Schools close and island life is under threat as Greece reckons with low birth rates
Summary
Many schools in Greece are closing because families are having fewer children. This is creating challenges, especially in small villages like Thanos on the island of Lemnos, where the population is shrinking as young people leave and have fewer kids.Key Facts
- Greece's birthrate is about 1.3 children per woman, which is below the 2.1 needed to keep the population stable.
- Many Greek schools, especially in rural areas and islands, are closing due to fewer students.
- Over 700 schools in Greece are set to close this year, which is about 5% of all schools in the country.
- Lemnos is an island in the northern Aegean Sea with about 16,000 residents.
- The village of Thanos is seeing its population decline, with schools like Vasiliki's facing potential closure.
- Vasiliki's father, Stelios, works as a shepherd in Thanos and prefers to raise his children on the island despite the challenges.
- Smaller family sizes are part of a global trend affecting economies and communities.
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