Antisemitic Attitudes in Greece: A Statistical Overview
Antisemitism surveys provide quantitative snapshots of public attitudes toward Jews through standardized questions on common stereotypes.
One of the most comprehensive global efforts in this area is the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Global 100: Index of Antisemitism, which measures the percentage of respondents who agree with at least six out of eleven negative stereotypes about Jews (such as claims of excessive power in business, media, or global affairs).
ADL Global 100 Results for GreeceIn the most recent ADL Global 100 survey (fieldwork conducted in 2024, results released in January 2025), Greece recorded an index score of 50%. This means half of the Greek adults surveyed agreed with six or more of the tested antisemitic stereotypes.
- Historical comparison: In 2014, Greece’s score stood at 69%, the highest recorded outside the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region at that time. By the latest data, the score has declined by 19 percentage points — the largest reduction observed globally over the decade.
- The drop occurred even amid heightened global tensions following the October 2023 events in the Middle East.
Greece ranks 73rd out of 103 countries and territories in the 2025 index. While this places it below many nations in Eastern Europe, Asia, and MENA, its score remains notably higher than the Western Europe regional average of 17%.
Greece in Broader European ContextThe ADL data shows significant variation across Europe:
- Western Europe overall averages 17%, with some of the lowest scores in countries like Sweden (5%), Norway (8%), and the Netherlands (8%).
- Eastern Europe averages around 49%.
- Greece’s 50% score is above the Western European norm but aligns more closely with certain Eastern European patterns in the dataset.
Other surveys, such as those from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) or national reports, track antisemitic incidents (e.g., vandalism, harassment, or assaults) separately from attitude polls. These often show fluctuations tied to geopolitical events, with reporting practices varying by country.
Perceptions of Antisemitism as a Societal Issue
The EU’s Eurobarometer surveys gauge how citizens perceive antisemitism in their own countries:
- In recent waves (including data around 2025–2026), a majority of EU respondents (around 55%) viewed antisemitism as a problem in their country, up from 50% in 2018.
- Perceptions of increase over the prior five years were also reported by about 47% across the EU.
Specific country-level breakdowns for Greece in the latest Eurobarometer indicate varying views on the severity of the issue compared to the EU average, though detailed Greek figures on incident perceptions are tracked more granularly through local Jewish organizations and police data.
Methodological Notes and Limitations
- The ADL index relies on nationally representative samples and focuses on attitudes/stereotypes, not direct measures of behavior or incident rates.
- Surveys can be influenced by question wording, timing (e.g., proximity to news events), and sampling methods.
- Greece has a small Jewish community (historically centered in cities like Thessaloniki and Athens), which has faced significant historical challenges, including during the Holocaust.
- Data on actual antisemitic incidents in Greece is compiled by Greek authorities, the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece, and international bodies, but cross-country comparisons require caution due to differences in legal definitions and reporting thresholds.
These statistics represent empirical findings from major international polls and should be considered alongside broader context on social, historical, and political factors.
For the full datasets and methodologies, the ADL Global 100 website and official EU publications provide detailed breakdowns.