Greece and Romania face school closures amid demographic decline

Demographic decline and falling birth rates are forcing significant changes to educational systems across Southern and Eastern Europe. In Greece, authorities have closed 75 schools for the 2026-2027 school year and suspended activities in over 400 other units due to insufficient student numbers. The crisis is particularly acute in isolated communities, such as the island of Kalamos, where a single primary school remains with only two students. Once a community of 40 children, the island's kindergarten closed three years ago, and the remaining students will be forced to commute to the mainland for middle school next year.

Romania is also facing intense demographic pressure. National Institute of Statistics data indicates a massive reduction in the youth population, with approximately 887,000 fewer minors recorded in early 2026 compared to 2006. Furthermore, birth rates in Romania reached a historic low in 2025, with only 145,700 live births recorded, the lowest level since 1930. These trends have prompted the Romanian Ministry of Education to begin reorganizing its school network to address the shrinking student population.