In 2023, food insecurity became a pressing issue in Greece, with 27.3% of the population at risk of poverty unable to afford a meal containing meat, fish, or a vegetarian equivalent every second day.
This stark figure highlights the growing divide between the general population and those facing economic hardship.
Across the EU, 9.5% of people struggled to afford proper meals, a rise from 8.3% in 2022. For those at risk of poverty, the EU average was 22.3%, up from 19.7% the previous year. Greece‘s 27.3% gap between the total population and those at risk of poverty in terms of meal affordability was among the highest in the EU, following Hungary (30.2%) and Slovakia (27.9%). On the other hand, the lowest share was recorded in Ireland (4.2%), followed by Cyprus (5.0%) and Portugal (5.9%).
The data underscores the broader issue of material and social deprivation, a key indicator in the European Pillar of Social Rights – Social Scoreboard of indicators.
Read more: Eurostat data
(Source: Eurostat)