Greece addresses demographic crisis with family-focused policies

Greece is facing a significant demographic challenge characterized by declining birth rates and a shrinking population. According to ELSTAT and tax data, there are approximately 23,097 families in Greece with four or more children, representing only 0.6% of all households. The number of very large families is even smaller, with fewer than 50 families having 10 or more children and only 1,519 families with six or more.

Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis has identified the demographic issue as a primary national challenge, linking it to the long-term sustainability of schools, the social security system, and social cohesion. To address this, the government is promoting several measures, including increased birth and maternity allowances, expanded access to nursery schools, and enhanced school meal programs.

A significant upcoming policy includes a tax reform scheduled for January 1, 2026, which aims to link income tax directly to the number of children, potentially offering zero tax for families with more than four children. Marinakis emphasized that resolving this crisis requires not only financial incentives but also a long-term change in societal attitudes toward the family and increased support for assisted reproduction.