Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Greece

Summary of key data and information

	Summary of key data and information
Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1)	The legal definition of homelessness (which does not correspond to the national homelessness statistics reported in Table 2 and Table 3) is as follows: The homeless are recognised as a vulnerable group to which social protection is provided, and are defined as all persons legally residing in the country with no or insecure access to adequate owned, rented or bestowed housing that meets the necessary technical standards and is equipped with basic services of water and electricity. The homeless include especially those living on the streets, in shelters, those hosted temporarily out of necessity in institutions or other structures, as well as those living in inadequate accommodation.
Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3)	809 individuals, representing 0.01% of the total population (2026)
	26% are women, 74% are men
	Point-in-time count, based on the digital registry of homeless structures and the Housing and Work for the Homeless programme
	ETHOS Light groups included	Included: ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) Not included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing)
	Notes: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4)	There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness in Greece. However, under the Presidential Decree 77/2023, all homeless structures (night shelters and hostels) must register in the digital registry and all municipalities implementing the Housing and Work for the Homeless programme must provide data to the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family.
Homelessness Strategy (Table 5)	National Homelessness Strategy: National Action Plan to Combat Homelessness.
Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6)	Digital registry of homeless structures: Information on people experiencing homelessness who use night shelters and hostels (Table 6.1) Administrative data on guaranteed minimum income: Information on people experiencing homelessness receiving the guaranteed minimum income (Table 6.2) Pilot survey on homelessness: Enumeration and survey of people experiencing homelessness (Table 6.3)

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness

Statistical definition

Homelessness

According to Law 4 052/2012 (art.29) the legal definition of homelessness – which does not fully correspond to the national homelessness statistics reported in Table 2.and Table 3 – is as follows: 1. The homeless are recognised as a vulnerable group to whom social protection is provided. 2. The homeless are defined as all people legally residing in the country with no or insecure access to adequate owned, rented or bestowed housing that meets the necessary technical standards and is equipped with basic services of water and electricity. 3. The homeless include especially those living on the streets, in shelters, those hosted temporarily out of necessity in institutions or other structures, as well as those living in inadequate accommodation.

Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology

Year	Headline estimate of homelessness (Individuals)	% of total population	ETHOS Light 1 People living rough	ETHOS Light 2 People in emergency accommodation	ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless	ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions	ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings	ETHOS Light 6 People staying with family/friends
2022	1 387	0.01%	Not included	440(a)	947(b)	Not included	Not included	Not included
2026	809	0.01%(c)	Not included	529 (a)	280(b)	Not included	Not included	Not included
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Data are comparable across years: No Included in headline estimate: Children: Yes Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: No Refugees: No Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No

Note: (a) Data refer to people currently (Jan 2026) residing in night shelters, as recorded by the digital registry. (b) Data refer to people currently (Jan 2026) residing in homeless hostels among them one minor as recorded by the digital registry. (c) Percentage of population for year 2026 is an OECD calculation based on official statistical data from Greece (2025).

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable Housing (QuASH); Greek Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family (2026), Digital registry of homeless structures.

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation

Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2026

	Single adults	Men	Women	Youth (aged 15‑29)	Older people (aged 67 and over)	Families with children (# of households)
Headline estimate of homelessness	807	597	212	NA	251	1 (household)
As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness	NA	73.80%	26.20%	NA	31.00%	NA
ETHOS Light 1: People living rough	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Included in headline estimate: Children: No Temporary accommodation for: Asylum seekers: No Refugees: No Victims/survivors of domestic violence: No

Note: Sub-groups are not mutually exclusive. The headline estimate includes data from the digital registry. It includes all persons currently residing in emergency and homeless shelters.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable Housing (QuASH); Greek Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family (2026), Digital registry of homeless structures.

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness

	Legal framework
Law that governs data collection on homelessness	None.
Legal obligations	There is no legal obligation for the national government to collect data on homelessness. However, under the Presidential Decree 77/202, all homeless structures (night shelters and hostels) are obliged to register in the digital registry. All Municipalities implementing the Housing and Work for the homeless programme are obliged to provide data.

Table 5. Homelessness strategy

	Homelessness strategies in place
National Homelessness Strategy	National Action Plan to Combat Homelessness
Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist	No.

Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness

6.1. Digital registry of homeless structures
Description The digital registry of homeless structures records information on people experiencing homelessness who use night shelters and hostels. The digital registry is used to facilitate co‑ordination between homeless structures, collect point-in-time and flow data on the number and profile of people experiencing homelessness and collect data on the type and quality of services provided by homeless structures.
Type of count generated Point-in-time	Methods Service‑based method Information management system on individuals experiencing homelessness
Lead authority(ies) Ministry of – Social Cohesion and Family	Source(s) of information Night shelters and hostels provide information to the Ministry of – Social Cohesion and Family through the digital platform
Scope National level	Depth of data Key demographic characteristics
Frequency Ongoing
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources www.astegoi.gov.gr/referral/
6.2. Administrative data on guaranteed minimum income
Description Data are recorded on the number of beneficiaries of the guaranteed minimum income experiencing homelessness according to the following categories: rough sleepers, people experiencing homelessness in night shelters and homeless structures, women residing in women’s shelters and people living in non-conventional dwellings due to lack of housing.
Type of count generated Point-in-time Flow (period) Note: Both PIT and flow data are collected	Methods Administrative data
Lead authority(ies) Ministry of – Social Cohesion and Family	Source(s) of information Information regarding people experiencing homelessness receiving the Guaranteed Minimum Income is submitted through a digital platform.
Scope National level	Depth of data Key demographic characteristics
Frequency Ongoing
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.
Notes and sources keaprogram.gr
6.3. Pilot survey on homelessness
Description A point in time count has been conducted in October 2025 in the Municipality of Athens as part of EPOCH’s European pilot count. Results pending.
Type of count generated Point-in-time	Methods Street count Service‑based method
Lead authority(ies) Municipality of Athens with Panteion University	Source(s) of information The source of data is mixed: for those who answered the survey, the source of data is the individual’s experiencing homelessness. For the individuals that were observed and reported as homeless but were not interviewed, the source of data are the surveyors.
Scope Municipal level	Depth of data Data disaggregated by: gender, age, nationality, etc.
Frequency No fixed periodicity (the prior pilot survey was carried out in 2018 in seven Municipalities)
ETHOS Light groups included: ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housing-database.html.

This work is issued under the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD, and does not necessarily reflect the official views of OECD Member countries. 

This document was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union. 

This document, as well as any data and map included herein, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area. 

  

© OECD 2026 

   Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) 

This work is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. By using this work, you accept to be bound by the terms of this licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). 

Attribution – you must cite the work. 

Translations – you must cite the original work, identify changes to the original and add the following text: In the event of any discrepancy between the original work and the translation, only the text of original work should be considered valid. 

Adaptations – you must cite the original work and add the following text: This is an adaptation of an original work by the OECD. The opinions expressed and arguments employed in this adaptation should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its Member countries. 

Third-party material – the licence does not apply to third-party material in the work. If using such material, you are responsible for obtaining permission from the third party and for any claims of infringement. 

You must not use the OECD logo, visual identity or cover image without express permission or suggest the OECD endorses your use of the work. 

Any dispute arising under this licence shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Arbitration Rules 2012. The seat of arbitration shall be Paris (France). The number of arbitrators shall be one.