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. 2021 Feb 15;19(1):21.
doi: 10.1186/s12961-020-00666-x.

Demographic forecasting of population aging in Greece and Cyprus: one big challenge for the Mediterranean health and social system long-term sustainability

Demetris Lamnisos  1 , Konstantinos Giannakou  2 , Mihajlo Michael Jakovljevic  3   4   5
Affiliations

Demographic forecasting of population aging in Greece and Cyprus: one big challenge for the Mediterranean health and social system long-term sustainability

Demetris Lamnisos et al. Health Res Policy Syst. .

Abstract

Background: With an increasing aging population and a lower ratio between the active and the dependent population, population aging is considered a global social and health challenge, associated with increased demand in health care needs and social pension. This study projects the Greek and Cypriot population to guide future planning of social and health policies and services.

Methods: The total population by sex and age groups, Total Fertility Rate (TFR), life-expectancies at birth and Potential Support Ratio PSR (persons aged 20-64 years per person 65+ years) are projected probabilistically by the year 2100 using Bayesian hierarchical models and United Nations' population data for Greece and Cyprus from the period of 1950 to 2015.

Results: The TFR is projected to be around 1.5 children per woman in 2050 and around 1.75 in 2100 for both countries, with all values of prediction intervals being around or below the Replacement level fertility. PSR is expected to decrease remarkably and be 2.5 in 2050 and 1.6 in 2100 for Cyprus while for Greece it will be around 1.5 for both years 2050 and 2100. Life-expectancy is expected to increase to 84 years for men and 87 years for women in 2050 and 90 years for men and 94 years for women in 2100 for both countries. The share of the population aged 65 years and over is projected to increase in both countries and be the one third of the population by 2100.

Conclusions: Greece and Cyprus will acquire the characteristics of an aging population, putting a significance pressure on the social and health systems of both countries. Both countries should reform their social and health policy agenda to confront population aging and its consequence. They should adopt fertility incentives and family policies to increase fertility and migrants' inclusiveness policies to improve the demographic structure and the economic activity. The national health systems should promote prevention strategies at the primary health sector and promote healthy aging while health research policy should aim to promote research in innovative technologies and digital health to create assistive technology for self-care and greater independence of older people.

Keywords: Bayesian hierarchical models; Cyprus; Demographic forecasting; Demographic transition; Greece; Population aging.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Total fertility rate projected for the time period 2020–2100 for Cyprus and Greece. PI prediction interval
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Life expectancy projected for the time period 2020–2100 for Cyprus and Greece. PI prediction interval
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Percentage of population aged over 65 years projected for the time period 2020–2100 for Cyprus and Greece. PI prediction interval
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Potential Support Ratio (population aged 20–64 years∕population aged over 65 years) for the time period 2020–2100 for Cyprus and Greece. PI prediction interval
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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