Athens, Greece - September 21, 2024 - While overall births in Greece have plummeted since 1990, a new report reveals a striking trend: a fivefold surge in births among women aged 40 and older. This demographic now accounts for 8-9% of all births in 2023-24, a significant leap from a mere 1.4% in the early 1990s.
The findings, published in the latest digital bulletin from the Institute of Demographic Research (IDR), highlight a shift in Greek motherhood. Births for women aged 30-39 have also nearly doubled in the same timeframe. This contrasts sharply with a steep decline in births among younger women, especially those under 30.
Byron Kotzamanis, professor at the University of Thessaly and IDR director, attributes this increase to the growing tendency to delay childbirth. He also points to the expanding number of women over 40 within the reproductive age bracket and the increasing availability and success of assisted reproductive technologies.
However, Greece faces a concerning "fertility gap." Women are having 20% fewer children than they desire, a stark contrast to the 5% gap observed in France.
Furthermore, the rate of childlessness is significantly higher in Greece, with nearly 23% of women born between 1970 and 1975 remaining childless, compared to 15% in France.