Filenews 23 May 2025
Despite warnings of a "population collapse" in Europe due to the low birth rate, the picture is much more optimistic. This can be seen in a new Eurostat report in relation to demographics. Among other things, it is noted that from 2023 to 2024, the population in Europe increased by 0.4% or by 1.6 million people to its 449.2 million population.
Cyprus is among the four countries that recorded the highest percentage increase in population.
The EU's population increased by 16.4 million people over 20 years – source Eurostat
Population growth, thanks to immigrants
The population growth is mainly attributed to increased migration flows, since the pandemic, and the entry of displaced refugees from Ukraine, as a consequence of the ongoing war.
What makes the most impression in Eurostat's demographic survey is the large discrepancies and the opposite trends from country to country.
Which countries grew and which ones shrank
Of the 27 EU countries, between 2004-2024, 19 recorded an increase in their population and eight decreased. Cyprus is among the countries that have developed populations.
The countries with the largest relative population decline over a decade were Latvia (−18%), Bulgaria (−17%), Lithuania (−15%) and Romania (−11%).
In absolute terms, the largest population losses were observed in Romania (−2.5 million), Poland (−1.6 million) and Bulgaria (−1.3 million).
Greece is somewhere in the middle, both in relative and absolute sizes. Its population has declined by just under 5%, by almost 540,000 people.
On the other hand, some of the smaller EU countries have increased their populations significantly. The largest relative increases were recorded in Luxembourg (48%), followed by Malta (41%), Ireland (33%) and Cyprus (29%).
In absolute terms, the largest population increases were recorded in France and Spain, which both grew by 6.1 million inhabitants.
Population density – persons / km2 – Source: Eurostat
Densely populated and sparsely populated countries
The highest population density is observed in Malta, with 1,766 persons per km². It is followed by the Netherlands and Belgium, with 526 and 387 people respectively, per km².
The general trend that prevails is the population density, albeit at a low rate. The population density in the EU increased from 105 persons per km² in 2003 to 109 in 2023.
During this period, there was an increase in density in 19 EU countries, with the largest increases in Malta (from 1,263 to 1,766 persons per km²) and Luxembourg (from 175 to 258). Romania (95 out of 81) and Bulgaria (70 out of 59) showed the largest decreases.
Greece is one of the relatively sparsely populated countries, with 80 people per km², up from 83 in 2003. But the most worrying thing in our country is the unequal distribution of the population and the desolation of the countryside.
Countries of the elderly
In the period 2004-20024, the proportion of people aged 80 and over increased in all EU countries. At EU level, it increased by 2.3%, from 3.8% to 6.1%.
Greece holds the lead in the rate of growth in the percentage of elderly people in the total population – by 3.2% percentage points. 20 years ago, the over-80s were 3.8% of the population and now it is 7%.
In the period 2004-20024, the proportion of people aged 80 and over increased in all EU countries. At EU level, it increased by 2.3%, from 3.8% to 6.1%.
Greece holds the lead in the rate of growth in the percentage of elderly people in the total population – by 3.2% percentage points. 20 years ago, the over-80s were 3.8% of the population and now it is 7%.
The number of people aged 80 is increasing rapidly in Latvia (from 2.9% of the population to 6.1%) and in Portugal, from 3.8% to 7%.
The lowest increases were recorded in Sweden (+0.5 percentage points, from 5.3% to 5.8%).
Over the same period, the proportion of people aged 65 and over also increased in all EU countries. At EU level, the increase amounted to 5.2 percentage points., from 16.4% to 21.6%.
The under-15 population is steadily decreasing in the EU – source: Eurostat
Fewer children
In twenty years, the proportion of people under the age of 15 in the EU fell by 1.6 percentage points, from 16.2% to 14.6%.
Decreases were observed in almost all EU countries, with the largest decreases in Malta (−5.9 percentage points) and Cyprus (−5.1 percentage points).
An increase was recorded only in the Czech Republic (+0.6 points), Estonia and Latvia (both +0.2 points), Slovenia and Bulgaria (both +0.1 points).
On 1 January 2024, the proportion of children and adolescents was highest in Ireland (18.9%) and lowest in Italy (12.2%).
In Greece, children up to 15 make up 13.6% of the population, compared to 15.3% 20 years ago.
Which is the oldest country
Changes in demographics and population ageing are also reflected in the increase in the average age of the population.
Across the EU, the average age increased by 5.4 years, from 39.3 years in 2004 to 44.7 years in 2024.
Greece is the third "oldest" country in the EU, with an average age of 46.9 years. Bulgaria and Poland are tied in second place (47.1 years). The oldest country is Italy with 48.7 years.
In contrast, the most "young" countries are Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta and Cyprus, with the average age of the population ranging from 39.4 to 40.6 years.
