Athens:Wealth inequality in Greece continues to persist years after the debt crisis, as revealed by a European Central Bank (ECB) analysis. The analysis, highlighted in a report by the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, indicates that countries in the eurozone, including Greece, which received international bailouts, still experience higher levels of wealth inequality compared to the period before the debt crisis.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the ECB's analysis pointed out that successive economic shocks, ranging from the sovereign debt crisis to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent inflation surge, have unevenly impacted wealth distribution. Between 2010 and 2014, wealth inequality in the eurozone increased before nearing pre-crisis levels. However, in Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, the Greek Cypriot Administration, and Ireland, inequality remained significantly higher.

In Greece, the sustainability concerns of public debt in early 2010 led to a severe recession, with declining property prices contributing significantly to wealth disparities. Households with mortgages experienced a drop in property values, yet their debts stayed unchanged, exacerbating the inequality. Lower-income households had to exhaust their savings to meet basic needs, whereas wealthier households saw benefits from the quicker recovery in the stock markets.

The report by the ECB also noted that by 2021, the wealth inequality coefficient in crisis-affected countries continued to rise, staying above the levels seen in 2010 and 2014 by 2023. In contrast, the rest of the eurozone saw a decline below pre-crisis levels. The persistent gap in these countries is attributed to the financial struggles of vulnerable households in rebuilding savings and the decreasing homeownership rates, especially among younger generations.

The disparities endured through the pandemic and the 2021-2023 inflation period despite government support measures. These measures, along with the eroding real value of debt, helped reduce inequality in the broader eurozone. However, Eurostat data revealed that in 2025, 50.5% of people in Greece were unable to handle unexpected expenses, marking the highest rate in the European Union, compared to an EU average of 29.2%. This figure was considerably higher than in other EU countries such as Latvia, Bulgaria, and the Netherlands.