By 2100, the population will decline in 18 European Union countries, with the sharpest declines expected in Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, according to Eurostat data.
Under Eurostat’s baseline scenario, Latvia’s population will decrease by 33.9%, Lithuania’s by 33.4%, and Poland’s by 31.6% by the end of the century compared to 2025. A significant decline is also expected in Germany, Slovenia, Finland, and the Czech Republic, where the decline will be around 10%.
At the same time, population growth is projected only in nine EU countries by 2100. The population will increase by more than 25% only in Luxembourg and Malta—by 36.4% and 26%, respectively. Growth of 10–20% is expected in Sweden and Ireland.
Despite the overall population decline, Germany, according to Eurostat estimates, will remain the most populous EU country in 2100 with 74.7 million inhabitants. It will be followed by France with 67.2 million and Spain with 49.8 million people.
The statistical office notes that differences between countries will be significant both in terms of when peak population is reached and the scale of subsequent decline or growth.
