he country may be struggling with wages, purchasing power, and poverty, but when it comes to entrepreneurship, Greek businesses are thriving—if not in quality, at least in sheer volume of new businesses. According to Eurostat, the country’s business creation index reached 134.7 in the second quarter of 2025, the highest among EU member states.
Out of 38 countries tracked by Eurostat, only Montenegro ranks higher. The Balkan state, known for its ultra-low corporate taxes and until recently under scrutiny for ties to organized crime, tops the list. Albania follows in third place, with a business creation index of 134.5, nearly matching Greece’s level.
Eurostat’s findings regarding Greek businesses are backed by the country’s General Commercial Registry (GEMI), which shows that more businesses are opening than closing, with the balance continuing to improve. Since the start of the year, more than 50,000 new companies have been registered, compared with around 15,200 closures.
But the picture becomes more complex when looking at the type of businesses being created. Nearly one in two new enterprises—more than 45 percent—are sole proprietorships. In the first seven months of 2025, the number of sole proprietorships rose by 16.5 percent compared with the same period last year, while closures in this category dropped by 38 percent.
More than one in four businesses (26.3 percent) operate in trade, making it the largest sector, followed by accommodation and services, which account for more than 16.5 percent. Construction and professional, scientific, and technical activities each represent 8.5 percent of total business activity.
Manufacturing, considered the backbone of productive industry, lags behind at just 6.3 percent. Eurostat data show that in 2024, new manufacturing enterprises in Greece fell by 18.4 percent, while construction businesses dropped by 25.4 percent.
