Greece's population in rapid decline

Greece's population has declined by 360,000 in the last seven years and is projected to drop by a further 770,000 people over the next 12 years if birthrates remain at today's levels, according to recent data collected by experts at the National Center of Social Research (EKKE) and a special parliamentary committee on demographics and social affairs.

More ominously, Greece's population could plummet by up to 50 percent in 35-50 years if nothing is done to tackle the low birthrate, the aging population and the brain drain sparked by the migration of young people to foreign lands in search of a viable career.

As a result, Greece's workforce will shrink even further and analysts fear this will have a devastating impact on the economy and the country's already severely burdened social insurance system.

Critics also point to a lack of initiative from successive Greek...