Athens the Second Most Densely-Populated Area in Europe

The density of population in central Athens is the second highest in Europe, according to data published recently by the European statistical service, Eurostat.

Two other areas of the Greek capital also feature in the top ten most densely populated areas, including South Athens at number five, and west Athens at number seven on the list.

In Paris, there were on average 21,044 people living per square kilometer (km2) (.038 square miles) of the city, a number which is by far the highest in the entire European Union.

Several of the regions surrounding Paris also made this Top 10 list, including Hauts-de-Seine (9,371 persons per km2), Seine-Saint-Denis (6,979 persons per km2), and Val-de-Marne (5,774 persons per km2).

Central Athens has the second-highest density

The second highest density in the EU was registered in Central Athens (Kentrikos Tomeas Athinon), with 10,436 persons per km2, with South Athens (Notios Tomeas Athinon; 7,498 persons per km2) and Western Athens (Dytikos Tomeas Athinon; 7,114 persons per km2) also making the Top 10.

The rest of the Top 10 list was made up by the Romanian capital city (Bucharest; 7,917 persons per km2) in fourth place, the Belgian capital city of Brussels (7,472 persons per km2) in sixth place, and Spain’s autonomous city of Melilla on the North African coast (6,050 persons per km2) in ninth place.

Athens Demographics

Like most of Greece, Athens has a fairly homogeneous population. The main recognized minority is the Muslim minority. There are also populations of Jews, Armenians, Romani, Pomaks, and Turks in the city.

Athens has a Jewish community with a long history in the region, although 87% of Greek Jews were killed during the Holocaust. The Romani are scattered throughout the country with the largest concentration in Athens, as well as Thessaloniki.

Athens Population Growth

The population history of Athens stretches back a long time. During the Greek Dark Ages, the city had a population of about 4,000, which grew to 10,000 by 700 BC. The area had an estimated population of 200,000 by 500 BC.

In 317 BC, Demetrius of Phalerum conducted a census that placed the population of free people at 21,000 with 400,000 slaves and 10,000 resident aliens. During its classical period, Athens had a population of between 350,000 and 610,000.

Athens today is experiencing some population decline, which is standard across the country, due to an aging population. From 2001 to 2011, the city’s population dropped from 745,000 to 664,000.