Quick facts
Greece population overview
Greece is the 15th most populous of 50 countries and territories in Europe. The United Nations put the population at 9,919,389 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of -0.4% the live estimate on this page falls by roughly 117 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 67,452 births (6.8 per 1,000 people) and 124,984 deaths (12.6 per 1,000), plus net immigration of roughly 14,879 people. The infant mortality rate is 2.6 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 8,331,725 in 1960 to 10,413,962 in 2025 — a change of +25%, or +0.3% per year on average. It peaked at 11,121,341 in 2010 and has declined 11.1% since.
Demographically, the median age is 47.1 years; life expectancy at birth is 82.4 years; women have on average 1.2 children (2024, below the 2.1 replacement level); 12.9% of residents are under 15 and 24.4% are 65 or older (2025); 79.2% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Athens. Greece covers 131,960 km², giving a population density of about 74.9 people per km². GDP was $280.64B in 2025 — about $26,948 per person (World Bank classification: high income).
Greece population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #96 of 238 → | 9,885,247 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 9,919,389 |
| World rank | #95 of 238 |
| Rank in Europe | #15 of 50 |
| Share of world population | 0.1% |
| Annual growth rate #202 of 238 → | -0.4% |
| Births per year est. | 67,452 |
| Deaths per year est. | 124,984 |
| Net migration per year est. · #62 of 238 → | +14,879 |
| Birth rate #206 of 216 → | 6.8 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #17 of 216 → | 12.6 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #202 of 238 → | 2.6 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #193 of 238 → | 94.1 males per 100 females |
| Median age #12 of 238 → | 47.1 years |
| Life expectancy #39 of 216 → | 82.4 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #194 of 216 → | 1.2 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #63 of 216 → | 79.2% |
| Surface area 2023 · #97 of 215 → | 131,960 km² |
| Population density #129 of 215 → | 74.9 per km² |
| Capital | Athens |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #52 of 212 → | $280.64B |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #62 of 212 → | $26,948 |
| Income group World Bank | High income |
Greece population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 9,885,247 | – | – |
| 2025 | 10,413,962 | +8,828 | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 10,405,134 | -2,217 | 0% |
| 2023 | 10,407,351 | -30,454 | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 10,437,805 | -132,325 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | 10,570,130 | -128,469 | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 10,698,599 | -122,284 | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 10,820,883 | -300,458 | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 11,121,341 | +134,027 | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 10,987,314 | +181,506 | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 10,805,808 | +243,655 | +0.5% |
| 1995 | 10,562,153 | +365,361 | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 10,196,792 | +262,492 | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 9,934,300 | +291,795 | +0.6% |
| 1980 | 9,642,505 | +595,964 | +1.3% |
| 1975 | 9,046,541 | +253,735 | +0.6% |
| 1970 | 8,792,806 | +242,473 | +0.6% |
| 1965 | 8,550,333 | +218,608 | +0.5% |
| 1960 | 8,331,725 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in Greece
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Athens Capital | 664,046 | 6.7% |
| 2 | Thessaloníki | 317,778 | 3.2% |
| 3 | Pátra | 168,034 | 1.7% |
| 4 | Piraeus | 163,688 | 1.7% |
| 5 | Lárisa | 146,926 | 1.5% |
| 6 | Peristéri | 139,981 | 1.4% |
| 7 | Irákleion | 137,154 | 1.4% |
| 8 | Kallithéa | 100,641 | 1% |
Athens is the largest city with 664,046 people and is also the capital. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of Greece cities →
About Greece
Population over time
- From 8,331,725 in 1960 to 9,885,247 today — up 18.6%.
- Population peaked at 11,121,341 in 2010 and is down 11.1% since.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: -0.4% per year.
- World rank: Population #96 of 238 · Population growth rate #202 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 81.8 years (2024), up 11.4 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 1.2 births per woman (2024) — below the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #39 of 216 · Fertility rate #194 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 6.6 births vs 12.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Deaths outnumber births — natural decrease of 5.5 per 1,000 a year.
- World rank: Birth rate #206 of 216 · Death rate #17 of 216.
Age structure
- 12.9% of the population is under 15 and 24.4% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 7.2% in 1960 — the population is aging.
- World rank: Population under 15 #205 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #6 of 216 · Median age #12 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 52.51 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions peaked at 106 Mt in 2007 — down 50.5% since.
- Per person: 5.05 t in 2024, vs 3.29 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #56 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #53 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 1,921.3 kg of oil equivalent per person (2024), down 8.6% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 21.5% of final energy in 2021 (+13.7 points since 1990).
- World rank: Energy use per capita #60 of 150 · Renewable energy share #101 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 30.3% of land area (2023).
- Net afforestation: cover grew from 25.6% to 30.3% since 1990 — roughly 6,176 km² of forest gained.
- World rank: Forest area #108 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 79.2% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 55.8% in 1960 (+23.4 points).
- Majority-urban for the whole period covered.
- World rank: Urban population #63 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: low–medium — freshwater withdrawals are 17.3% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 5,557 m³ in 2022, down 19.5% since 1961.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #65 of 183 · Water stress #67 of 177.
Economy
- GDP: $280.64B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 44.2% since 2015.
- That works out to $26,948 per person.
- World rank: GDP #52 of 212 · GDP per capita #62 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 8.5% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 2.5% in 2025.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #49 of 186 · Inflation rate #109 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 86.3% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 113.6 per 100 people (2024) — more subscriptions than people.
- World rank: Internet users #82 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #110 of 210.
Greece in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Greece in 2026?
As of October 2026, Greece has an estimated population of 9,885,247. The United Nations estimated 9,919,389 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the -0.4% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Greece growing or shrinking?
It is shrinking at -0.4% per year — roughly 117 fewer people every day. Each year there are about 67,452 births and 124,984 deaths, with net migration of +14,879.
What is the population density of Greece?
About 74.9 people per square kilometre: 9,885,247 people living on 131,960 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Greece?
The median age is 47.1 years, and life expectancy at birth is 82.4 years. 12.9% of the population is under 15 and 24.4% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Greece rank by population?
Greece is the 95th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 15th in Europe, with 0.1% of the global population.
How has the population of Greece changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 8,331,725; by 2025 it had grown to 10,413,962 (+25%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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Glostats. (2026). Greece Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/greece/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/greece/">Greece Population 2026 — Live Counter</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (-0.4%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.