“Extremely low” birth rates put Greece at risk of demographic threat

A shocking report about Greece’s demographic problem was revealed at the Parliamentary Committee dealing with the issue. Demographers speak of  ‘extremely low’ birth rates, in the sense that there are 1.24 births per couple.

The report predicts that at the end of the next 20 years (2035) the population of Greece will range from 10.4 to 9.5 million (compared with 10.9 million in 2015), which means a reduction of up to 1.4 million in absolute values ​​(12.4%).

This trend is expected to take explosive proportions in 2050, where the population of Greece is expected to range from 10 to 8.3 million, a decrease that in absolute terms reaches 2.4 million. In other words, the country’s population is threatened to shrink by almost a quarter (23.4%) in just 35 years.

In addition, the demographic problem will be aggravated by the growing of the aging population, which is declining continuously from 2011 onward and will continue to decline.

According to the conclusions of the intergovernmental report, the average age of the population aged 15-64 will continue to rise and demographic aging will not be halted, as the rate of over 65 will increase continuously.

According to experts, the aging of the population will continue to increase and is expected to accelerate by 2050.

Analyzing the causes of the phenomenon, the report highlights the negative effects of the economic crisis, the immigration of Greeks abroad, and the decline of immigrants who live in the country.

In particular, it is noted that the economic crisis is not the main cause of low childbirth, but has reinforced existing trends of previous decades, mainly due to changing patterns and lifestyle.

At the same time, the mass exodus of young people seeking jobs outside Greece during the economic crisis not only reduced the population but also increased the aging. The report states that the so-called brain drain originated “from the generations of people born between 1980 and 1995.” Most of them are not expected to return to Greece in the next three decades, the report adds.

The demographic problem threatens to overturn any planning for health insurance and health benefits.

“The demographic decline started in 1980 with a very low population increase after 2004, before the crisis, which is attributed to a climate of prosperity that existed then but mostly to the large number of migrants’ children that were incorporated,” Alternate Foreign Minister and president of the parliament’s committee for the demographic problem Sia Anagnostopoulou, told state news radio Praktoreio FM on Tuesday.

Political leaders discussing the issue at the Parliament on Tuesday proposed solutions eyeing rather the upcoming elections than the problem itself.

The governing party sees the necessity of a strong social state and coordinated policies to address the problem. Such state policies could guarantee that women can have children without losing their working life. This is possible through equality in work and state protection through kindergartens, days off for fathers and mothers and a stable working life.

Incorporation of migrants’ children would add to solution of the problem, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said among others.

Leader of main opposition party New Democracy, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, reiterated his proposal that every child born in Greece will receive 2,000 euros. He committed himself to pass the relevant legislation as soon as ND comes in power.

Leader of KINAL?PASOK, Fofi Gennimata, presented an even more ambitious plan: 200 euros per month for 3 years for every newborn child. And 1,000 euros bonus for every birth.

PS Upon hearing the promises for the extra bonuses, the couples living on 600-700 euros per month in unstable labor environment left their working places, went home and started to produce children….