Purchasing Power: Greece Ranks Last in EU, Tied with Bulgaria

Serious questions about the trajectory of the Greek economy arise from recent data released by Eurostat (the statistical office of the European Union) on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, regarding GDP per capita in purchasing power standards (PPS). Greece now ranks last in the European Union, in the same position as Bulgaria.

Negative Divergence for Greece

According to the 2025 data, Greece's GDP per capita in purchasing power standards (PPS) stood at 68% of the European average. Bulgaria recorded the same percentage. This development marks a negative turn for Greece, as in the previous year's ranking (2024), it was in the penultimate position at 69%, slightly above Bulgaria, which was at 66%. While Bulgaria saw an increase from 66% to 68% of the European average, indicating convergence, Greece showed a decline from 69% to 68%, suggesting divergence and a 'wrong direction' trend.

The European Union Overview

The snapshot of purchasing power within the EU for 2025 reveals significant disparities among member states. Only ten of the 27 European Union countries managed to exceed the EU average, representing approximately 34% of the Union's total population. These include Luxembourg, Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Malta, and Finland.

Many countries were below the average, with France, Cyprus, Italy, Czechia, Spain, and Slovenia being up to 10% below it. Lithuania, Portugal, and Poland followed, positioned approximately 10-20% behind the European average. At the bottom of the ranking, the lowest GDP per capita in purchasing power standards was recorded in Bulgaria and Greece, both 32% below the EU average, with Latvia following at 29% below.

The deterioration of Greece's position in the purchasing power ranking, coupled with the negative divergence from the European average, underscores the challenges facing the Greek economy. Convergence with the European average remains a long-standing goal; however, the 2025 data highlight the need for effective policies to reverse the current negative trend and enhance citizens' well-being.