Greece faces severe demographic crisis as birth rates decline

Greece is facing a severe demographic crisis characterized by a sharp decline in birth rates and a shrinking population. Since 2008, births have dropped by nearly 45%, falling from over 118,000 to approximately 65,594 in 2025. This trend impacts the economy, labor market, and social security systems.

The crisis is visibly affecting the education sector. In Western Greece, student numbers have decreased by 20% over the last decade, with 600 fewer first-grade primary students expected this school year. This decline has led to controversial decisions regarding the merging of school classes.

While urban centers like Athens face high living costs and housing shortages that discourage family formation, some rural areas offer a different reality. In the village of Chrysomilia in Thessaly, approximately 70% of couples have three or more children, as young people choose to remain in the region for work and family life. However, the broader national trend remains one of significant population contraction and social challenges for the younger, highly educated, yet economically vulnerable digital generation.