Athens, Greece

A recent report suggests that Greece is facing a significant population decline, possibly becoming the first country to experience "population collapse." This news has sparked discussions on social media, with even billionaire Elon Musk expressing worry.

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The report throws light on alarming trends, citing increased mortality rates among young, healthy individuals due to conditions like heart failure, stroke, blood clots, and cancer. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has described the situation as a "ticking time bomb" and a "national threat."

Reacting to the report, Elon Musk said in a post on X, "Greece is one of dozens of countries experiencing population collapse due to low birth rates."

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Understanding population collapse

Population collapse, also known as depopulation, describes a sudden and irreversible decrease in the number of people living in a society.

"This is one of the most serious problems we face not only in Greece but in the EU as a whole," Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis told news agency Reuters last week, referring to the rapidly declining population in his country. "It is our priority ... whatever it takes."

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Greece's birth rate fell by 30 per cent from 2011 to 2021 to under 84,000 per year, slipping below the death rate, according to the country's national Hellenic Statistical Service, also known as ELSTAT.

According to a report by Al-Jazeera, this decline represents a loss of nearly 2 billion euros a year in state revenue over the long term, considering each Greek pays on average 5,758 euros ($6,125) in taxes and social security contributions.

The data further indicates that Greece's population is projected to decrease by over a million by 2050. Prime Minister Mitsotakis stated that the country effectively recorded just one birth per two deaths in 2022.

In 1932, Greece had over 185,000 births and fewer than 118,000 deaths, according to ELSTAT.

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The OECD also forecasts Greece's population to decrease from 10.4 million last year to just over 10 million in 2030.

(With inputs from agencies)