Greece's Population Crisis: A Race Against Time

0:00Greece faces a severe population crisis, with rural villages turning into ghost towns. Places like Lasta in the Peloponnese now have just three residents down from 300. The country's population of around 10 million could shrink by 20% to 8 million by 2050, making it Europe's oldest nation. According to the OECD, low birth rates at 1.3 children per woman, far below the replacement level of 2.1, are a major factor. More deaths than births have occurred in recent years. The 2009 debt crisis worsened it, driving half a million young people abroad as unemployment soared to nearly 60% for youth. This hits hard in rural areas, where over 700 schools close last year, due to two few students. Families struggle with costs, leading many to delay kids or leave. Urban areas like Athens are overcrowded, while regions empty out, straining pensions, healthcare, and the job market. The government plans to spend billions over the next decade, on cash payments starting

1:00at 2,400 euros for a first child, rising to 3,504, plus tax breaks. Charities offer free maternity care on remote islands, aiding over 700 births. Efforts also target expats with networks and incentives to return home. Regional towns lure families with free housing and 10,000 euro grants for settling in. While cultural shifts make parenting less appealing to youth, these steps aim to stabilize communities and boost births among locals. That's the story for today. Adelaide News Today, Driven by AI.