From 40 Post-War Students to None Today: The Depopulation of Ysternia Primary School in Tinos
A historical photograph highlights the demographic decline in the villages of Tinos, where the community of Ysternia now numbers just 117 permanent residents.
The primary school in Ysternia, Tinos, which numbered nearly 40 students immediately after the Second World War, no longer has any students. This demographic shift came to the forefront following the social media posting of a historic black-and-white photograph of the pupils by Dionysis Messaris, evoking emotional reactions from residents.
According to official 2021 census data from ELSTAT, published by the Municipality of Tinos, the entire community of Ysternia now has a total of 117 residents. Of these, 91 reside permanently in Ysternia and 26 in Ormos Ysternion, meaning that the 40 students of the post-war era would represent nearly half of the village's current population.
The island's population distribution shows a heavy concentration in Chora, where 4,936 people live out of a total of 8,934 residents for the entire island of Tinos. In contrast, other villages show very low numbers, such as Steni with 265 residents, Komi with 203, Kalloni with 192, Falatados with 190, Kardiani with 118, and Kampos with just 64 permanent residents.
Sources
Mykonea synthesis.
