Demographics: Half of the population is over 46 years old – What the government’s action plan predicts

With a decade-long horizon, up to 2035, the goal of the National Demographic Action Plan, presented by the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Sofia Zaharaki, to the Cabinet, is to develop strategies, set goals, shape policies, and implement appropriate measures to mitigate the consequences of adverse demographic developments on fiscal sustainability, long-term competitiveness, prosperity, and social cohesion.

The action plan goes beyond merely recovering birth rates; it aims for the overall management of the impacts of changes in the population’s age structure.

According to recent data, the outlook for births in Greece is bleak.

The 2021 census data recorded a 3.5% population decrease compared to 2011 and nearly 5% compared to 2001. Since 2011, the natural balance has been negative, with deaths outnumbering births. In 2022, births fell below 80,000 for the first time, compared to 150,000 in 1980.

• Half of Greece’s population is now over 46 years old, compared to 39 in 2000.
• More than 1 in 5 residents are over 65, up from 16% in 2000.
• The proportion of those over 80 is 6% (double that of 2000).

To combat the declining birth rate, the action plan focuses on:

• Creating a favorable environment for starting a family,
• Boosting employment,
• Managing longevity and citizens’ well-being,
• Promoting local development,
• Educating the public, and
• Raising awareness and mobilizing society.

Minister Zaharaki stated: “I officially presented to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet the result of the long effort of the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family to create a 10-year plan aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of the demographic crisis the country has faced since the early 1980s.

The statistics and predictive models for demographic trends are grim. But we must all work together to overcome this.

We aim to create a family- and child-friendly environment that respects citizens’ wishes, provides choices, and supports their needs.

Our ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life through the planning, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of actions that affect all citizens throughout their life cycle. The plan, with its 5 pillars, 20 goals, and over 200 actions, concerns all citizens and requires the maximum effort from all administrative bodies. It is a national imperative.”