Greece

Economy & industry overview

Greece is a high-income, open economy in Southern Europe and a member of the European Union and Eurozone. Tourism and shipping are the dominant industries, with Greece operating the world's largest merchant fleet by tonnage. The services sector accounts for approximately 78% of GDP, while industry contributes around 18% and agriculture roughly 4%. Following a severe sovereign-debt crisis in the 2010s, Greece has sustained positive GDP growth since 2017, supported by fiscal consolidation, rising tourism revenues, and foreign direct investment. Key structural challenges include a still-elevated unemployment rate, high public debt, and ongoing demographic pressures from emigration and an ageing population.

Key sectors

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Macro

GDP nominal, USD	$257.14B
GDP growth real, annual	2.1%
Inflation annual	3.5%
Population people	10.4M
GDP per capita USD	$24,842
Market cap total listed, USD	$109.00B
Market cap / GDP	42.4%
Unemployment	10.1%
Listed companies	153
Exchange	Athens Stock Exchange (Euronext Athens) (ATHEX)

Data year: 2024. Sources: IMF World Economic Outlook (October 2024 / April 2026), World Bank National Accounts Data, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), Athens Stock Exchange / Euronext Athens, Wikipedia – Athens Stock Exchange, Trading Economics, Macrotrends, Focus Economics, Statista, Global Citizens Solutions – Greece Golden Visa, Hellenic Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Bank of Greece.

Local exchange & access

Exchange	Athens Stock Exchange (Euronext Athens)
Code	ATHEX
Website	athens.euronext.com/en
Currency	EUR

Local broker access

International investors can access Athens Stock Exchange (ATHEX/Euronext Athens) equities through major European and global brokers offering access to Euronext-connected markets (e.g., Interactive Brokers, Saxo Bank, Degiro, and most EU-regulated brokers). Greek stocks can also be accessed indirectly via US-traded ETFs and a small number of ADRs. Settlement follows the standard T+2 European cycle. The exchange operates in EUR. Non-resident investors are subject to Greek withholding tax on dividends (currently 5% for listed shares). Capital gains on listed Greek equities are generally exempt from Greek capital gains tax for non-residents, subject to applicable tax treaties.

Global brokers with foreign-market access

• Interactive Brokers — Direct access to 90+ markets worldwide, including many emerging exchanges.
• Saxo Bank — Multi-market access across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
• Charles Schwab (Global) — Foreign ordinary shares on select markets; US-listed ADRs and ETFs.
• Fidelity International Trading — International stock trading on a number of developed and emerging markets.

Listed for convenience only — not a recommendation. Available markets, fees and onboarding rules differ by broker and by your country of residence.

Relocation & residency

Foreign-investor access

Greece offers several relocation-friendly fiscal regimes in addition to the Golden Visa: a 7% flat-tax programme for foreign-sourced pension income (15 years), a 50% income-tax exemption for new tax residents relocating for employment or self-employment, and a lump-sum annual tax of €100,000 on foreign-sourced income for high-net-worth individuals transferring tax residency. The cost of living is moderate by Western European standards. The standard working language of commerce is Greek, though English is widely used in business and tourism sectors.