ATHENS--Greece sharply lowered its forecast for economic growth this year to 1.4%, according to a senior government official.

According to initial estimates by the previous government and its international creditors, Greece's economy was expected to grow by 2.9% in 2015. This estimate was later lowered to 2.5% both by the European Commission and the country's central bank, Bank of Greece.

Greece's economy returned to growth in 2014 after six years of recession, expanding at an annual pace of 0.8%, according the Greek statistics agency.

Write to Nektaria Stamouli at nektaria.stamouli@wsj.com

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires