The case of Greece
A report from Greece, on how depopulation has changed the daily rhythms of life --
Most of the church pews are unoccupied at Sunday mass. Trains that pass through Ormenio used to bring visitors but today haul tanks bound for Ukraine.
A newly extended border fence in the area, part of the conservative governmentβs toughening immigration policy, keeps undocumented migrants out.
βWe used to gather at weddings, at baptisms. Now we meet at funerals,β said 61-year-old Chrysoula Ioannidou. βThere are very few births.β
There are several similar stories about the Greek crisis. Most trace the origins to the financial crisis of 2008-9 and the austerity policies that followed, leading to a collapse in birthrates and emigration.
The effects of this have been felt nationwide, but especially from the major population centers (which, in Greece, would mean various Greek islands).
Here is another, similar article from the US outlet CNBC.