Laws in Greece
How Greece is classified on 37 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Legal on request Abortion is available on request, subject to a gestational limit.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- FGM Laws
- No specific ban There is no FGM-specific law; only general criminal provisions could apply.
- Surrogacy
- Commercial legal Surrogacy is fully legal and regulated, allowing both altruistic and commercial arrangements.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.
Daily Life
- Public Smoking Bans
- Comprehensive ban Greece prohibits smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces without exception.
- Driving Age
- 16–17 Minimum age to drive a car: 17.
- Homeschooling
- Illegal Homeschooling is prohibited.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Legal No ban on fur farming.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- Banned Cosmetic animal testing is banned nationwide under EU regulations.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Taxed / charged Plastic bags are legal but carry a mandatory charge or tax.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 16–17 The voting age is 17.
- Compulsory Voting
- Compulsory (not enforced) Greece retains the legal duty to vote, but all sanctions were lifted in 2000.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Marriage legal Same-sex marriage is legally performed and recognized.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Age of Consent
- 14–15 The age of consent is 15.
- Sex Work
- Legal & regulated Prostitution is legal and regulated with registration and medical requirements.
- Divorce
- Legal Divorce is legal and generally available by mutual consent without fault.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Joint adoption legal Same-sex couples can jointly petition to adopt.
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Blasphemy Laws
- No blasphemy law The new Criminal Code effective July 2019 removed blasphemy offenses, ending the ban.
- Holocaust Denial
- Criminal offense Holocaust denial is a criminal offence.
- Flag Desecration
- Criminal offense Flag desecration is illegal in Greece and punishable by up to two years of imprisonment.
- Conversion Therapy
- Partial ban Greece banned conversion therapy for minors in 2022, while it remains possible for consenting adults.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished Fully abolished for all crimes.
- Gun Laws
- Licensed / moderate Handguns can be licensed for sport, hunting or collecting, but personal protection alone is not a sufficient reason.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned Corporal punishment is banned in all Greek schools, with the ban extended to secondary schools in 2005.
- Military Conscription
- Active conscription
- Jury Trials
- Not used The evidence describes the historical jury system of Ancient Athens, implying it is not a current legal institution.
Substances
- Cannabis
- Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only; recreational use remains prohibited.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Illegal Psilocybin is a controlled substance; possession is a criminal offence.
- Khat
- Illegal Khat is classified as an illegal narcotic under Greek law.
- E-Cigarettes
- Regulated E-cigarettes are legal but nicotine strength is capped by law.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.