{"id":2045170,"date":"2026-07-15T07:30:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T04:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2045170"},"modified":"2026-07-15T07:30:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T04:30:25","slug":"where-is-the-eus-population-growing-the-most","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2045170","title":{"rendered":"Where is the EU&#8217;s population growing the most?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/70\/77\/1200x675_cmsv2_ceaa7c42-1706-5c86-a67e-fdd6617da78e-9837077.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2910067-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2910067\" data-cid=\"9839017\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2910067-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/90\/17\/189x106_cmsv2_f930dcb9-5ada-535b-93a1-89ad6b8efffe-9839017.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Annie Woods harvests eightball, a type of zucchini, as the sun sets Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at her farm in Brooksville, Ky.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How scientists forecast heatwaves\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2910055-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2910055\" data-cid=\"9838957\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2910055-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/89\/57\/189x106_cmsv2_235ca17a-f8e1-5cd9-a33e-774ae9bc8d1d-9838957.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"MEPs Markus Ferber (EPP) and Pasquale Tridico (The Left) in The Ring\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    The Ring<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Can common debt fix Europe\u2019s growth problem? MEPs debate in The Ring\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2910054-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2910054\" data-cid=\"9839432\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2910054-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/89\/44\/189x106_cmsv2_3edf9739-1e09-52a9-9eb0-9100e0c4d11d-9838944.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The National Assembly, Paris, France.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    French parliament adopts assisted dying bill\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2910116-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2910116\" data-cid=\"9839360\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2910116-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/93\/60\/189x106_cmsv2_5e4fef70-140b-5e54-afce-225f909cd760-9839360.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\" Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, offers condolences on the passing of the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Qatar<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    More world leaders arrive in Doha to honour Qatar&#8217;s former emir\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2910067-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2910067\" data-cid=\"9839017\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2910067-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/90\/17\/189x106_cmsv2_f930dcb9-5ada-535b-93a1-89ad6b8efffe-9839017.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Annie Woods harvests eightball, a type of zucchini, as the sun sets Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at her farm in Brooksville, Ky.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    How scientists forecast heatwaves\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2910055-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2910055\" data-cid=\"9838957\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2910055-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/89\/57\/189x106_cmsv2_235ca17a-f8e1-5cd9-a33e-774ae9bc8d1d-9838957.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"MEPs Markus Ferber (EPP) and Pasquale Tridico (The Left) in The Ring\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    The Ring<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Can common debt fix Europe\u2019s growth problem? MEPs debate in The Ring\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2910054-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2910054\" data-cid=\"9839432\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2910054-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/89\/44\/189x106_cmsv2_3edf9739-1e09-52a9-9eb0-9100e0c4d11d-9838944.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The National Assembly, Paris, France.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    French parliament adopts assisted dying bill\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2910116-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2910116\" data-cid=\"9839360\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2910116-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/93\/60\/189x106_cmsv2_5e4fef70-140b-5e54-afce-225f909cd760-9839360.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\" Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, offers condolences on the passing of the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Qatar<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    More world leaders arrive in Doha to honour Qatar&#8217;s former emir\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          My Europe Series<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe in Motion<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Where is the EU&#8217;s population growing the most?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/70\/77\/1536x864_cmsv2_ceaa7c42-1706-5c86-a67e-fdd6617da78e-9837077.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Where in the EU is the population growing the most?\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Where in the EU is the population growing the most?<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Euronews<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Euronews\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspJames Thomas\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1784100625\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-07-15 09:30:25 +02:00\">15\/07\/2026 &#8211; 9:30 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-share-comment-popup\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup js-c-article-share-comment-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__header u-display-flex\"><span>Share<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-close.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"Close Button\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer 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height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed_container u-display-none\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed__tooltip\"><br \/>\n                            Copy\/paste the article video embed link below:<br \/>\n                        <\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed u-display-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-copy-to-clipboard.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Copy to clipboard\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-copy\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed--success-copied u-display-none js-c-article-share-comment-video-embed-success-link-copied\"><br \/>\n                                Copied<br \/>\n                            <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Some of the EU&#8217;s smallest countries have the highest rates of population growth, while its biggest members account for more than two-thirds of the bloc&#8217;s population over all.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>The number of Europeans is currently on the rise.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>As of January 2026, the EU&#8217;s population was estimated to have grown by 706,000 inhabitants since last year, reaching a total of 452 million, according to the latest data from Eurostat.<\/p>\n<p>This was the fifth consecutive year of population growth in the EU, following a drop in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>The bloc&#8217;s population is also 8 million higher than in 2016. This figure doubles if we zoom out to see how it\u2019s changed over the past two decades.<\/p>\n<p>When looking at an even longer period, the combined population of today&#8217;s EU member countries grew from 354.5 million people in 1960 to 452 million at the beginning of this year.<\/p>\n<p>Population growth is slowing, though: on average, the population increased by 3 million people per year in the 1960s, but this has fallen to 600,000 people per year in the 2010s.<\/p>\n<p>Eurostat said that, since 2012, the negative natural change in the EU population (more deaths than births) has been compensated by positive net migration. <\/p>\n<p>The population of specific EU countries ranged from 83.5 million in Germany to 600,000 in Malta.