Greek population decreases by 3.5% since 2011

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 Jul 2022 19:51

A census conducted in 2011 compared to a census conducted over the past year shows that the Greek resident population has dropped by a total of 3.5%.

Greek population diminished by approximately 3.5% Elstat census shows

In a census published on Tuesday by the national statistical office, Elstat, Greece's resident population has declined by 3.5% since 2011. Data compiled throughout the past year shows the resident population to be 10,432,481 compared to 10,815,197 in the previous consensus conducted in 2011.

Due to Covid-19 and restrictions related to the pandemic, Elstat conducted, for the first time, some of its research online.

The consensus found that 51.4% of residents are women while 48.6% are men. The Attica region, encompassing the capital Athens, is home to over a third of the population totaling 3,792,469 people.

Overall, the drop comes as a result of decreasing birth rates during the 2010-2018 financial crisis. In 2012, births were at 1.5 kids per woman while in 2019, it stood at 1.3, Elstat found. To maintain stable population growth, the rate must be 2.1 kids per woman.

According to higher education officials, during the economic downturn when young adults' unemployment soared, some 450 000 Greeks under the age of 40 left the country in search of jobs abroad.

The wave of emigrants was a factor in the general decline in the resident population.

The current conservative administration implemented a 2,000 Euro baby bonus for each kid in 2020 to encourage families to have children and slow the population's aging.