Greece confronts education gap and steep demographic decline in the West

A recent IOBE study shows that university entry in Greece is increasingly limited to children from affluent families. Nine out of ten students from low‑income backgrounds face major barriers to higher education, perpetuating a long‑standing class divide.

The institute’s separate report on Western Greece highlights a dramatic population contraction. The region’s residents are projected to fall from about 636,000 in 2025 to 535,000 by 2050 and to roughly 412,000 by 2100 – a 34 % drop. Ageing, low birth rates and youth migration to larger cities drive the decline, while economic indicators such as household income and savings lag behind national averages.

Both findings point to widening socioeconomic disparities and underline the need for targeted policies to improve educational access and reverse demographic loss in the area.