Nearly 21,000 students have disappeared from Greece’s school system over the past three academic years, while 100 kindergartens and primary schools have been abolished, underscoring the growing impact of the country’s demographic crisis on education and broader national development.
Data from the latest report, “Greece in Numbers” for April-June 2026, compiled by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) and the Ministry of Education, show a sharp decline in student enrollment across the country.
During the 2023-24 school year, total enrollment in primary and secondary education stood at 1,318,289 students. Based on registrations for the 2026-27 school year, a process that remains underway but is not expected to change significantly, enrollment has fallen to 1,270,331 students.
The figures point to a shortfall of approximately 21,000 students across the two educational levels.
The effects are most visible in primary education, particularly in kindergarten and elementary school. The decline has been reflected in school closures, downgrades and mergers.
