ATHENS, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Greece has the third-lowest birth rate in Europe (9/1,000) after Germany (8.4/1,000) and Portugal (8.5/1,000), the Hellenic Association of Geriatrics and Gerontology (HAGG) said on Tuesday on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons.
According to a HAGG study, by 2050 teenagers will make up no more than 12 percent of the country's population, the average age will be 50 from 44 today. The number of economically active citizens will stand at 3.7 million.
At the same time, people over 65 will make up a third of the overall population, from 20.7 percent today, the association added, urging authorities to encourage healthy and active aging.
The United Nations designated Oct. 1 the International Day of Older Persons. The theme of this year is "The Journey to Age Equality" and aims to empower older persons, promoting their active participation in social, economic and political life.
