Greece Ages Rapidly as Nearly One in Four People Is Now Over 65

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Demographic ageing and the need to redesign health and social care systems take centre stage on the International Day of Older Persons, marked on October 1 under the theme “The Age of Longevity: Re-evaluating Systems for Longer Lives”.

In Greece, 23.7% of the population is aged 65 or over, prompting the Hellenic Gerontology and Geriatrics Society to call for greater investment in prevention, long-term care and geriatric services.

According to the United Nations, around 1.2 billion people aged 60 and over live worldwide today. The number is expected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050, representing around one-fifth of the global population. The shift ranks among the most significant demographic changes of our time.

The global population continues to age as people live longer and families have fewer children. The UN estimates that by the end of the 2070s, the number of people aged 65 and over will exceed the number of children under 18 for the first time. Meanwhile, people aged 80 and over are expected to outnumber infants under one by the middle of the 2030s.

Europe at the forefront of demographic ageing

Europe sits at the forefront of this demographic transition. On January 1, 2025, the European Union had 99 million people aged 65 and over, representing 22% of its total population. People aged 80 and over accounted for another 6%.

The trend appears even more pronounced in some countries. People aged 80 and over account for almost 8% of Italy’s population, while the figure stands at around 7% in Germany, Greece and Portugal.

Greece is getting older

Greece already ranks among the countries experiencing significant demographic ageing.

According to the latest figures from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), Greece had an estimated population of 10,372,335 on January 1, 2025. People aged 65 and over accounted for 23.7% of the population, meaning almost one in four residents belonged to that age group. By comparison, people aged 0-14 accounted for just 12.8%.

The country’s ageing index reached 185.4. According to the Hellenic Gerontology and Geriatrics Society, that means Greece has around 185 people aged 65 and over for every 100 children aged 0-14.

Low birth rates further reinforce the demographic shift. Greece recorded 68,309 births in 2024, compared with 125,873 deaths.

Longevity is changing health systems

Demographic ageing involves more than population statistics. It is changing the needs of society as a whole, the Hellenic Gerontology and Geriatrics Society says.

Health systems must increasingly serve people who live into their 80s, 90s and 100s. This creates greater demand for prevention, primary care, geriatric assessments, rehabilitation, home care, long-term care and services that help people maintain their independence and functionality.

Across the WHO European Region, the population aged 60 and over is expected to grow from 215 million in 2021 to more than 300 million by 2050, while the number of people aged 80 and over is expected to more than double.

“The answer, therefore, cannot simply be more hospitals and more care facilities. We need to redesign systems with an emphasis on prevention, early intervention, integrated care, rehabilitation and maintaining functionality,” the Hellenic Gerontology and Geriatrics Society said.

Older age is not decline

The changing demographic landscape also requires society to rethink how it views ageing, the experts say.

“Growing older does not necessarily mean decline, weakness or social withdrawal.” The World Health Organization emphasises that investment in healthy and active ageing can help older people continue to make meaningful contributions to their families and communities.

“The goal, therefore, is not to create a society that simply ‘cares for’ older people. It is to create a society in which older people can remain visible, useful, active and equal,” the Hellenic Gerontology and Geriatrics Society said.

Marking October 1, the society described demographic ageing as one of the era’s greatest challenges, as well as one of its greatest opportunities.

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