Economy, jobs and prices in Sterea Elláda, Greece: official figures
GDP per person was 23,900 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 60% of the EU average; 4th highest of 13 regions in Greece. PPS adjust for price differences between countries.
How big is the economy of Sterea Elláda?
The regional economy produced €10.7 billion of output (GDP at market prices) in 2024, 4.5% of Greece's GDP.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Sterea Elláda?
The unemployment rate (age 15 to 74) was 8.5% in 2025, against 8.9% for Greece and 6.0% across the EU; 7th highest of 13 regions in Greece.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is youth unemployment in Sterea Elláda?
Youth unemployment (age 15 to 24) was 18.5% in 2025, against 19.1% for Greece; 8th highest of 11 regions in Greece.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does Sterea Elláda spend on research and development?
Spending on research and development came to 0.93% of GDP in 2024 (1.53% nationally).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Central Greece?
Central Greece had 15.0% of its labour force out of work at the 2021 census (31,448 people), compared with 14.2% for Greece as a whole, 6th lowest of 13 among the regions.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyHow many people work in Central Greece?
178,220 residents of Central Greece were in work and 209,670 were economically active at the 2021 census, out of a resident population of 508,249.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyWhat is the female unemployment rate in Central Greece?
Unemployment among women in Central Greece was 16.7% at the 2021 census, against 13.9% among men, a gap of 2.8 percentage points.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyHow many pensioners live in Central Greece?
Central Greece had 131,511 pensioners in 2021, 74 for every 100 people in work (59 nationally), 3rd highest of 13 among the regions.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyHow many people in Sterea Elláda are long-term unemployed?
In 2025, 5.7% of the labour force in Sterea Elláda had been unemployed for 12 months or more, compared with 5.0% nationally and 1.9% in the EU; 3rd highest of 12 regions in Greece. In 2015 it was 19.8%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Sterea Elláda?
Unemployment among women was 14.5% in 2025, compared with 11.2% nationally and 6.2% in the EU; 3rd highest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2015 it was 32.5%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many women in Sterea Elláda are in work?
The employment rate for women aged 20 to 64 reached 57.9% in 2025, compared with 62.3% nationally and 71.3% in the EU; 5th lowest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2015 it was 43.4%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs the economy of Sterea Elláda growing?
Output (gross value added, after inflation) changed by 5.1% in 2024, against 1.7% for Greece as a whole; the highest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2014 it was -2.8%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Sterea Elláda?
There were 278 passenger cars per 1,000 people in 2024, against 581 for Greece as a whole; 2nd lowest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2014 it was 239.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Sterea Elláda?
Employers paid an average of €11,562 per employee in 2023, counting wages, salaries and employer social contributions, against €10,954 across Greece; 5th highest of 13 regions in Greece.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Sterea Elláda?
Hotels, campsites and other tourist accommodation recorded 3.2 million nights in 2025, 39% of them by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Sterea Elláda?
The largest part of the economy of Sterea Elláda in 2024 was industry (manufacturing, mining and energy), at 41.7% of gross value added, followed by trade, transport, hospitality and communications (18.6%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Sterea Elláda?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 41.7% of output in 2024, against 15.1% for Greece.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Sterea Elláda growing?
Gross value added rose from €6.9 billion in 2015 to €9.3 billion in 2024 in current prices, an increase of 36% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Sterea Elláda?
Of the 241,640 jobs located in Sterea Elláda in 2024, 21% in public services, education, health and other services, 19% in industry and 17.4% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Sterea Elláda?
