BRUSSELS – The population of the European Union has reached a new record high of 450.4 million people as of the start of 2025, according to the latest data released by Eurostat, the EU's statistical office. However, the report highlights a stark demographic dichotomy: the overall growth was driven exclusively by net migration, which masked a negative natural change where the bloc recorded more deaths than births.
The annual demographic report, released on Monday, paints a complex picture of a continent whose population is growing while simultaneously aging. Over the past year, the EU's population increased by nearly 1.1 million people. This increase is solely attributable to net migration, as more people moved to the EU from other countries than left it.
Without the influx of migrants, the EU's population would have shrunk. The data reveals a "negative natural population change," with the number of deaths across the 27-member bloc surpassing the number of live births. This trend, consistent for several years, underscores the long-term demographic challenges facing Europe, including low birth rates and an aging workforce.
"The data confirms that migration is playing a crucial role in maintaining Europe's population and workforce," a senior Eurostat analyst commented on the release. "While the headline number is a record high, the underlying trend of more deaths than births points to significant structural challenges for social security systems and long-term economic vitality."
The report indicates that population trends vary significantly among member states. Countries like Germany, Spain, and France saw notable population increases largely fueled by migration, while several Eastern European nations continued to experience population declines due to a combination of low birth rates and emigration.
The findings provide critical context for ongoing political discussions across the EU regarding migration policy, workforce integration, and social welfare reform. As the bloc continues to age, the reliance on migration to prevent population decline is set to become an even more central and defining feature of Europe's demographic and economic future.
