Notable decline in female deaths in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
According to seven-month data released by ELSTAT, the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (EMT) recorded the second-largest decline in deaths nationwide, after the Peloponnese. This comes at a time when Greece overall reported a 1.6% increase in deaths. During the pandemic years of 2021 and 2022, the country experienced the sharpest rise in mortality, while most deaths today are concentrated in age groups over 90.
Demographic Challenges
For the past two decades, Greece’s demographic problem has grown into one of its most pressing social issues. The persistent gap between births and deaths has fueled a shrinking population, as confirmed by the 2021 census. The permanent population that year stood at 10,432,481—down 383,805 people, or 3.5%, compared with 2011.
Mortality Trends
ELSTAT data show the highest increases in deaths occurred during the pandemic: 7.3% in 2021 and 6.4% in 2022. In contrast, 2023 saw an 11.9% drop, followed by another 4.9% decline in 2024. In the first seven months of 2025, however, deaths rose again by 1.6%.
Regional Shifts
During the first 27 weeks of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, deaths increased in 10 out of Greece’s 13 regions. The largest absolute increases were recorded in Attica (+413), South Aegean (+200), and Thessaly (+162). The sharpest decreases were in the Peloponnese (-96) and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (-78).
In AMTH, overall deaths fell by 2%, from 3,994 in 2024 to 3,916 in 2025. A closer look shows a 0.7% increase in male deaths (from 1,960 to 1,974) but a notable 4.5% decline in female deaths (from 2,094 to 1,942).
Other Regions
The South Aegean recorded the highest rise in deaths nationwide (+12.6%), followed by the Ionian Islands (+5.6%), Thessaly (+3.5%), and the North Aegean (+3.5%).
National Figures
Across Greece, deaths in the first 27 weeks of 2025 (December 30, 2024 – July 6, 2025) totaled 65,803 (33,186 men and 32,617 women), compared with 64,760 (32,682 men and 32,078 women) in the same period of 2024—an increase of 1,043, or 1.6%. Compared with the 2019–2024 average (69,358), deaths in 2025 were down 5.1%.
Age Breakdown
Most deaths occurred in people over 90 years old, with 1,069 more deaths in this age group compared to 2024. Other increases were seen among those aged 75–79 (+314) and 70–74 (+69). By contrast, the largest declines were recorded in the 85–89 (-165), 50–54 (-91), and 65–69 (-78) age groups.
