Approximately 1.2 million freelancers, self-employed individuals, and farmers in Greece have until Friday January 31 to select their insurance contributions category for 2025 as required by EFKA (the Greek social security agency). This year, they will face a 2.7% increase in their contributions.
Statistics indicate that freelancers, self-employed individuals, and farmers have once again opted for the lower insurance categories, as most are unable to afford higher contributions, with only a small minority choosing otherwise.
More specifically, eight out of ten professionals and farmers traditionally prefer the first insurance category, paying lower contributions at the expense of their future pensions; consequently these citizens will receive pensions below 1,000 euros after 40 years of work.
Under the current pension system for freelancers to receive a pension of more than 1,000 euros (gross income), they must be enrolled in at least the 3rd insurance category, while receiving a pension of more than 900 euros, would mean being enrolled in at least the 2nd insurance category.
To receive a pension exceeding 1,500 euros, individuals would need to contribute more than 642 euros per month.
For the first insurance category, the total contributions to be paid this year are 238.23 euros, with the pension contribution amounting to 175.83 euros. For the second category, the total contribution is 285.88 euros, with the pension contribution being 211 euros.
The e-EFKA online service will remain open until the end of January for those self-employed individuals who wish to change their insurance category.
For individuals who do not make any changes, they will be automatically enrolled in the same insurance category as last year.
Based on the 2.7% increase, the monthly cost for professionals starts at 6.67 euros for the 1st category and can reach up to 18 euros for enrolling in the 6th and highest category.
Source: Freelancers: New Insurance Contributions for 2025 – tovima.com
