Greece Among Fastest-Ageing EU Nations, Expert Warns

Greece is one of the fastest-ageing countries in the European Union, with a growing population of elderly citizens, says Byron Kotzamanis, Director of the Institute of Demographic Research and Studies (IDEM).

In an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), Kotzamanis emphasised the country’s lack of recognition for the International Day for Older Persons, despite the serious demographic challenges it faces.

Since the post-war period, Greece's population aged 65 or older has grown dramatically, from 520,000 to 2.4 million—a 4.6-fold increase. Meanwhile, those aged 85 and over have multiplied twentyfold, from 30,000 in 1951 to 600,000 today. Currently, 23% of the Greek population is aged 65 or above, with stark regional differences ranging from 12.6% in Mykonos to 33.9% in Evrytania.

According to Kotzamanis, Greece is on a trajectory towards significant ageing, with more than one in four regions set to experience "super-old age" by 2050. By then, one-third of the population will be over 65, and a quarter of them will be classified as "super-aged."

Kotzamanis highlighted broader social changes since the 1970s, including decreasing marriage rates, rising divorce rates, and more people opting not to have children. As a result, many individuals will face old age with minimal family support. This shift will increasingly place the burden on the welfare state to meet the needs of the elderly, as many will lack the financial means to do so themselves.

(Source: Amna)