Narratives about migrants have been exceptionally negative in Greece since the large immigration numbers from former Communist countries in the 1990s. Things worsened when over a million migrants and refugees arrived on route to northern Europe in 2015-16. As a transit country Greece is fully exposed to the shortcomings of the EU’s regional system for refugee-hosting. Hostile and securitised policies have developed, with the country criticised for illegal pushbacks of migrants at land and sea borders and the large-scale loss of life when around 750 people died with the sinking of an overcrowded fishing vessel off the coast of Pylos in 2023.

Migration trends

For most of the 20th century, Greece was primarily a country of emigration. Immigration rose with the collapse of the Soviet Union prompting an influx of migrants particularly from Albania and other Balkan countries. Since 2008 Greece has become the main gateway for irregular EU entries. The country’s emigration rate remains high, a challenge given Greece’s ageing society.

This data shows annual immigration, emigration and net migration figures. Source: Hellenic Statistical Authority (n.d.) 'Migration statistics'

Salience

Despite being the main entry point for irregular migrants to the EU, immigration has rarely been the public’s top concern, with economic issues taking precedence. In 2015 immigration was a top-two concern for only 20% of Greeks. This rose significantly in 2019, likely due to heightened Greek-Turkish tensions around border control. The salience of immigration fell with the onset of Covid-19 and has remained low since.

This shows the percentage of people who see immigration as one of the two most important issues facing the country today. Source: Eurobarometer (n.d.) 'Standard Eurobarometer'. Brussels: European Commission. Data shown is taken from Autumn surveys, with the Autumn surveys of 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23 shifting to Winter 2020/21, Winter 2021/22 and Winter 2022/23 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Perceptions

In 2021, 60% of Greek respondents thought that immigration was more of a problem than an opportunity for the country – second only to Cyprus (61%) out of 27 EU member states. Negative attitudes in this area persist, with little change since 2017.

This shows the percentage of people that think immigration from outside the EU is more of a problem than an opportunity, or more of an opportunity than a problem, or equally a problem and an opportunity. Source: European Commission (2018) 'Special Eurobarometer 469. Integration of immigrants in the European Union'; European Commission (2022) 'Special Eurobarometer 519. Integration of immigrants in the European Union'

Attitudes

European Social Survey data shows negative attitudes far exceeding positive attitudes, at much higher rates than many other European countries, when people are asked whether immigrants make Greece a better or worse place to live. Negative attitudes are based mainly on fears that migrants will exacerbate unemployment and fiscal challenges, increase insecurity and threaten cultural identity.

This shows how people have answered the question 'Do immigrants make Greece a worse or a better place to live.' Those scoring 0-4 are classified as holding 'negative' views, those scoring 5 as 'indecisive' and those scoring 6-10 as holding 'positive' views. Due to non-inclusion of Greece in some survey rounds, there is a gap in data between 2004 and 2008 and from 2010 to 2022. Source: European Social Survey (n.d.) 'Greece.' Electronic Dataset Survey postponed in 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Sea and land arrivals

In 2015, 850,000 people - most fleeing violence in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq - crossed the Mediterranean to Greece. Many continued to seek asylum further north. Arrivals have since decreased substantially due in part to the EU-Turkey agreement (and Greece designating Turkey as a safe third country), the Covid-19 pandemic, and possibly also due to the increases in the use of unofficial pushback strategies.

This shows the number of immigrants arriving in Greece using land crossings and by sea. Source: UNHCR (n.d.) Operational data portal. Mediterranean situation: Greece