EU's population hits record 450 million

On 1 January 2025, the EU population was estimated at 450.4 million inhabitants, just over 1 million more than the previous year, equivalent to just over 0.2% growth.

Last year, the population of EU moved past 450 million, according to Eurostat data just announced. On 1 January 2025, the EU population was estimated at 450.4 million inhabitants, just over 1 million more than the previous year, equivalent to just over 0.2% growth. This was the fourth consecutive year in which the EU population grew, following a decrease in 2021 caused by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most EU member countries do not have natural growth in the population because of low birth rate, so the increase is due to increased migratory movements, according to Eurostat. Since 2012, the negative natural change (more deaths than births) in EU population has been outnumbered by the positive net migration.

EU population, 1960-2025 (1 January 2025, million people). Source dataset: demo_gind

The population of EU countries on 1 January 2025 ranged from 83.6 million in Germany to 0.6 million in Malta. Germany (19% of the EU population), France (15%) and Italy (13%) were the most populous countries in the EU, comprising almost half (47%) of the total EU population on 1 January 2025.

Between 1 January 2024 and 1 January 2025, 8 EU countries recorded a decrease in population. Latvia (crude rate of total population change of -9.9 per 1 000 people), Hungary (-4.7), Poland and Estonia (-3.4) recorded the highest decreases.

Among the 19 EU countries that registered the highest population growth rates, Malta (+19.0 per 1 000 people) led, followed by Ireland (+16.3) and Luxembourg (+14.7).

Kaja Kallas, EU Commissioner, visiting Malaysia on 10 July. © European Union, 2025 Source: EC - Audiovisual Service

When considering a broader time frame, the population of the EU grew from 354.5 million in 1960 to 450.4 million on 1 January 2025, an increase of 95.9 million people. The rate of population growth has gradually slowed down in recent decades: the EU population increased, on average, by about 0.9 million people per year during the period 2005–2024, compared with an average increase of around 3 million people per year during the 1960s.

Figures from the last decade (2014-2024) shows that EU's demographic challenge are the continent’s ageing population and low birth rates that already are a strain on the welfare systems and create labor shortages. Migration is seen by the Commission as a compensating factor, and efforts are directed at establishing good relations to countries in terms of strengthening the workforce.