Economy, jobs and prices in Thessalia, Greece: official figures
GDP per person was 21,000 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 53% of the EU average; 8th highest of 13 regions in Greece. PPS adjust for price differences between countries.
How big is the economy of Thessalia?
The regional economy produced €12.1 billion of output (GDP at market prices) in 2024, 5.1% of Greece's GDP.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Thessalia?
The unemployment rate (age 15 to 74) was 6.3% in 2025, against 8.9% for Greece and 6.0% across the EU; 12th highest of 13 regions in Greece.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is youth unemployment in Thessalia?
Youth unemployment (age 15 to 24) was 16.0% in 2025, against 19.1% for Greece; 9th highest of 11 regions in Greece.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does Thessalia spend on research and development?
Spending on research and development came to 0.91% of GDP in 2024 (1.53% nationally).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Thessaly?
Thessaly had 15.7% of its labour force out of work at the 2021 census (44,500 people), compared with 14.2% for Greece as a whole, 5th highest of 13 among the regions.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyHow many people work in Thessaly?
238,744 residents of Thessaly were in work and 283,241 were economically active at the 2021 census, out of a resident population of 688,250.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyWhat is the female unemployment rate in Thessaly?
Unemployment among women in Thessaly was 16.6% at the 2021 census, against 15.1% among men, a gap of 1.5 percentage points.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyHow many pensioners live in Thessaly?
Thessaly had 174,426 pensioners in 2021, 73 for every 100 people in work (59 nationally), 4th highest of 13 among the regions.
Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copyHow many people in Thessalia are long-term unemployed?
Long-term unemployment (people out of work for a year or more) stood at 3.1% of the labour force in 2025 (Greece: 5.0%; EU: 1.9%); 4th lowest of 12 regions in Greece. In 2015 it was 19.8%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Thessalia?
The unemployment rate for women in Thessalia was 9.1% in 2025 (Greece: 11.2%; EU: 6.2%); 4th lowest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2015 it was 33.0%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many women in Thessalia are in work?
58.9% of women aged 20 to 64 were in work in 2025 (Greece: 62.3%; EU: 71.3%); 7th highest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2015 it was 43.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs the economy of Thessalia growing?
In real terms the economy of Thessalia grew by 2.2% in 2024 (gross value added), compared with 1.7% nationally; 3rd highest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2014 it was 1.2%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Thessalia?
There were 395 passenger cars per 1,000 people in 2024, compared with 581 nationally; 5th lowest of 13 regions in Greece. In 2014 it was 326.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Thessalia?
Average compensation per employee (pay plus employer social contributions) was €11,782 in 2023, against €10,954 across Greece; 2nd highest of 13 regions in Greece.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Thessalia?
Visitors spent 4.4 million nights in tourist accommodation in 2025, 60% of them by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Thessalia?
The largest part of the economy of Thessalia in 2024 was public administration, education, health and other services, at 27.1% of gross value added, followed by trade, transport, hospitality and communications (19.9%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Thessalia?
Factories, mines and energy produced 19.5% of the value added in Thessalia in 2024, against 15.1% for Greece.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Thessalia growing?
Gross value added rose from €7.9 billion in 2015 to €10.5 billion in 2024 in current prices, an increase of 32% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Thessalia?
Of the 326,320 jobs located in Thessalia in 2024, 28% in public services, education, health and other services, 11% in industry and 19.1% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Thessalia?
The number of people working in Thessalia rose by 16.9% between 2015 and 2024, to 326,320.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- 27.2% of the unemployed in Thessaly in 2021 were looking for their first job (12,090 people), versus 24.1% across Greece. Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copy
- 41.2% of all residents of Thessaly were economically active, working or looking for work, at the 2021 census (44.3% nationally), and 118,062 were pupils or students. Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) · saved copy
How Thessalia compares with other regions
Unemployment rate at the 2021 census (2021)
Thessalia ranks 5 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate at the 2021 census |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 8 | Sterea Elláda | 15.0% |
Pensioners per 100 employed people, 2021 census (2021)
Thessalia ranks 4 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)
Thessalia ranks 9 of 12, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Attica | 4.9% |
| 7 | Dytiki Elláda | 4.9% |
| 8 | Peloponnisos | 4.7% |
| 9 | Thessalia | 3.1% |
| 10 | Voreio Aigaio | 1.7% |
| 11 | Notio Aigaio | 1.4% |
| 12 | Crete | 1.2% |
Unemployment rate, women (2025)
Thessalia ranks 10 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, women |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Dytiki Elláda | 12.0% |
| 8 | Peloponnisos | 11.2% |
| 9 | Notio Aigaio | 9.7% |
| 10 | Thessalia | 9.1% |
| 11 | Attica | 9.0% |
| 12 | Voreio Aigaio | 8.5% |
| 13 | Crete | 7.7% |
Employment rate, women aged 20-64 (2025)
Thessalia ranks 7 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, women aged 20-64 |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Ipeiros | 62.8% |
| 5 | Central Macedonia | 59.6% |
| 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% |
Real growth in gross value added (2024)
Thessalia ranks 3 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)
Thessalia ranks 9 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Passenger cars per 1,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Ipeiros | 418 |
| 7 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 412 |
| 8 | Notio Aigaio | 399 |
| 9 | Thessalia | 395 |
| 10 | Dytiki Elláda | 318 |
| 11 | Voreio Aigaio | 302 |
| 12 | Sterea Elláda | 278 |
Compensation per employee (euros) (2023)
Thessalia ranks 2 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Compensation per employee (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dytiki Makedonia | €12,083 |
| 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 |
Nights spent in tourist accommodation (2025)
Thessalia ranks 7 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Nights spent in tourist accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Central Macedonia | 18.7 million |
| 5 | Attica | 12.8 million |
| 6 | Peloponnisos | 6.3 million |
| 7 | Thessalia | 4.4 million |
| 8 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 4.0 million |
| 9 | Ipeiros | 3.4 million |
| 10 | Sterea Elláda | 3.2 million |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2024)
Thessalia ranks 5 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 8 | Dytiki Elláda | 14.1% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2024)
Thessalia ranks 11 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)
Thessalia ranks 4 of 13, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Voreio Aigaio | 33.5% |
| 2 | Anatoliki Makedonia, Thraki | 29.1% |
| 3 | Ipeiros | 28.5% |
| 4 | Thessalia | 27.1% |
| 5 | Dytiki Elláda | 25.9% |
| 6 | Dytiki Makedonia | 24.4% |
| 7 | Central Macedonia | 24.3% |
More on Thessalia: 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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- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Unemployment rate (age 15-74), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 13f5037ce93a…)
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- 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…)
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- 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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