For the first time in over a decade, more Greeks are returning home than leaving.

In recent years, Greece has seen a significant shift in migration patterns. According to Greece in Figures, according to the most recent data from 2023, 47,200 Greeks returned home that year, while only 32,800 left. This marks the largest return of Greek citizens since data collection began in 2008, signaling a reversal of the migration trends that plagued the country during its economic crisis.

From 2010 to 2018, Greece faced a massive “brain drain,” with a record number of citizens, particularly skilled professionals, leaving in search of better opportunities abroad. Between 2010 and 2022, a staggering 1,079,992 working-age Greeks emigrated, with nearly 60% of them falling in the highly productive 25-44 age group. This emigration reached a peak between 2013-2016, when unemployment surged and economic instability left many searching for a better life outside Greece.

Despite a first decrease in emigration from 2019-2022 compared to the crisis years, the exodus of educated and skilled workers continues. Of those who left between 2019 and 2022, 283,801 were working-age individuals, many of whom were highly educated. This ongoing outflow reflects Greece’s struggle to attract and retain top talent in recent years.

In an attempt to reverse the brain drain, the Greek government has launched the REBRAIN GREECE – TALENT CENTER, a digital platform designed to connect skilled Greeks abroad with high-level job openings. The initiative also offers tax incentives to encourage returning Greeks to settle back home, including a 50% income tax exemption for the first seven years of their return. 

Despite these efforts, challenges remain. Professor Lois Lambrinidis, an expert on economic geography, told To Vima International Edition that many of those leaving Greece now are not just skilled professionals but also unskilled workers. The returnees are often individuals who are forced to take jobs beneath their qualifications due to the country’s economic limitations.

While the return of Greeks from abroad is a sign of improved economic conditions and growing attractiveness, Lambrinis stated that many returning citizens do so for personal or family reasons, not for work opportunities.