Greece
Based on the most recent published official birth records (and Birthgap harmonisation where noted).
In 2024, Greece's fertility landscape shows only minor shifts with a continuing trend toward delayed motherhood and persistent low fertility levels. The average maternal age rose slightly to 31.7 years, maintaining Greece's position among the countries with the highest maternal ages globally. Meanwhile, the total fertility gap increased marginally, reflecting ongoing challenges in achieving replacement fertility.
- Total maternal rate edged down slightly to 60.0%, continuing a multi-year decline from a 2020–2024 average of 62.6%.
- Children per mother remained stable around 2.04 but have also been gradually declining over five years.
- Lifetime childlessness was steady at 40.0%, yet it has trended upward compared to previous years, indicating more women remain childless.
- The share of mothers having only one child increased by over 2 percentage points, while two-child families slightly decreased, signaling subtle shifts in family size preferences.
In 2024, Greece's fertility measures remain mostly stable with minor declines in births and fertility rates amid a high average maternal age.
- Total maternal rate steady but below 2020s average, ranked 27th globally
- Average maternal age is high, ranking 6th among global peers
- Childlessness rate rising, now ranked 13th worldwide
- Births steadily falling, projected to halve by 2069
- Societal Half-Life sharply decreased, ranking 27th globally
Key fertility indicators — Greece
| Total Maternal Rate (TMR) | 60.0% |
| Childlessness Rate (TCR) | 40.0% |
| Average Maternal Age (AMA) | 31.7 years |
| Birthgap Indicator (TFG) | 40.7% |
| Societal Half-Life (SHL) | 44.7 years |
| TGI (great-grandchildren per 100 parents) | 21 |
| Total births (latest year) | 68,467 |
Motherhood prevalence (TMR)
In 2024, the total maternal rate (TMR) is 60.0%. It is essentially unchanged from 2023 (little change). Over the past five years, TMR has been falling; the 2020–2024 average is 62.6%. Compared with the long-run norm from the 2020s (62.6%), completed fertility today is lower by about 2.6pp.
Globally, Greece ranks 30 out of 42 countries for TMR.
| Year | TMR | Year | TMR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 72.2% |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 64.7% |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 60.4% |
| 2000 | 59.9% | 2024 | 60.0% |
Source: Eurostat.
Children per mother (CPM)
Greece’s children per mother (CPM) stands at 2.04 in 2024. This is essentially unchanged from 2023 (little change). Looking at the last five years, CPM has been falling (five-year average 2.09). Relative to the earliest available baseline in the 2020s (2.09), today’s CPM is close to that long-run level.
Globally, Greece ranks 30 out of 42 countries for CPM.
| Year | CPM | Year | CPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 2.03 |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 2.11 |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 2.06 |
| 2000 | 2.10 | 2024 | 2.04 |
Source: Eurostat.
Average maternal age (AMA)
In 2024, the average maternal age (AMA) at birth is 31.7 years. It is essentially unchanged from the previous year. Across the most recent five-year window, AMA has been rising with an average of 31.6 years. Against the oldest decade baseline on record (2020s, 31.6 years), AMA now stands close to that long-run level.
Globally, Greece has one of the highest average maternal ages (ranked 6/42).
| Year | BIRTH | Year | BIRTH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 29.72 |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 31.34 |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 31.69 |
| 2000 | 28.10 | 2024 | 31.73 |
Source: Eurostat.
Total Fertility Gap (TFG)
Greece’s Total Fertility Gap (TFG) is 40.7% in 2024 (equivalent to a TFR of 1.23). It is up marginally on 2023 (up 0.9pp). Looking at the last five years, the Total Fertility Gap has been rising (average 36.9% across 2020–2024). Against the oldest decade baseline on record (2020s, 36.9%), the TFG stands higher by about 3.8pp.
Globally, Greece ranks 11 out of 42 countries for TFG.
| Year | TFG | Year | TFG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 29.1% |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 34.0% |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 39.8% |
| 2000 | 39.3% | 2024 | 40.7% |
Source: Eurostat.
Future Worker Gap (FWG)
In 2023, Greece’s Future Worker Gap (FWG) is 54.9%. It is higher than in 2022 (up 2.8pp). Looking at the last five years, FWG has been rising (average 50.8% across 2019–2023). Against the oldest decade baseline on record (2020s, 50.8%), the FWG stands higher by about 4.1pp. Globally ranking is not available because the country is outside the current rankable comparison set. <span class="cs-stale-note">(older data)</span>
| Year | FWG | Year | FWG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 24.7% |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 48.5% |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 54.9% |
| 2000 | 18.2% | 2024 | n/a |
Source: Eurostat.
Societal Half-Life (SHL)
In 2024, Greece’s Societal Half-Life (SHL) is 44.7 years. It moved sharply down from 2023 (down 1.3 years). Over the past five years, SHL has been falling; the 2020–2024 average is 51.1 years. Relative to the earliest available baseline in the 2020s (51.1 years), today’s SHL is lower by about 6.4 years.
Globally, Greece ranks 30 out of 42 countries for SHL.
Triple Generation Impact (TGI)
With this Birthgap (TFG) for every 100 people of fertility age in Greece, there would be 21 great-grandchildren, representing a -79.0% drop from the current generation.
Globally, Greece ranks 32 out of 42 countries for TGI.
Birth trajectory
Milestones Years: - Births down 50% in 2069 - Births down 75% in 2113 - Births down 90% in 2172
Based on the 2024 birth pattern, total births would fall by half from 68,467 in 2024 to 34,234 in 2069, and by 90% to 6,847 in 2172 (ignoring migration).
Childlessness rate (TCR)
In 2024, Greece’s lifetime childlessness rate (TCR) stands at 40.0%. It shows virtually no movement compared with 2023 (little change). Across the most recent five-year window (2020–2024), childlessness has been rising with an average of 37.4%. Looking back to the 2020s (37.4%), childlessness is now higher by about 2.6pp.
Globally, Greece ranks 13 out of 42 countries for childlessness.
| Year | TCR | Year | TCR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 27.8% |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 35.3% |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 39.6% |
| 2000 | 40.1% | 2024 | 40.0% |
Source: Eurostat.
Total births
In 2024, Greece recorded 68,467 total births. It is down from 2023 by 2,436 births. Over the past five years, total births have been falling, averaging 76,900 per year. Compared with the 2020s average (76,900), total births are now lower by 8,433 births (11.0% decrease).
| Year | Births | Year | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 114.6k |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 84.5k |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 70.9k |
| 2000 | 103.2k | 2024 | 68.5k |
Source: Eurostat.
Future Worker Gap (FWG)
In 2023, Greece’s Future Worker Gap (FWG) is 54.9%. It is higher than in 2022 (up 2.8pp). Looking at the last five years, FWG has been rising (average 50.8% across 2019–2023). Against the oldest decade baseline on record (2020s, 50.8%), the FWG stands higher by about 4.1pp. Globally ranking is not available because the country is outside the current rankable comparison set.
| Year | FWG | Year | FWG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | n/a | 2010 | 24.7% |
| 1980 | n/a | 2020 | 48.5% |
| 1990 | n/a | 2023 | 54.9% |
| 2000 | 18.2% | 2024 | n/a |
Source: Eurostat.
