The Greek economy continued to generate new businesses at a rapid pace in early 2026, according to business population data published by ELSTAT. At the same time, bankruptcies rose, but remain at levels that represent a fraction of business activity.
New business registrations totaled 40,251 in the first quarter of 2026, up 9.1% compared to the corresponding quarter of 2025 (36,909) and up 10.6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 (36,402).
Bankruptcies totaled 179, up from 127 in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 40.9% increase. The percentage jump is large, but it concerns small absolute numbers: the 179 bankruptcies account for less than 0.5% of new registrations for the quarter. It is also worth noting that ELSTAT defines bankruptcy as the initiation of judicial proceedings for a declaration of bankruptcy—a process which, as it states, is often temporary and does not always entail a definitive cessation of operations. Over time, however, the trend is clearly upward: in the corresponding quarter of 2021, there were only 20 bankruptcies.
How new registrations fared by sector
Among the sectors contributing most to the economy’s turnover, the largest percentage increase was recorded in“Construction”(+32.3%) and“Transportation and Storage”(+31.7%). Conversely, the largest decrease was seen in “Electricity, Natural Gas, Steam, and Air Conditioning Supply” (-64.2%), while “Financial and Insurance Activities” also posted a decline (-4.0%).
Legal Form: Dominance of Sole Proprietorships
In terms of legal form, sole proprietorships remain the overwhelming majority, with 27,120 registrations out of a total of 40,251. These are followed by partnerships (7,250), other legal forms (5,371), and, lastly, corporations (510). Among sole proprietorships, the sector with the most new registrations was “Transportation and Storage,” with 4,822 registrations.
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