Byron Kotzamanis, Director of the Institute of Demographic Research and Studies, highlighted the pressing issue of Greece’s aging population in a recent statement marking the International Day of Older Persons, celebrated annually on October 1.
“In Greece, unlike other European countries, this international day often goes unnoticed, even though aging is a significant concern. While the overall population has increased by 39 per cent since the early post-war decade, the number of people aged 65 and over has grown 4.6 times (from 520,000 to 2.4 million), and those aged 85 and over have multiplied 20 times (600,000 today compared to just 30,000 in 1951),” Kotzamanis noted in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA).
According to Kotzamanis, Greece, with 23 per cent of its population aged 65 and over, is one of the most aged countries in the EU and will remain in this group for the next three decades. Significant regional variations exist, with the proportion of people aged 65 and over ranging from 12.6 per cent (minimum, Mykonos) to 33.9 per cent (maximum, Evrytania).
“We are heading toward an explosive combination of ‘aging’ and ‘super-aging’ in more than one in four prefectures in Greece. Before 2050, a third of their population will be aged 65 or older, while a quarter of them will be ‘super-aged’,” Kotzamanis warned.
Adding to the issue, he pointed out that post-1970 generations have seen a decline in marriage rates, a rise in divorces, and an increasing number of people who will not have children. As a result, more individuals over 65 will have limited family support. This places growing pressure on the welfare state, which will be responsible for covering their needs, as it will become financially impossible for individuals to bear the costs themselves.
“The rapid increase in the elderly population highlights the importance of promoting health throughout life. It’s no coincidence that the United Nations has chosen ‘Aging with Dignity: Strengthening Health and Care Systems for Older Persons Globally’ as the central theme for 2024,” he said.
Kotzamanis concluded by emphasising that Greece, like many other aging developed countries, is at a critical turning point. The future of aging in the country remains uncertain, with various scenarios that differ in economic and social impact, as well as their likelihood of realisation.
The worst outcome, in his view, would be the entrapment of Greek society in existing structures and mechanisms. The best option would involve expanding age limits, creating alternative choices between work, leisure, and education throughout life, and utilising the vast potential of the so-called “third” or even “fourth” age groups.
As Professor Ioannis G. Karaitianos, President of the Hellenic Gerontology and Geriatrics Society, also noted, the demographic crisis facing Greece, Europe, and the world is a growing concern. The aging population is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years, with serious implications for humanity.
Greece ranks fourth globally in terms of the shrinkage of its productive population. The country’s active working population is projected to decrease from 4.7 million in 2015 to 3–3.7 million by 2050.
The challenge is clear, according to the professor, and the decisions made today will determine whether the social stigma and marginalisation of older persons will be lifted and whether the social clock can catch up with the biological one.
