Greece faces significant demographic decline and aging population

Recent reports from the European Commission and demographic experts highlight a severe decline in Greece's population and birth rates. According to Byron Kotzamanis, Director of the Institute of Demographic Research and Studies, annual births have dropped steadily from an average of 150,000 between 1951 and 1980 to just 65,000 in 2026. Projections indicate that the current decade (2021-2030) will see fewer than 700,000 total births, marking a 25% decrease compared to the previous decade.

The European Commission’s 'Ageing Report 2027' further warns that Greece’s total population is expected to shrink from 10.4 million in 2025 to 7.6 million by 2080. This decline is persistent, with the population forecasted to drop to 9.2 million by 2050. Simultaneously, the country is experiencing a demographic shift toward an older society, as the percentage of citizens over 65, and particularly those over 80, continues to rise significantly. This downward trend persists despite expectations of a marginal increase in the fertility rate from 1.2 to 1.45 children per woman over the coming decades.