Who Belongs to Greece’s Middle Class in 2025?

The question of who makes up Greece’s middle class has long fueled political and social debate. In 2025, the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEP) attempts to provide a clearer picture, pointing to both income levels and the strong connection between the middle class and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Income brackets and lifestyle

According to OECD and Eurostat standards, the middle class includes households with disposable income between 75% and 200% of a country’s average. In Greece, the average disposable income in 2024 was around €11,000–12,000 per person. This places the lower threshold of the middle class at about €10,000 annually and the upper at €22,000–24,000.

For a family of four, this translates into a net annual income of €24,000–60,000, assuming that employed adults earn €2,000–5,000 per month. Beyond income, factors such as education, profession, and quality of life also help define who belongs to this group.

Traditionally, Greece’s middle class has included freelancers, small business owners, civil servants, private sector employees, and professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and engineers. Households that own property, maintain a car, and can meet both basic and consumer needs are also seen as part of this bracket.

The backbone of society

Politically, the middle class is often described as the “backbone” of society and the economy, supporting consumption, taxation, and social stability. However, after the financial crisis of 2009–2019, this group shrank due to falling incomes, high taxes, and rising inequalities.

In 2025, policy discussions focus on easing the tax burden, boosting disposable income, ensuring stable employment, and improving access to education and healthcare.

Middle class and SMEs: a two-way link

SMEs account for 99.5% of businesses in Greece, employing more than 2.5 million people — many of them middle-class professionals. At the same time, numerous members of the middle class are SME owners or self-employed.

This interdependence means that SMEs rely on middle-class consumers while also employing and representing them. The Piraeus Chamber stresses that supporting SMEs is crucial for reviving the middle class, especially after a decade of heavy taxation, pandemic pressures, and rising living costs.

A smaller, more pressured middle class

In Greece, about 50% of households fall into the middle class, compared with 60% in the eurozone and 58% across the EU-27. Northern European countries, where strong welfare states balance high taxes, tend to offer a more secure middle-class standard of living.

According to EBEP President Vassilis Korkidis, distinguishing between the lower and middle class in Greece has become increasingly difficult. He highlights that many Greek small business owners are “overtaxed,” with a large share of their income going to direct and indirect taxes as well as social contributions, limiting consumption.

Source: tovima.com