Incentives fail to halt Greece’s demographic decline
Greece’s demographic crisis remains at the forefront of political debate as the government prepares to announce new family support measures at the Thessaloniki International Fair.
The initiatives, designed to encourage childbirth, expand on existing subsidies: a birth grant of €2,400 for the first child, rising to €3,500 for a fourth, alongside monthly allowances of up to €140 per child, depending on household income.
However, the high cost of childbirth continues to weaken the impact of these incentives. Cesarean sections, which make up between 50% and 65% of births in Greece—well above the European average of 25.7%—can cost as much as €6,200 in private clinics. The price of in vitro fertilization adds further pressure, reaching about €7,200 per cycle.
Experts argue that social and medical challenges, rather than purely financial concerns, are key barriers to larger families. “Cesarean is surgery; a woman often waits two years to try again,” a midwife explained. Evangelia Dimopoulou, head of the Evdokia Association, stressed the need for stronger maternity care. “It’s not about subsidies,” she said. “Motherhood must regain its meaning.”
