Kalamos school closure highlights Greek demographic crisis

The Greek island of Kalamos serves as a microcosm for a broader demographic crisis facing Europe. With a year-round population of only 80 people, the island's last remaining school is facing closure. This year, the primary school has only two students left; once they transition to middle school on the mainland next year, the local institution will be mothballed.

Falling enrollment has forced Greek authorities to close 75 schools and suspend classes at more than 400 others across the country. This trend reflects a wider pattern in Southern Europe, where many nations are among the oldest in the world. Remote communities, such as mountain villages and small islands, are experiencing the effects of depopulation first.

Experts note that the closure of schools creates a self-perpetuating cycle: as services disappear, young people are more likely to leave, leading to fewer births and the eventual transformation of settlements into nursing homes. In Greece, the number of deaths has exceeded births annually since 2011.