EU population hits record 450.4 million on another migration boost
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Germany, France and Italy remain the EU's most populous countries.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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BRUSSELS – Migration into the European Union pushed its population to a record 450.4 million people in 2024, offsetting a natural population decline for the fourth straight year, EU data released on July 11 showed.
Since 2012, the EU has recorded more deaths than births annually, making migration the sole driver of population growth.
The trend highlights Europe’s demographic challenge as an ageing population and low fertility rates strain welfare systems and create labour shortages.
The bloc added 1.07 million inhabitants in 2024, with a positive net migration of 2.3 million people compensating for a natural population decline of 1.3 million as deaths (4.82 million) continued to outweigh births (3.56 million).
Germany, France and Italy remain the bloc’s most populous countries, accounting for almost half of the total EU population with 47 per cent.
While 19 EU countries recorded population increases in 2024, eight saw declines.
Malta recorded the highest growth rate at 19 per 1,000 people, followed by Ireland (16.3) and Luxembourg (14.7).
Among countries with declining populations, Latvia was the steepest (minus 9.9), followed by Hungary (minus 4.7), Poland and Estonia (both minus 3.4).
The bloc’s population has grown from 354.5 million in 1960, though growth rates have slowed significantly from three million annually in the 1960s to 0.9 million during the 2005-2024 period.
“The observed population growth can be largely attributed to the increased migratory movements post-Covid-19,” EU statistics arm Eurostat said.
The population in the 27 member states declined during the Covid-19 pandemic
Some European governments have also tightened border controls amid public concerns over migration even as irregular border crossings dropped 38 per cent in 2024 to their lowest level since 2021.
Belgium, Poland, Germany and the Netherlands have all introduced temporary border checks
The EU also rolled out a revamped migration system in 2024 aimed at reducing irregular arrivals and speeding up asylum procedures. REUTERS
