Greece recorded a sharp surge in construction activity in January 2026, with building volume jumping 107.7% year-on-year, according to data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).

A total of 2,034 building permits were issued during the month, up 15.4% compared with the same period last year. Of these, just 21 permits related to public-sector projects, accounting for only 1.9% of total building volume — a share that averages around 2.7% over a one-year period.

The data underline the dominant role of private construction, with total surface area of private projects reaching 482,056 square meters, a 67.3% increase. Overall building volume rose to around 2 million cubic meters.

Previous ELSTAT findings had already pointed to rising construction costs, driven by higher wages in the sector and increased prices for building materials.

Despite the strong monthly figures, the trend reflects a shift toward larger-scale projects rather than a broad-based expansion in activity.

On a rolling 12-month basis, from February 2025 to January 2026, the number of building permits declined by 0.5% nationwide, while total project surface area fell by 4.9%. Only overall construction volume posted an increase over the same period, rising 3.8%, supported by gains in both private (4.5%) and public (2.7%) activity.