Study: EU population to start declining after 2029
The European Union's population is expected to begin a steady decline after 2029, according to a report by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre. By 2100, the EU could lose over 50 million inhabitants.
According to the latest report from the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, the population of the European Union will continue to grow for a few more years but will start a sustained decline after 2029. Currently, about 452 million people live in the EU. The population is projected to peak at 453.3 million in 2029, after which it will steadily decrease. By 2100, the EU's population is forecast to drop to 398.8 million, a level comparable to that of the 1970s.
The report also predicts that Europe's population will continue to age. Currently, people aged 65 and over account for nearly one-fifth of the EU population; by 2050, their share is expected to rise to about one-third. At the same time, life expectancy is expected to increase: in 2024, average life expectancy was 81.5 years, but by the end of the century it could reach about 90 years for women and 86 years for men.
The researchers note that immigration can partially mitigate the effects of demographic changes, but it cannot fully compensate for the aging population. Commenting on the findings, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica said that the EU will face serious challenges, including a shortage of skilled workers, increased pressure on state budgets, and on healthcare, care, education, and social support systems.
