Empty Classrooms on Greek Island Highlight Europe's Demographic Challenges

On the remote Greek island of Kalamos, the dwindling number of students has led to the impending closure of its sole school, a microcosm of a broader demographic crisis unfolding across Europe. This year, only two sixth graders will attend classes taught by Chryssa Ntalaka, the island's only teacher. When they move on to middle school on the mainland next year, the school will be mothballed, following the kindergarten which closed three years prior.

Ntalaka expressed that while teachers often wish to avoid remote postings, in Kalamos, there are educators who want to come, but there are no children. This situation is not unique to Kalamos; falling enrollment prompted Greek authorities to close 75 schools and suspend classes at over 400 others this year. The trend is particularly acute in Southern Europe, which has a significant number of the world's oldest nations, according to the World Population Review. Remote communities like mountain villages and small islands are often the first to experience the disappearance of schools and services due to population decline.

"Closing schools leads to young people not staying and to them leaving," said Byron Kotzamanis, co-founder of the Institute of Demographic Research in Athens. "Leaving means fewer and fewer people — fewer and fewer births. It means depopulation and dead settlements that will become nursing homes."

Kalamos' year-round population is just 80, a stark contrast to a decade ago when its local schools and public daycare served 40 children. The seven teenagers from Kalamos who now attend school on the mainland must make a daily ferry crossing, often missing class due to strong winds. Antonis Aivaliotis, a high school senior, articulated the difficult choice many face: "Of course I would like to stay here. I love Kalamos. It is my home. But there’s no development at all."

Other European nations are grappling with similar issues. Croatia has invested significantly in its islands, including new kindergartens and school renovations, and passed an Islands Act to improve island life, though population decline persists. Japan faces even grimmer demographics, with remote islands experiencing a population drop nearly double the national rate over the past decade. This has led to transportation shortages and economic contraction, prompting government subsidies to attract workers to industries like tourism and fishing. Some Japanese islands have successfully recruited students through relocation programs.

In Italy, on the volcanic island of Stromboli, a school reopened last month with a single student after 20 years. While Italian elementary schools typically require at least 15 pupils, exceptions are made for remote islands to prevent accelerated depopulation.

Experts project further demographic shifts. Aris Alexopoulos, head of the OECD’s Crete Center on Population Dynamics, forecasts Greece's population could fall to 8 million by 2050 from 10.5 million, with young people becoming a minority. Across the EU, the number of births has significantly decreased, with the fertility rate dropping to a record low of 1.34 children per woman, well below the replacement level.

In response, the European Union announced a strategy for islands to address shrinking populations and other challenges. The European Commission has invested millions over the past five years to modernize schools on Greek islands, aiming to counter demographic decline. Themis Christophidou, director-general for regional and urban policy at the European Commission, emphasized the importance of choice in mobility, stating, "people should leave by choice, never because of neglect or missing investment. That starts with quality public services, with education at their heart."