Figure 1.1. The majority of Greek emigrants are living in OECD countries 19

Figure 1.2. The stock of Greek-born emigrants in OECD countries has been on the rise since 2005 21

Figure 1.3. The stock of Greek emigrants has been growing steadily but at a modest rate over the past decade 22

Figure 1.4. Emigration rates from Greece are high relative to other OECD European countries 23

Figure 1.5. Just over half of Greek emigrants are men 24

Figure 1.6. The age profile of Greeks who remained in Greece is slightly younger than that of the emigrant population 25

Figure 1.7. The share of Greek emigrants of working age has declined over time 26

Figure 1.8. Most Greek emigrants are married, but men are more likely to be single 27

Figure 1.9. Germany has remained host to the largest number of Greek emigrants over the last decade 28

Figure 1.10. The number of Greek emigrants living in the United States, Canada, and Australia has consistently declined since 2000/01 29

Figure 1.11. Greek-born men outnumber women in many major destination countries 31

Figure 1.12. Greek emigrants of working age are largely concentrated in European OECD countries 32

Figure 1.13. Greek emigrants to Sweden are highly concentrated in the Stockholm region 37

Figure 1.14. In Canada, Greek emigrants are mainly settled in Ontario and Quebec 38

Figure 1.15. In Australia, Greek emigrants are heavily concentrated in the states of Victoria and New South Wales 39

Figure 1.16. In the United States, Greek emigrants are predominantly concentrated in states with major metropolitan areas 40

Figure 1.17. A high share of Greek-born emigrants acquired citizenship in traditional, more distant destination countries 41

Figure 1.18. Acquisition of nationality in the United Kingdom has been increasing over the past decade 42

Figure 1.19. Acquisitions of nationality in Switzerland and Belgium have increased since 2020 43

Figure 2.1. Outflows of Greek emigrants peaked during the crisis years, but have been steadily declining ever since 48

Figure 2.2. Inflows of Greek citizens to OECD countries peaked between 2012 and 2019 50

Figure 2.3. Inflows of Greek citizens to Australia have been declining since 2014 51

Figure 2.4. Inflows of Greek citizens to Germany increased sharply during the financial crisis but stabilised in recent years 52

Figure 2.5. Inflows of Greek citizens to the Netherlands have risen steadily over the past two decades, with a slight decline in 2023 and 2024 53

Figure 2.6. Despite year-to-year variation, inflows of Greek citizens to Nordic countries show an overall upward trend since 2005 54

Figure 2.7. Net migration of Greek citizens to selected European destinations has remained positive since 2008, with the largest increases... 55

Figure 2.8. In 2024, net migration flows to Germany were negative for the first time since 2009 56

Figure 2.9. Less than half of Greek emigrants to Australia, Canada and the United States are women 57

Figure 2.10. The share of women among Greek emigrant inflows to Nordic countries has risen steadily 57

Figure 2.11. Women remain a minority among Greek emigrant inflows to most Western and Central European destinations 58

Figure 3.1. Over half of Greek emigrants in selected destination countries have medium or high educational attainment 62

Figure 3.2. Greek-born emigrants are more likely to have high educational attainment, while native-born populations are more often... 63

Figure 3.3. Greek-born women living in OECD countries are slightly more likely to have achieved high educational attainment than their... 64

Figure 3.4. Recent cohorts of Greek-born migrants exhibit higher levels of educational attainment in OECD countries 65

Figure 3.5. Greek-born emigrants have very similar employment rates to the native born in the host country 66

Figure 3.6. Outcomes for Greek-born and native-born populations in the host country are broadly similar across major destination countries,... 67

Figure 3.7. Employment rates of Greek-born emigrants are the highest in the United Kingdom and Switzerland 68

Figure 3.8. Low-educated emigrants in France show particularly low employment rates 69

Figure 3.9. Greek-born migrants faced higher unemployment than native-born populations in most major destination countries in 2020/21 70

Figure 3.10. Greek-born women experienced substantially higher unemployment than their native-born peers in Canada, Germany and... 71

Figure 3.11. Across the OECD, Greek-born workers are predominantly employed in medium and high-skilled occupations 72

Figure 3.12. Greek-born emigrants show a stable occupational skill structure across major destination countries over time 73

Figure 3.13. Greek-born emigrants are often underrepresented in medium skilled positions when compared with their native-born counterparts 74

Figure 3.14. The largest shares of Greek emigrants are employed as professionals and in clerical and support occupations 75

Figure 3.15. Greek-born women are more likely than men to work in medium- or high-skilled occupations 76

Figure 3.16. Greek-born workers are present both in knowledge-intensive professions and in lower-skill service and clerical roles 77

Figure 3.17. In Switzerland and France, Greek-born workers are less likely to be overqualified than the native-born population 78

Figure 3.18. Four in five foreign trained physicians in Greece are Greek born 79

Figure 3.19. The number of Greek-born doctors has tripled between 2000/01 and 2020/21 80

Figure 3.20. Greece is a net sender of doctors to several EU/EEA countries 81

Figure 3.21. Remittances to Greece peaked during the financial crisis 82

Figure 3.22. In 2024, about two-thirds of all remittances to Greece originating from OECD countries came from the United States,... 83

