Greece is “shrinking” – 10.3% decrease in births in 2022, according to ELSTAT

Deaths in 2022 amounted to 140,801

Births in Greece decreased by 10.3% last year to 76,541 (39,558 boys and 36,983 girls) compared to 85,346 (43,998 boys and 41,348 girls) in 2021. Births do not include stillbirths, which in 2022 were 446, down 1.5% from 453 in 2021, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).

Deaths in 2022 amounted to 140,801 (70,802 males and 69,999 females), registering a decrease of 2.2% compared to 143,923 (73,420 males and 70,503 females) in 2021. Infant deaths under the age of one year rose to 239, reducing the infant mortality ratio (deaths of infants under the age of one year per 1,000 live births) from 3.48 in 2021 to 3.12 in 2022.

Also according to natural population movement data from ELSTAT, marriages in 2022 amounted to 43,355 (21,381 religious and 21,974 civil), an increase of 6.4% compared to 2021, when 40,759 (18,487 religious and 22,272 civil) had taken place. Civil partnerships amounted to 13,157, an increase of 13.9% compared to 11,550 in 2021. The 2022 civil partnerships include 394 civil partnerships between men and 113 between women.

There were 14,477 divorces, an increase of 4% compared to 2021 (13,921 divorces). In terms of the type of divorce, eight out of ten divorces issued in the last five years are consensual. In 2022, 11,638 consensual (80.4%) and 1,906 adversarial divorces (13.2%) were issued, while for 933 divorces (6.4%) the type of divorce was not declared. Most divorce decrees concern people aged 40-44 years (men 17.8% and women 20%), followed by people aged 45- 49 years (men 17.6% and women 16.4%). 65.6% of divorces granted in 2022 concern marriages lasting 10 years or more (9,500 divorces).

The ratio of divorces per 100 marriages was 33.4 in 2022, down from 34.2 in 2021, from 41.2 in 2020, from 32.1 in 2019, and from 32.8 in 2018.