Greece faces primary school enrollment decline amid demographic crisis

Greece is facing a significant demographic crisis reflected in a sharp decline in student enrollment. According to data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), new enrollments in the first grade of primary school have decreased by approximately 30,000 over the last decade.

Looking at primary education more broadly, the total number of children in kindergartens and primary schools has dropped from 799,801 in the 2014-2015 school year to 729,859 in 2023-2024, representing an 8.7% decrease. Specifically, primary school enrollment fell from 639,600 to 561,890 during the same period, a decline of roughly 12.1%.

This trend is attributed to declining birth rates and the migration of families and young people abroad. While the shrinking population presents challenges for school maintenance and staffing, some analysts suggest it could provide an opportunity to improve educational quality by reducing class sizes to approximately 20 students per classroom.