Greece is confronting a demographic crisis that threatens employment, the pension system, and the country’s future growth. Birth rates continue to decline, the population is aging, and projections indicate that by 2100, Greece will lose 3.7 million residents, while Europe as a whole will lose approximately 150 million people.
“Population decline and aging form an explosive combination for future development,” says Panagiotis Liargovas, President of the Center for Planning and Economic Research (KEPE), adding, “Many young people who experienced the economic crisis chose to emigrate – the well-known brain drain. Without labor and capital, growth falters.”
Statistical Overview
According to ELSTAT, the permanent population of Greece on January 1, 2024 stands at 10,400,720, a slight decline of 0.1% from the previous year. Natural population decrease amounted to 55,920 people (71,249 births versus 127,169 deaths), while net migration contributed positively with 42,658 individuals.
However, the reduction of approximately 500,000 working-age individuals (20–64 years), combined with an increase in people over 65 (silver economy), opens the door to proposals such as extending working life to 45 years and raising retirement age limits up to 75.
The Only Solution: Migration
The Institute of Demographic Research (IDEM) emphasizes that Greece must achieve a positive migration balance of 700,000 people by 2050 to support youth employment and mitigate the effects of aging. This corresponds to approximately 28,000 new migrants annually over the next 25 years.
Strategic objectives include:
- Return of Greeks who emigrated before 2025.
- Return of foreigners who previously resided in Greece before 2025.
- Reducing departures of Greeks and foreigners until 2049.
- Increasing entries of foreigners from other European countries and less developed countries worldwide.
“Net migration is the largest since 2001 and mitigates the effects of low birth rates and aging,” says Dr. Vasilis Betsis, highlighting that only increased migration can maintain the population and sustain the workforce.
Positions of Minister of Health, Thanos Plevris
Minister of Health, Thanos Plevris, stresses that the demographic challenge is not only about pensions but also about public health and the quality of services in the NHS:
- “The reduction in the workforce and the aging population place pressure on the healthcare system,” Plevris states.
- He emphasizes that the integration of working-age migrants will help support hospitals and fund social insurance.
- He points out that protecting the elderly and ensuring adequate medical care depends directly on having a sufficient workforce.
- “Only with effective migration integration policies and population-linked health programs can we ensure sustainability,” he adds.
Economy, Pensions, and Policy
Population aging generates excessive public spending on pensions and healthcare while sharply reducing the number of active workers. As Liargovas notes, “If the workforce decreases, so does growth.”
Increasing migration flows is essential to:
- Sustain Greece’s economic growth rate.
- Maintain pension system balance.
- Preserve a productive-age population.
International Context
It is no coincidence that Christine Lagarde suggested at the annual Federal Reserve Symposium that the EU’s foreign employment ceiling (10%) should be raised to maintain national population characteristics.
Studies by S. Rompoli and V. Betsis show that migrants from third countries, when integrated into European societies, adopt European demographic patterns, having on average two children instead of six or seven.
Greece is at a critical juncture. The demographic challenge cannot be solved with political statements alone but requires practical measures: increasing migration, returning emigrants, and integrating newcomers.
Minister Plevris’ approach demonstrates the path forward: a secure, sustainable healthcare system, a stable economy, and a strong workforce.
Only through these measures can Greece maintain its labor force, support economic growth, and ensure the sustainability of its pension and public health systems.
Source: pagenews.gr