Figure 3.23. Remittances from Central and Eastern Europe, Central and South Africa, and Western Asia have been on the rise in recent years 84

Figure 4.1. Greece shifted from negative to positive net migration in the period between 1970-2000 89

Figure 4.2. Beginning in 2021, inflows of Greek citizens to Greece have consistently increased 90

Figure 4.3. Return migration to Greece was higher in 2006-2011 than in 2016-2021 91

Figure 4.4. A larger share of return migrants are men 92

Figure 4.5. A majority of return migrants are aged 20-39, especially in recent returns 93

Figure 4.6. A majority of return migrants have completed tertiary education 94

Figure 4.7. Educational attainment is higher among more recent return cohorts 95

Figure 4.8. Four in five return migrants previously resided in another European country 96

Figure 4.9. The most common countries of previous residence are Germany and the United Kingdom 97

Figure 4.10. In eight of Greece's 13 regions, more than half of return migrants are coming from other countries within the EU 99

Figure 4.11. Greek return migrants from Northern and Central Greece are more likely to return to their region of birth than those from... 100

Figure 4.12. Repatriation is a growing reason for return among Greeks emigrants 101

Figure 4.13. Returns for work play a less prominent role among those returning from North America and Oceania 102

Figure 4.14. Repatriation was the most commonly cited reason for return among all age groups 103

Figure 4.15. Economic activity patterns reflect gradual labour market reintegration among recently returned migrants 104

Figure 4.16. Employment rates are lower among more recent return cohorts 105

Figure 4.17. Greek return migrants show slightly lower employment outcomes than non-migrants, especially among older cohorts 106

Figure 4.18. Unemployment rates are most pronounced among those returning during the onset of the economic crisis 107

Figure 4.19. Unemployment rates are lower among highly skilled return migrants 108

Figure 4.20. Higher unemployment among more recent returnees suggests gradual labour market integration, with doctoral graduates... 109

Figure 4.21. Half of all return migrants work in professional or managerial positions 110

Figure 4.22. Return migrants are more likely to be health or science and engineering professionals, while non-migrants are more likely to be... 111

Figure 4.23. Professional specialisation among return migrants differs slightly by time since return 112

Figure 4.24. Recent migrants are less likely to be self-employed with personnel compared to those who have been back longer 113

Figure 4.25. Self-employment is more common among those who have not lived abroad 114

Figure 4.26. Among the economically inactive, return migrants are more likely to be students and less likely to be pensioners when compared... 115

Figure 4.27. More functional institutions and greater labour market meritocracy are believed to encourage emigrants to return 117

Figure 5.1. Over half of young adults (ages 20-24) in Greece are enrolled in higher education 125

Figure 5.2. Overqualification and unemployment rates of young professionals in Greece are above the EU/OECD averages 126

Figure 5.3. International student mobility from Greece has remained relatively stable, with a slight decline in recent years 127

Figure 5.4. The United Kingdom remains the leading destination country for Greeks undertaking tertiary studies abroad 128

Figure 5.5. The United Kingdom experienced a sharp decline in Greek student enrolment in 2022 129

Figure 5.6. Germany, Bulgaria and the Netherlands have seen rising enrolment of Greek students 130

Figure 5.7. Greek students' enrolment in bachelor's degrees has increased modestly in recent years 131

Figure 5.8. Greek students favour the United Kingdom for undergraduate and PhD degrees 131

Figure 5.9. Greek enrolment in bachelor's programmes abroad has been rising in the Netherlands and declining in the United Kingdom 132

Figure 5.10. Bulgaria and the Netherlands are emerging as primary destinations for Greek students completing their master's degree abroad 133

Figure 5.11. Number and share of Greek PhD holders in OECD countries in 2020/21 and 2015/16 134

Figure 5.12. One in three Greek emigrants with a PhD is aged 35-44 135

Figure 5.13. About one in seven new Greek PhD holders intend to settle abroad 136

Figure 5.14. Over half of PhD holders intending to settle abroad studied natural sciences or medical and health sciences 137

Figure 5.15. Continuation of research activity and pursuing one's academic career are the leading reasons for Greek PhD holders to settling abroad 138

Figure 5.16. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany are the leading destinations of interest for Greek PhD holders intending to... 139

Figure 5.17. Four in five returning Greek doctoral holders are between the ages of 30-49 140

Figure 5.18. Over four in five returning Greek PhD holders are coming from Europe 141

Figure 5.19. Just under half of Greek PhD holders return for the purpose of repatriation 142

Figure 5.20. Inflows and outflows of scientific authors by last main recorded affiliation, 2021 144

Figure 5.21. Greek-origin scientists are concentrated in biomedical research 146

Figure 5.22. Top performing Greek-origin scientists are located abroad 147

Figure 5.23. A majority of surveyed Greek academics abroad have poor perceptions of Greek universities 148

Figure 5.24. Greek academics from Canada are most interested in returning to Greece 149

Figure 5.25. Greek academics without stable long-term positions are most interested in returning to Greece 150

Figure 5.26. Greek academics in the arts, law, and humanities are most interested in returning to Greece 150

Figure 5.27. Greek academics who completed their studies abroad are more likely to be interested in return than those who studied in Greece 151

Figure 5.28. Higher salaries are the top recommendation to incentivise the return of Greek academics from abroad 152