“We’re not interested in getting married.” This is what more and more couples are saying when they sign a cohabitation agreement with a notary in Athens, Katerina Trichia. “Before, it was mostly androgynous women who were expecting a baby and wanted to simplify procedures,” he recalls, “then they mentioned that next year they would have a joint wedding and baptism.” The pact, however, has now received support. This is also evidenced by ELSTAT data published yesterday: in 2021, 11,550 cohabitation agreements were signed, which is 28.5% more than in 2020, when there were 8,986 agreements. “Economy certainly plays a role, as the cost of the pact ranges from 100 to 150 euros.”

Thus, the covenant directly competes with civil marriage, which requires payment for its implementation. “When we explain to them that all interested parties must show their ID cards and the AMCA, their enthusiasm rises,” she adds. “There used to be a mistrust about whether a treaty secures the parties,” he notes, “but that mistrust has largely been eliminated.” After all, the text of the pact clearly clarifies the issues that separate couples while they are together and especially when they decide to disperse, such as finances, inheritance and the surname of the offspring.

Of the 11,550,314 2021 agreements were for same-sex couples. “Same-sex couples are more emotional,” says Ms. Tricia. “Heterosexual couples tend to come alone and are more careful about signing.” She remembers with special tenderness the lady who called her many years ago about her son’s contract with his partner. “At first I was hesitant to give information over the phone, but quickly realized that the mother wanted to organize a celebration of the union of the couple.” So, in addition to two partners, a family of one and two bridesmaids arrived. “They even threw rice,” he describes, “it was a very beautiful moment that I will never forget.”

“Tsunami” of weddings

The number of weddings as a whole also increased last year, which was expected as 2020 saw a “tsunami” of cancellations due to emergency coronavirus protection measures. Thus, 40,759 weddings took place, which is 29.5% more than in 2020. However, civil weddings now account for the lion’s share – 22,272 compared to 18,487 religious ones. And in 2020, the “gap” between religious and political marriages was large (11,935 religious and 19,540 political), a phenomenon, of course, associated not only with the economic situation, but also with a change in morals. The “turn” has already begun to manifest itself since 2012.

Death and birth

Deaths consistently precede births in our country. In particular, the number of births in Greece in 2021 was 85,346 (43,998 boys and 41,348 girls), which is 0.7% more than in 2020. The death rate in 2021 was 143,919 (73,418 men and 70,501 women), which is 9.8% more than in 2020. there were 131,064 people (66,201 men and 64,863 women). Under-one-year-old infant deaths reached 297, bringing the infant mortality rate up from 3.24 in 2020 to 3.48 in 2021. Recall that mortality in Greece began to prevail in 2011.