Until 2050, the population of Greece will decrease by 2.5 million people.
A dramatic demographic problem has risen to its full height in our country, the consequences of which are reflected in many important aspects – economic, social, political. According to experts, over the next 27 years, the population of Greece will drop sharply by two and a half million people, and we will become a country of old people. This is data from a study by the Laboratory of Demographic and Social Analysis of the University of Thessaly, conducted by Mr. Viron Kotzamanis, Professor of Demography and Scientific Director of the Hellenic Research and Innovation Foundation (ΕΛΙΔΕΚ) Research Project “Demographic Proposals for Research and Practice in Greece”.
On a global level, the exact opposite is happening, as based on another study by Mr. Kotzamanis with the assistance of Mr. Giorgos Kontoyannis, Ph.D. in Demography at the University of Thessaly and postdoctoral researcher, the world’s population is rapidly growing, raising real fears of overpopulation. The world population, which was only 1 billion in 1800, surpassed 8 billion in November 2022 and will continue to grow, possibly reaching 10 billion by the end of our century, according to the predicted scenario.
What is happening and, according to forecasts, will soon happen in Greece if drastic measures are not taken? According to the latest data ELSTATThe 2021 census, the results of which were only released last December, showed the country’s legal population at 9,716,889, up from 9,904,286 in 2011. That is, the population of the country decreased by 187,397 citizens, or by 1.9%. The research scientists say:
“The demographic aging of the population will not only not be stopped by 2050, but its pace is expected to accelerate. At the same time, the phenomenon of “aging within aging” will accelerate, meaning that older people will live even longer. One might wonder if this is a bad thing. By itself, obviously not, I would like people to live as long as possible. But the problem is that there won’t be enough labor force between the ages of 18 and 65 to cover the old people’s pensions with their contributions.”
Messrs. Kotzamanis and Kontoyannis say, quotes newsbeast.gr:
“Direct intervention in demographic developments can only be achieved through immigration, and in this direction the state is called upon to take measures to strengthen the working population and stop aging.”
The researchers studied six different scenarios for the evolution of the Greek population up to 2050. Based on the results, regardless of the scenario, the decline in the resident population over the next 35 years is expected to be continuous. Only the rate of population decline varies depending on the scenario, as does the distribution of the population by age and sex. The study notes that by 2035 the country’s population will range from 9.5 to 10.4 million people. Recall that in 2015 it was 10.9 million people.
This means that the decrease in the population will be from 450,000 to 1.4 million people in absolute terms compared to 2015 (from 4.1% to 12.4%). Even more ominous predictions are presented for 2050. It is expected that by then the country’s population will be reduced by 8.3-10 million permanent residents. This implies a decrease in the population, compared to 2016, by 800,000-2.5 million permanent residents in absolute terms, or 7.3%-23.4%!
More Stories
“Disappointing” second poorest EU country
Greece ranks last in the EU in terms of investment as a percentage of GDP in 2023
Eurostat: Women in the European Union live 5.5 years longer than men