The village of Livadia in the prefecture of Heraklion in Crete, is the village holding the highest birth rate in Greece.
The ongoing financial crisis, the austerity measures and the decreased births in big cities haven’t discouraged the residents of Livadia. An average family has at least 3 children and according to the locals, children are the key to happiness.
The village has been holding the birth rate record for centuries and nowadays the multi-child families have become a tradition for the residents of Livadia. Despite a slight reduction in birth rate in the last decades, the locals continue to keep their traditional values of life and traditions which pass from generation to generation, such as hospitality.
However, the fact that the young residents don’t abandon their birthplace and choose to stay permanently in the small mountain village is impressive. According to official figures from the election catalogues, out of a total of 2,000 voters, more than 1,500 are permanent residents and 800 to 1,000 of them are under 40. Most of them have started their families in Livadia and work as livestock farmers.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
