If you lived in Greece instead of United States, you would:

Health

live 3.0 years longer

In United States, the average life expectancy is 79 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024. In Greece, that number is 82 years (79 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 33.0% less likely to be obese

In United States, 41.0% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Greece, that number is 27.4% of people as of 2024.

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have 78.6% more doctors per person

United States has 36.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Greece has 65.8 as of 2022.

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be 70.1% less likely to die by suicide

United States has a suicide rate of 15.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Greece, it is 4.7 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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see 74.4% less spent on your healthcare

United States spends $13,473 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Greece spends $3,454 as of 2023.

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have 10.5% less access to essential health services

United States scores 86 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Greece scores 77 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 2.0 times more likely to be unemployed

In United States, 4.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Greece, that number is 8.5% as of 2025.

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make 70.1% less money

United States has a GDP per capita of $90,027 as of 2025, while in Greece, the GDP per capita is $26,948 as of 2025.

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Life

be 70.6% less likely to die during childbirth

In United States, approximately 17.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Greece, 5.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 41.8% less likely to die during infancy

In United States, approximately 5.5 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Greece, on the other hand, 3.2 children do as of 2024.

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have 37.7% fewer children

In United States, there are approximately 10.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Greece, there are 6.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 37.6% less on education

United States spends 5.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Greece spends 3.4% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 49.7% less on healthcare

United States spends 16.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Greece, that number is 8.4% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 31.4% less coastline

United States has a total of 19,924 km of coastline. In Greece, that number is 13,676 km.

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Safety

be 85.4% less likely to be murdered

United States has a homicide rate of 5.8 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Greece, that number is 0.8 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 48.6% less likely to die in a road accident

In United States, road accidents kill 14.2 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Greece, they kill 7.3 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 15.0% more home broadband

United States has 38.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Greece has 44.7 as of 2024.

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live with 27.8% less strain on fresh water

United States withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Greece withdraws 20% as of 2022.

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use 63.5% less electricity

United States uses 12,839 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Greece uses 4,686 kWh as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 62.9% less CO2

United States emits 13.6 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Greece emits 5.0 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 64.3% more likely to die from air pollution

In United States, air pollution causes 14.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Greece, it causes 23.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Greece: At a glance

Greece is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 130,647 sq km. Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and other anti-communist and communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a group of military officers seized power, establishing a military dictatorship that suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country. In 1974, democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001. In 2010, the prospect of a Greek default on its euro-denominated debt created severe strains within the EMU and raised the question of whether a member country might voluntarily leave the common currency or be removed.
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