In the period in question demographic developments were influenced by two major events: firstly immigration, chiefly towards the United States; and secondly the increase of population as a result of territorial expansion after the Balkan Wars and the First World War.

Indeed, whereas the population between 1896 and 1907 increased by 188,146 people, between 1907 and 1920 it increased by 2,384,937 people, corresponding to the inhabitants of Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace. Demographers assess that the average natural population increase in the specific period, that is the increase resulting from the differential between births and deaths and not the massive annexation of peoples to the state, did not exceed 13.2 per cent. In the same period refugees thronged to Greece from various areas, either fleeing war or under the control of enemy forces (Bulgaria, Turkey).

Table 1: Population of Greece 1896-1920

Year of census Population Increase between
census (%)
1896 2.443.806 --
1907 2.631.952 8.1
1920 5.016.889 90.6

Source: D. Tsaousis, I morfologia tis neoellinikis koinonias, Athens, 1971, p. 177.

As concerns the economically active population, the age groups between 15 and 64 years old who actively took part in the production process, in terms of percentage of the total population, a relatively small increase is observed (from 57 per cent in 1900 to 62 per cent in 1928) caused by constant wars, the casualties of which concern productive ages. Among these the largest part ranges between 65 per cent and 70 per cent, and were occasionally occupied in the primary sector (agriculture), then follows the tertiary sector (services, trade, public administration) with participation between 17 per cent up to 20 per cent and the secondary sector (manufacturing and industry) with percentages between 10 per cent and 13 per cent of the active population. In the same period the population of urban centres increased, where most economic activities took place. Fluctuations in distributions per sector of production are shown in the following table:

Table 2: working population of Greece 1879-1920 (Distribution %)

. 1879 1907 1920
Primary sector 69.9 66.3 70,0
Secondary sector 11.8 12.8 13.1
Tertiary sector 18.3 20.9 17

Source: St. Tsotsoros, I singrotisi tou viomihanikou kefalaiou stin Ellada (1898-1939), volume 1 I argosyrti ekviomihanisi, Athens, National Bank Cultural Foundation (MIET), 1993, p. 86.