When deaths are nearly twice the number of births, when young people seek their fortune abroad, when even immigrants are leaving, something is very wrong in a country.
And when we consider that in the past few years Greece has moved on from the crisis, enjoying political stability and economic growth, we wonder what will happen if things take a turn for the worse again. The figures are harsh: In 2025, there were 65,400 births in Greece and 120,800 deaths. Also, in a year, the number of foreigners living in Greece dropped by 140,500, or 51.4%, whereas working immigrants were reduced by 74,400, dropping to just 97,500, according to the Center for Planning and Economic Research (KEPE).
As there is a need for workers in all spheres of the economy, this raises the question: What is going so wrong in these “good times” that so many Greeks and foreigners cannot give the country a vote of confidence, that they cannot invest their time and hopes here? Clearly, wages and work conditions are not satisfactory, while housing is inordinately expensive for working people. Also, the education system does not train enough people in the skills demanded by sectors beyond hospitality and agriculture.
But there is another significant factor which is not mentioned in these discussions: the quality of life in Greece. This was highlighted by a report in Kathimerini, on the Interior Ministry’s initial evaluation of people’s satisfaction with services.
