Greece recorded a slight increase in births during the first quarter of 2026, according to new figures released by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
Between January 1 and March 31, 2026, the country registered 15,946 live births—including 8,184 boys and 7,762 girls—compared with 15,889 live births during the same period in 2025. The increase of 57 births represents a modest 0.4% year-over-year rise.
Meanwhile, 96 stillbirths were recorded during the first quarter of 2026, down 3% from 99 stillbirths in the corresponding period of 2025.
Monthly Trends
ELSTAT’s data show that births increased in January and March, rising by 2.6% and 1.2%, respectively, compared with the same months a year earlier.
However, February recorded a 2.9% decline in births.
Most Births Were to Greek Mothers
The ratio of live births to Greek mothers compared with foreign mothers widened during the first quarter of 2026.
The ratio stood at 9.5 to 1, up from 8.9 to 1 during the same period in 2025, indicating that the vast majority of births were to mothers with Greek citizenship.
Regional Differences
Births increased in seven of Greece’s 13 administrative regions during the first quarter of the year.
The largest increases in absolute numbers were recorded in Thessaly, the Peloponnese, and Central Macedonia, which registered 62, 56, and 31 additional births, respectively.
The largest declines were reported in Central Greece, Attica, and the Ionian Islands, where births fell by 81, 32, and 31, respectively.
