Greece's social security debt crisis hits €51.3 billion by 2025
Greece's social security debts have surged to a record high by the end of 2025. The total owed to EFKA, the country's unified social security fund, reached €51.3 billion. Yet, officials admit that a large portion of this debt may never be collected. Between October and December 2025, overdue contributions to social security funds grew by €633 million. New debts accounted for €185 million of this rise. The remaining €447.9 million came from surcharges and additional fees rather than fresh borrowers.
Experts highlight that the bulk of the increase stems from penalties and extra charges, not an influx of new debtors. Despite the climbing figures, expectations for recovery remain bleak. Of the €51.3 billion total, €10.5 billion has already been classified as uncollectible. The actual recoverable sum now stands at just €40.8 billion. No further details have been released on the causes behind the rising debts beyond the role of fees and surcharges.
The latest figures show a sharp rise in unpaid social security contributions, driven largely by penalties. With €10.5 billion already deemed unrecoverable, the system faces ongoing financial strain. Recovery efforts will focus on the remaining €40.8 billion still considered collectable.
