Greece’s Serious Demographic Problem Highlighted by ELSTAT

Greece’s demographic problem was brought to light once again with the country becoming an aging nation as emigration levels doubled compared to the 2010 pre-crisis period, according to the country’s statistical authority (ELSTAT).

ELSTAT calculates the country’s population for 2024 based on the annual figures for Natural Population Movement in 2023 (births – deaths) and migration flow estimates (incoming – outgoing migration).

Greece’s demographic problem, a well-known perisnst issue, would be even more severe without immigrant influx, as brain drain continues, albeit at a reduced pace.

According to these statistics, the permanent population of Greece on January 1, 2024, is estimated at 10,400,720 people (5,096,893 men and 5,303,827 women), a decrease of 0.1% from the 10,413,982 people on January 1, 2023.

This decline is the result of a natural decrease in population by 55,920 individuals (71,249 births compared to 127,169 deaths among residents within Greek territory) and a net migration of 42,658 people (positive balance).

In other words, the factor countering the population decline is the increase in inbound migration, which nearly doubled in 2023 compared to 2021.

Specifically, the rise in incoming migration flows between 2016 and 2019 coincided with the peak of the refugee crisis, following the Syrian civil war and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. During this period, the recorded inflow of migrants and refugees or asylum seekers staying in the country for over a year reached a cumulative total of approximately half a million people.

A gradual decrease followed, with only 57,000 migrants and asylum-seeking refugees arriving in Greece in 2020—the lowest number recorded since 1991.

In contrast, by 2023, the numbers have returned to levels seen during the refugee crisis, with 118,816 arrivals, including those seeking international or temporary protection.

Regarding external migration, which includes the phenomenon of brain drain, the number of people leaving Greece in 2023 reached 76,158. This figure represents individuals who leave their usual place of residence for a period of at least twelve months.

Although the number of people packing their belongings and departing Greece has decreased compared to the economic crisis period, it remains consistently high. In 2023, outbound migrants totaled 76,158, compared to 80,307 in 2022. Notably, during the decade from 2010 to 2020, migration “outflows” nearly tripled compared to pre-crisis levels. Specifically, between 2012 and 2018, coinciding with the bailout memorandums, more than 100,000 to 130,000 people left Greece annually.