Kilkis to Pay €1,000 for Every Newborn From 2027
A municipality in northern Greece is now paying families to have children. Kilkis announced on Oct. 20 that it will hand €1,000 to families for every child born from January 1, 2027, with the town council approving the measure unanimously on Oct. 16.
The grant goes to permanent residents of the municipality, covering married couples, couples in civil partnerships, and single-parent families. There is no income cap, the payment is tax-free, and it won't affect eligibility for other social benefits.
In 2025, Greece recorded 65,618 births against 121,841 deaths — leaving deaths exceeding births by over 56,000.
Families who have a child from Jan. 1, 2027 also get two full years without municipal service charges. Those with a household income of up to €35,000 will additionally receive relief from nursery and preschool fees.
The move comes as Greece recorded 65,618 live births in 2025, down 4.2% from the year before, against 121,841 deaths. That left deaths exceeding births by over 56,000, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority. The first half of 2026 showed virtually no improvement, with 31,390 births compared to 31,386 in the same period a year earlier.
The Kilkis grant sits on top of Greece's national birth allowance, which ranges from €2,400 to €3,500 through OPEKA, depending on how many dependent children the family has. Families applying for the Kilkis benefit will need to submit ID, a family-status certificate, the child's birth record, and proof of permanent residency to the municipality's general registry.
Officials described the program as a way to ease the financial pressure on new parents during the first months after a birth and to encourage young couples to start a family.
