The story of Greeks in Germany spans more than sixty years and four distinct waves of migration. A new study by the independent think tank diaNEOsis explores this long journey, tracing how the community evolved from factory workers in the 1960s to today’s professionals and second-generation citizens.

The research, conducted by Manolis Pratsinakis (Harokopio University and the University of Oxford), Julie A. Panagiotopoulou (University of Cologne), Marilena Anastasopoulou (University College Dublin and Oxford), and Othon Anastasakis (University of Oxford), includes the first quantitative field survey on Greeks in Germany in recent years. It examines their demographics, experiences, attitudes toward both countries, and plans for the future.

From Gastarbeiter to skilled migrants

Greece’s first major migration wave to Germany began in the 1960s, when postwar poverty and unemployment pushed thousands abroad. At the same time, West Germany’s booming metal and automobile industries were eager for labor. A 1960 bilateral agreement between Athens and Bonn opened the door to organized mass migration.

Between 1960 and 1973, more than 600,000 Greeks—mostly young, low-educated workers from northern rural regions—moved to West Germany as Gastarbeiter (“guest workers”), a term that carried discriminatory overtones. By the mid-1970s, Greeks were the fourth-largest foreign community in West Germany, after Turks, Yugoslavs, and Italians.

Those early migrants built the foundations of today’s Greek diaspora -communities that remain active to this day. Many settled permanently, brought their families, and raised children who became the second and third generations of Greeks in Germany.

The new wave after 2009

Almost half a century later, another exodus reshaped the greek diaspora community in Germany. When Greece’s economy collapsed in 2009, unemployment and austerity pushed thousands of Greeks— this time highly educated and ambitious — to seek opportunities abroad. Germany, now reunified and economically strong, became once again a key destination.

In 2012 alone, emigration from Greece to Germany more than tripled compared with 2009, reaching around 35,000 people. Over the following decade, roughly 114,000 Greeks moved there — among them scientists, professionals, and university graduates.

According to 2019 data, nearly half a million Greeks (498,426) live in Germany today. About six in ten are first-generation migrants, while the rest are second or third generation Greeks. Men slightly outnumber women (54%), and younger generations are particularly prominent, with more than half being under 30.

The diaspora remains concentrated in North Rhine–Westphalia (31%), Baden-Württemberg (23%), and Bavaria (20%). New arrivals since 2009 have also gathered in Berlin and Hesse, drawn by universities, start-ups, and international workplaces.

Why they left, and why they stay

The diaNEOsis survey finds that migration to Germany is still driven more by necessity than by choice. About seven in ten respondents said they left Greece out of need or a mix of need and choice; only 19% saw their move as entirely voluntary.

Economic motives dominate: better pay, the fallout from Greece’s crisis, and the pursuit of financial independence. For the post-2009 migrants, nearly half said the economic crisis directly affected their personal lives. Social networks also played a key role — about one in three chose Germany because they already had friends or relatives there.

Most Greeks report being satisfied with their lives in Germany, particularly financially. On average, they rate their income satisfaction at 8.1 out of 10 and job satisfaction at 7.6. Quality of life scores lower (6.1), and social life even less (5.2), with one in three admitting to loneliness.

Education helps: nearly half of university graduates found work in their field immediately, while those without degrees still enjoy better wages and job stability than in Greece. About 83% hold permanent or long-term contracts, and 60% earn between €1,500 and €3,000 net per month.

Between two worlds

Language remains both a bridge and a boundary. First-generation migrants who arrived after 2009 rate their German skills around 6 out of 10, while second- and third-generation Greeks rate themselves near-perfect. Knowledge of Greek remains strong too, sustained by 30 community schools across Germany.

Discrimination, however, persists: seven in ten respondents say they have experienced unfair treatment due to their origin, and workplace inequality is common among first-generation migrants.

Despite frustrations, emotional ties to Greece run deep, marked by nostalgia, pride, and often disappointment. Most feel close to their homeland and responsible for family there, though trust in Greek institutions is extremely low. Two-thirds believe Greek governments do not truly care about citizens abroad.

Despite the governments attempts to reverse the phenomenon of brain drain that has plagued Greece since the financial crisis, few Greeks in Germany plan to return soon. Only 9% say they would like to return within the next three years. Yet nearly eight in ten say they would like to move back someday, more often to retire than work.