Greeks Abroad Increasingly Returning Home, OECD Report Finds

Greece is witnessing a significant return of its expatriate population, a trend that has accelerated since 2021, according to a recent OECD report. For the first time since the country's severe economic crisis, which lasted from 2009 to 2018, the number of Greeks returning home in 2023 surpassed the number of those leaving.

This reversal marks a notable shift from the years between 2012 and 2019, when annual departures ranged from 46,000 to 56,000, largely driven by soaring unemployment that peaked at 26% in 2012. Currently, over 800,000 people born in Greece reside in OECD countries, with the majority settled in the United States, Australia, Canada, and other European Union nations.

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the strategy put in place has borne fruit

The returning diaspora is predominantly composed of individuals aged 20 to 39 who hold degrees, a demographic the conservative Greek government has actively sought to attract back. Employment Minister Niki Kerameus highlighted government initiatives such as digitizing public services, reducing income tax for seven years for returnees, and recognizing foreign medical diplomas as key factors in this success.

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the main criterion for the decision to return to the country is undoubtedly the economic and social context

Economic and social conditions are the primary drivers for expatriates deciding to return, according to Jean-Christophe Dumont, head of international migration at the OECD. He explained that individuals assess whether the situation in Greece is better and if they can envision a future for their children there. Dumont noted that Greece's policies are moving in the right direction, contrasting it with Portugal, another country hit by the economic crisis, which has seen fewer returns.

Despite the positive trend, the report indicates that Greek emigration still represents 7% of the population, one of the highest rates within the OECD, although it is slowing down. A concerning statistic from the report reveals that 15% of recent PhD graduates in Greece still express a desire to settle abroad.

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Is the situation better and can I see myself settling in this country for the future of my children?