The EU's population growth in 2025: A closer look at the numbers
The European Union's population continued to grow in 2025, reaching an estimated 452.0 million inhabitants on January 1, 2026, according to Eurostat data. This marks the fifth consecutive year of population growth, following a decline in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The growth is primarily driven by positive net migration, compensating for the negative natural change (more deaths than births) that has been a trend since 2012.
What makes this data particularly fascinating is the significant increase in population over the past decade. On January 1, 2026, the EU population was 8.0 million higher than in 2016 and 16.0 million higher than in 2006. This long-term growth trend is even more remarkable when considering the population in 1960, which was 354.5 million. The rate of population growth has slowed over recent decades, with an average annual increase of 3.0 million people in the 1960s compared to 0.6 million in the 2010s.
The population distribution across EU countries is quite varied. On January 1, 2026, the population ranged from 83.5 million in Germany to 0.6 million in Malta. The five most populous countries—Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Poland—accounted for two-thirds of the EU's population. This highlights the significant demographic weight of these countries within the Union.
Between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026, population growth was observed in 16 EU countries. Malta, Cyprus, and Luxembourg experienced the highest growth rates, with Malta leading the way at a crude rate of total population change of +24.1 per 1,000 people. Conversely, Latvia, Estonia, and Hungary experienced the sharpest declines, with Latvia at -8.3 per 1,000 people. These variations in growth rates underscore the diverse demographic dynamics within the EU.
This analysis coincides with World Population Day, observed on July 11, emphasizing the importance of understanding population trends. The EU's population growth is a multifaceted phenomenon, influenced by migration, natural change, and country-specific demographics. As the Union continues to evolve, these trends will shape its social, economic, and political landscape, making it crucial to monitor and interpret these demographic shifts.
