |
Dentists per 1,000 residents, 2024 (2024)
Crete ranks 4 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Dentists per 1,000 residents, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Attica | 1.71 |
| 2 | Central Macedonia | 1.37 |
| 3 | Thessalia | 1.12 |
| 4 | Crete | 1.07 |
| 5 | Peloponnisos | 1.03 |
| 6 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 1.03 |
| 7 | Ionia Nisia | 1.01 |
General practitioners per 100,000 residents, 2024 (2024)
Crete ranks 1 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | General practitioners per 100,000 residents, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crete | 53 |
| 2 | Ipeiros | 50 |
| 3 | Peloponnisos | 47 |
| 4 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 45 |
| 5 | Dytiki Elláda | 43 |
| 6 | Sterea Elláda | 41 |
| 7 | Central Macedonia | 39 |
Health-centre doctors per 100,000 residents, 2025 (2025)
Crete ranks 6 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Health-centre doctors per 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Dytiki Elláda | 46.0 |
| 4 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 45.2 |
| 5 | Peloponnisos | 42.1 |
| 6 | Crete | 41.6 |
| 7 | Sterea Elláda | 40.3 |
| 8 | Thessalia | 40.1 |
| 9 | Ionia Nisia | 40.1 |
Deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised, all causes) (2021)
Crete ranks 11 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised, all causes) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Ionia Nisia | 1,055.3 |
| 8 | Sterea Elláda | 1,039.3 |
| 9 | Peloponnisos | 999.8 |
| 10 | Notio Aigaio | 971.8 |
| 11 | Crete | 966.0 |
| 12 | Ipeiros | 868.5 |
| 13 | Voreio Aigaio | 860.6 |
Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
Crete ranks 10 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Sterea Elláda | 222.3 |
| 8 | Peloponnisos | 219.3 |
| 9 | Notio Aigaio | 212.8 |
| 10 | Crete | 212.6 |
| 11 | Ionia Nisia | 209.1 |
| 12 | Ipeiros | 201.0 |
| 13 | Voreio Aigaio | 199.1 |
Heart and circulatory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
Crete ranks 12 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Heart and circulatory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Peloponnisos | 291.1 |
| 8 | Thessalia | 282.3 |
| 9 | Dytiki Elláda | 279.3 |
| 10 | Ionia Nisia | 275.1 |
| 11 | Ipeiros | 265.4 |
| 12 | Crete | 256.5 |
| 13 | Voreio Aigaio | 214.8 |
Respiratory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
Crete ranks 2 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Respiratory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peloponnisos | 107.0 |
| 2 | Crete | 104.7 |
| 3 | Ionia Nisia | 103.8 |
| 4 | Dytiki Elláda | 102.7 |
| 5 | Attica | 99.5 |
| 6 | Sterea Elláda | 88.7 |
| 7 | Thessalia | 87.6 |
Suicides per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
Crete ranks 2 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Suicides per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Voreio Aigaio | 6.8 |
| 2 | Crete | 5.8 |
| 3 | Ipeiros | 5.1 |
| 4 | Thessalia | 5.1 |
| 5 | Ionia Nisia | 4.6 |
| 6 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 4.6 |
| 7 | Attica | 4.2 |
Deaths from accidents, injury and violence per 100,000 (2023)
Crete ranks 8 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Deaths from accidents, injury and violence per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Notio Aigaio | 41.0 |
| 6 | Sterea Elláda | 40.9 |
| 7 | Attica | 40.8 |
| 8 | Crete | 40.6 |
| 9 | Central Macedonia | 40.4 |
| 10 | Ipeiros | 39.1 |
| 11 | Dytiki Makedonia | 35.3 |
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2024)
Crete ranks 11 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Infant deaths per 1,000 live births |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Dytiki Elláda | 3.4 |
| 8 | Central Macedonia | 3.3 |
| 9 | Ionia Nisia | 3.3 |
| 10 | Sterea Elláda | 2.4 |
| 11 | Crete | 2.1 |
| 12 | Notio Aigaio | 2.0 |
| 13 | Ipeiros | 1.7 |
Hospital beds per 100,000 people (2024)
Crete ranks 7 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Hospital beds per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Dytiki Makedonia | 458 |
| 5 | Central Macedonia | 451 |
| 6 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 435 |
| 7 | Crete | 410 |
| 8 | Voreio Aigaio | 335 |
| 9 | Ionia Nisia | 319 |
| 10 | Dytiki Elláda | 316 |
Doctors per 100,000 people (2024)
Crete ranks 4 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Doctors per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Attica | 867 |
| 2 | Ipeiros | 781 |
| 3 | Central Macedonia | 704 |
| 4 | Crete | 637 |
| 5 | Thessalia | 594 |
| 6 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 552 |
| 7 | Ionia Nisia | 529 |
Unmet need for medical care (cost, distance or waiting list) (2025)
Crete ranks 9 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unmet need for medical care (cost, distance or waiting list) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Attica | 11.8% |
| 7 | Ionia Nisia | 11.6% |
| 8 | Thessalia | 11.4% |
| 9 | Crete | 11.3% |
| 10 | Ipeiros | 11.3% |
| 11 | Central Macedonia | 10.2% |
| 12 | Sterea Elláda | 9.4% |
Road deaths per million people (2023)
Crete ranks 10 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Road deaths per million people |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Sterea Elláda | 69 |
| 8 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 68 |
| 9 | Voreio Aigaio | 65 |
| 10 | Crete | 55 |
| 11 | Attica | 51 |
| 12 | Central Macedonia | 51 |
| 13 | Dytiki Makedonia | 45 |
More on Crete: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government and politics · Greece
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_mlifexp: Life expectancy at birth, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 62800ed9bbb3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset hlth_cd_asdr2: Causes of death: standardised death rate by NUTS 2 region of residence, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 308c4b705d5d…)
- Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT): Physicians by speciality and dentists by geographic region and prefecture, 2024 and 2014 (SHE09 table 01); health centres, their physicians, nursing staff and medical equipment by region, 2021-2025 (SHE06 census of primary health care units, tables 4-6), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 298615e9a8d8…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_minfind: Infant mortality rates by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 60cbafea3657…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset hlth_silc_08_r: Self-reported unmet needs for medical examination by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e5484460cdfc…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset hlth_rs_physreg: Physicians by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4ff68eb77f8b…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tran_r_acci: Victims in road accidents by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a183ad1f888d…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset hlth_rs_bdsrg2: Hospital beds by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3178c155028f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_mlifexp: Life expectancy by age, sex and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f5a2a33406b9…)
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