As of 1 January 2025, the EU population is estimated at 450.4 million, 1 070 702 more than the previous year. This is the fourth consecutive year in which the EU population has increased, after a decline in 2021 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The observed population growth can largely be explained by increased migration flows following COVID-19.
Since 2012, the negative natural increase (the number of deaths exceeding the number of births) in the EU population has exceeded the positive migration balance. This information is based on population data published by Eurostat.
In a broader context,the EU population grew from 354.5 million in 1960 to 450.4 million on 1 January 2025, an increase of 95.9 million.
The rate of population growth has gradually slowed in recent decades: between 2005 and 2024, the EU population increased by an average of around 0.9 million people per year, compared to around 3 million people per year in the 1960s.
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%) are the most populous EU countries, accounting for almost half (47%) of the total EU population as of 1 January 2025.
Eight EU countries recorded a population decline between 1 January 2024 and 1 January 2025. The largest declines were recorded in Latvia (population change rate -9.9 per 1,000 inhabitants), Hungary (-4.7), Poland and Estonia (-3.4).
Among the 19 EU countries that recorded the highest population growth rates, Malta is in the lead (+19.0 per 1,000 inhabitants), followed by Ireland (+16.3) and Luxembourg (+14.7).