Greece Is Facing A Population Crisis With The Lowest Reproduction Rate In Europe

The latest on Greece's population crisis is quite alarming. Greece is grappling with a severe demographic issue marked by the lowest population reproduction rate in Europe. This situation has been exacerbated by a sharp decline in birth rates and a rise in unexpected deaths among the population. From 2011 to 2021, the country's birth rate fell by 30 percent, slipping below the death rate. This alarming trend was highlighted by Greece's national Hellenic Statistical Service, also known as ELSTAT.

To put things into perspective, Greece recorded 114,766 births and 109,084 deaths in 2010. However, the balance has drastically shifted, with the number of deaths surpassing births. This shift is attributed to a variety of factors, including economic and austerity crises, which have driven out scores of thousands of people and left many young economically at risk. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has played a role in suppressing population growth by causing a decline in births, migration, and life expectancy.

The population decline has reached a critical point, with projections indicating that Greece's population will fall by over a million by 2050. This crisis has been described as a "ticking time bomb" and a "national threat" by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who highlighted the severity of the situation by noting that the country effectively recorded just one birth per two deaths in 2022.

This demographic crisis could have significant economic implications for Greece, as it would lead to a loss of nearly 2 billion euros a year in state revenue considering each Greek pays on average 5,758 euros ($6,125) in taxes and social security contributions. It is a complex issue that not only affects Greece but also poses challenges to the EU as a whole, as several countries in the region face similar demographic challenges.

The Greek government has announced plans to unveil new measures next month to boost lagging birthrates, but the success of such measures remains to be seen. This situation underscores the broader issue of population decline in developed countries, which is driven by a combination of economic, social, and health factors that vary from one nation to another.

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