The number of people working in Sterea Elláda rose by 15.1% between 2015 and 2024, to 241,640.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- 27.4% of the unemployed in Central Greece in 2021 were looking for their first job (8,610 people), versus 24.1% across Greece. Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copy
- 41.3% of all residents of Central Greece were economically active, working or looking for work, at the 2021 census (44.3% nationally), and 79,139 were pupils or students. Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copy
How Sterea Elláda compares with other regions
Unemployment rate at the 2021 census (2021)
Sterea Elláda ranks 8 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate at the 2021 census |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Thessalia | 15.7% |
| 6 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 15.6% |
| 7 | Ionia Nisia | 15.5% |
| 8 | Sterea Elláda | 15.0% |
| 9 | Voreio Aigaio | 14.3% |
| 10 | Peloponnisos | 13.2% |
| 11 | Attica | 12.5% |
Pensioners per 100 employed people, 2021 census (2021)
Sterea Elláda ranks 3 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Pensioners per 100 employed people, 2021 census |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ipeiros | 81 |
| 2 | Dytiki Makedonia | 76 |
| 3 | Sterea Elláda | 74 |
| 4 | Thessalia | 73 |
| 5 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 73 |
| 6 | Peloponnisos | 69 |
| 7 | Dytiki Elláda | 69 |
Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) (2025)
Sterea Elláda ranks 3 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)
Sterea Elláda ranks 3 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)
Sterea Elláda ranks 9 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, women aged 20-64 |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Ionia Nisia | 59.1% |
| 7 | Thessalia | 58.9% |
| 8 | Voreio Aigaio | 58.8% |
| 9 | Sterea Elláda | 57.9% |
| 10 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 57.0% |
| 11 | Notio Aigaio | 56.9% |
| 12 | Dytiki Elláda | 53.9% |
Real growth in gross value added (2024)
Sterea Elláda ranks 1 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real growth in gross value added |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sterea Elláda | 5.1% |
| 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% |
Passenger cars per 1,000 people (2024)
Sterea Elláda ranks 12 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Passenger cars per 1,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 412 |
| 8 | Notio Aigaio | 399 |
| 9 | Thessalia | 395 |
| 10 | Dytiki Elláda | 318 |
| 11 | Voreio Aigaio | 302 |
| 12 | Sterea Elláda | 278 |
| 13 | Peloponnisos | 208 |
Compensation per employee (euros) (2023)
Sterea Elláda ranks 5 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Compensation per employee (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Thessalia | €11,782 |
| 3 | Peloponnisos | €11,650 |
| 4 | Ionia Nisia | €11,611 |
| 5 | Sterea Elláda | €11,562 |
| 6 | Attica | €11,300 |
| 7 | Dytiki Elláda | €10,630 |
| 8 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | €10,471 |
Nights spent in tourist accommodation (2025)
Sterea Elláda ranks 10 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Nights spent in tourist accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Thessalia | 4.4 million |
| 8 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 4.0 million |
| 9 | Ipeiros | 3.4 million |
| 10 | Sterea Elláda | 3.2 million |
| 11 | Voreio Aigaio | 3.2 million |
| 12 | Dytiki Elláda | 2.5 million |
| 13 | Dytiki Makedonia | 368,066 |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2024)
Sterea Elláda ranks 1 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sterea Elláda | 41.7% |
| 2 | Dytiki Makedonia | 27.1% |
| 3 | Peloponnisos | 22.6% |
| 4 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 21.5% |
| 5 | Thessalia | 19.5% |
| 6 | Central Macedonia | 17.2% |
| 7 | Ipeiros | 14.4% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2024)
Sterea Elláda ranks 13 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Notio Aigaio | 20.9% |
| 8 | Central Macedonia | 20.8% |
| 9 | Peloponnisos | 20.7% |
| 10 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 19.2% |
| 11 | Thessalia | 19.0% |
| 12 | Dytiki Makedonia | 17.2% |
| 13 | Sterea Elláda | 16.4% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2024)
Sterea Elláda ranks 11 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Central Macedonia | 24.3% |
| 8 | Crete | 19.4% |
| 9 | Peloponnisos | 19.2% |
| 10 | Attica | 18.9% |
| 11 | Sterea Elláda | 16.8% |
| 12 | Ionia Nisia | 16.4% |
| 13 | Notio Aigaio | 15.7% |
More on Sterea Elláda: 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…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP per person (euros), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 537f99167955…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP (million euros), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e3677c4e6d67…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Unemployment rate (age 15-74), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 13f5037ce93a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Youth unemployment rate (age 15-24), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83bb1aebc10b…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfe2emprt: Employment rate (age 20-64), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 03191283bf5f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset rd_e_gerdreg: Research and development spending (% of GDP), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 36a9132b2284…)
- 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…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment (thousand persons) by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 222a97c302d3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gvagr: Real growth rate of regional gross value added (GVA) at basic prices by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ba2c4bdc7c37…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfe2emprt: Employment rates by sex, age and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 51bfca80dc8b…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu2ltu: Long-term unemployment (12 months and more) by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3d5d17a32863…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tour_occ_nin2: Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 06f6a82909c0…)
- 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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