The data released by the UN Population Division concerning global population change between 2022 and 2023 is shocking. According to data processed by Statista, the Greece records the third largest percentage decline in population in the world, with -1.6%.
The 10 countries losing their population the fastest:
1.Ukraine: -8.1% (due to war and refugee wave)
2.Tuvallu: -1.8% (threat from rising sea levels)
3.Greece: -1.6% (low birth rate and aging population)
4. Saint Marinos: -1,1%
5.Kosovo: -1,0%
6. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: -0,7%
7. Belarus: -0,6%
8. Bosnia and Herzegovina: -0,6%
9.Albania: -0,6%
10.Japan: -0,5%
It should be noted that in the case of Ukraine, the loss is a result of war and mass population displacement. Tuvalu is directly threatened by the climate crisis and submersion due to rising sea levels.
Greece, However, it is not facing war or natural disaster. The cause of the demographic collapse is deeply social and economic: low birth rates and emigration.
Why is Greece shrinking?;
From 2011 to 2021, births in Greece fell by almost 30%, according to official data from ELSTAT and Eurostat.
Today:
• The two children are considered luxury.
• A child is considered rule, often with delay.
• The conscious choice not to have children is increasing among an ever-growing percentage of young couples.
The reasons are well known:
• Economic uncertainty.
• Job insecurity.
• High cost of living.
• Lack of support for young families.
No serious plan to tackle the demographic crisis has been implemented in recent decades, despite repeated calls from experts.
The future is worrying: 1,000,000 Greeks will be lost by 2050
According to estimates by international and national bodies:
• Greece, which had a population of approximately 10,400,000 in 2021, is expected to fall below 9,500,000 in 2050.
• The reduction will reach 10% of the population in just 30 years.
This means:
• Lower government revenues.
• Dramatic labor shortages.
• Collapse of insurance funds.
• Contraction of public services.
• Demographic decline in many regions.
In a few decades, Greece is in danger of becoming a country of elderly people with declining economic potential.
According to official data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), during the period 2022–2023, the number of Greeks who emigrated abroad showed a slight decrease.
Greeks continue to emigrate abroad
Greece continues to face a serious demographic problem, as thousands of Greek citizens leave the country every year in search of better opportunities abroad. According to data from ELSTAT and estimates by European organizations (Eurostat, OECD), the picture is as follows:
Greek Migration Statistics
Year Greeks who emigrated
- 2020 ~70.000
- 2021 ~72.500
- 2022 ~80.000
- 2023 ~76.000
- 2024 (estimate) ~74,000
Total departures in the period 2020–2024: approximately 372.500 Greek citizens.
Although the peak of the «great escape» was recorded during the economic crisis (2010–2017), the trend of emigration did not stop even after the pandemic. In 2022 and 2023, there was a renewed increase in migration due to:
• economic insecurity,
• lack of stable and decent employment,
• low wages in relation to the cost of living,
• Limited opportunities for young and specialized scientists to advance their careers.
The main destinations for Greek immigrants:
- Germany,
- United Kingdom,
- Netherlands,
- United States,
- Australia and Cyprus.
«We are slowly but surely disappearing»
Greek society is facing a existential problem. We are not leaving because of war or natural disasters. We are leaving quietly, because demographic self-destruction. It is worth noting that in recent years, more and more Greeks continue to emigrate abroad.
The solution is not easy. It requires:
• Holistic demographic policy.
• Support for young families.
• Shift in housing and employment policies.
• Economic and social incentives for childbearing.
Otherwise, today's numbers will seem small in the face of what is to come.
Sources:
• UN Population Division Report 2024
• Statista – Countries losing population fastest (2024)
• ELSTAT – Births and Deaths in Greece 2023