<\/p>\n<p>The five most populous countries made up two-thirds of the bloc&#8217;s population: Germany (18.5%), France (15.3%), Italy (13%), Spain (11%) and Poland (8%).<\/p>\n<p>Germany recorded a population of 83.5 million at the beginning of the year, followed by France with 69.1 million, Italy with 58.9 million, Spain with 49.6 million and Poland with 36.3 million.<\/p>\n<p>Those with the smallest populations were Malta (588,000), Luxembourg (691,000) and Cyprus (997,000).<\/p>\n<p>However, these small nations saw the highest population growth rate over the past year: Malta increased by 24 per one thousand people, Cyprus by 14 and Luxembourg by 13. They were among the 16 EU countries where the population increased.<\/p>\n<p>On the flip side, Latvia (-8), Estonia (-7), and Hungary (-5) saw the sharpest rates of population decline.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the overall growth of the EU&#8217;s population this past year, previous Eurostat statistics estimate that the number of citizens in the bloc will shrink by the year 2100.<\/p>\n<p>The office predicts that the EU&#8217;s population will decline by 11.7%, or 53 million people, by the turn of the century, with the main cause being falling birth rates.<\/p>\n<p>Some countries have already taken action to try and reverse the trend: French President Emmanuel Macron has called for &#8220;demographic rearmament&#8221; after France recorded more deaths than births for the first time since the end of World War II in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>The government has since introduced extra parental leave to try to boost birth rates, allowing parents to share one or two months&#8217; leave more on top of existing entitlements.<\/p>\n<p>Experts worry that a failure to reverse the trend will eventually lead to fewer workers and more retirees across Europe, putting severe pressure on pension and healthcare systems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Shark fin trade declines in EU as Brussels mulls total ban<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Where in Europe are scaleup companies performing best?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Europe\u2019s fertility rates keep falling: Which countries have the highest rates and biggest drops? <\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  European Union<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Europe<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  population<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2910054-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2910054\" data-cid=\"9839432\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2910054-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/89\/44\/320x180_cmsv2_3edf9739-1e09-52a9-9eb0-9100e0c4d11d-9838944.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The National Assembly, Paris, France.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    French parliament adopts assisted dying bill<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2910061-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2910061\" data-cid=\"9839035\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2910061-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/90\/35\/320x180_cmsv2_2cfb5674-21e0-5455-a6ff-02ae1b65c299-9839035.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE - Ex-Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto holds a press conference following a cabinet meeting in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Hungarian ex-foreign minister Szijj\u00e1rt\u00f3 takes job with China&#8217;s BYD<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2910103-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2910103\" data-cid=\"9839227\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2910103-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/92\/27\/320x180_cmsv2_b3cdb724-b4c7-5168-a195-bf4e5e8f936a-9839227.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Lithuania&apos;s President Gitanas Nauseda speaks as he arrives for the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, 8 July 2026. 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(Amirhosein Khorgooi\/ISNA v\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US resumes daylight strikes on Iran as tensions escalate over Hormuz<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2909972-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2909972\" data-cid=\"9838472\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2909972-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/84\/72\/320x180_cmsv2_7cd58fb5-2f8e-5dd0-9417-9ae8b6f0d562-9838472.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Von der Leyen and Zelenskyy sign EU-Ukraine drone deal<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2909899-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2909899\" data-cid=\"9838136\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran attacks US bases as Trump threatens power plant hits<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2908613-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2908613\" data-cid=\"9832152\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Where are property taxes highest and lowest in Europe?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2909694-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2909694\" data-cid=\"9837077\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Where is the EU&#8217;s population growing the most?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2909792-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2909792\" data-cid=\"9837579\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe&#8217;s corporate debt ranking: Which countries borrow the most?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2909764-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2909764\" data-cid=\"9837417\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Erling Haaland goes viral (again) for his unique US souvenir<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">The number of Europeans is currently on the rise.As of January 2026, the EU&#8217;s population was estimated to have grown by 706,000 inhabitants since last year, reaching a total of 452 million, according to the latest data from Eurostat.This was the fifth consecutive year of population growth in the EU, following a drop in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.The bloc&#8217;s population is also 8 million higher than in 2016. This figure doubles if we zoom out to see how it\u2019s changed over the past two decades.When looking at an even longer period, the combined population of today&#8217;s EU member countries grew from 354.5 million people in 1960 to 452 million at the beginning of this year.Population growth is slowing, though: on average, the population increased by 3 million people per year in the 1960s, but this has fallen to 600,000 people per year in the 2010s.Eurostat said that, since 2012, the negative natural change in the EU population (more deaths than births) has been compensated by positive net migration.\u00a0The population of specific EU countries ranged from 83.5 million in Germany to 600,000 in Malta.The five most populous countries made up two-thirds of the bloc&#8217;s population: Germany (18.5%), France (15.3%), Italy (13%), Spain (11%) and Poland (8%).Germany recorded a population of 83.5 million at the beginning of the year, followed by France with 69.1 million, Italy with 58.9 million, Spain with 49.6 million and Poland with 36.3 million.Those with the smallest populations were Malta (588,000), Luxembourg (691,000) and Cyprus (997,000).However, these small nations saw the highest population growth rate over the past year: Malta increased by 24 per one thousand people, Cyprus by 14 and Luxembourg by 13. They were among the 16 EU countries where the population increased.On the flip side, Latvia (-8), Estonia (-7), and Hungary (-5) saw the sharpest rates of population decline.Despite the overall growth of the EU&#8217;s population this past year, previous Eurostat statistics estimate that the number of citizens in the bloc will shrink by the year 2100.The office predicts that the EU&#8217;s population will decline by 11.7%, or 53 million people, by the turn of the century, with the main cause being falling birth rates.Some countries have already taken action to try and reverse the trend: French President Emmanuel Macron has called for &#8220;demographic rearmament&#8221; after France recorded more deaths than births for the first time since the end of World War II in 2025.The government has since introduced extra parental leave to try to boost birth rates, allowing parents to share one or two months&#8217; leave more on top of existing entitlements.Experts worry that a failure to reverse the trend will eventually lead to fewer workers and more retirees across Europe, putting severe pressure on pension and healthcare systems.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/07\/15\/where-is-the-eus-population-growing-the-most&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/83\/70\/77\/1200x675_cmsv2_ceaa7c42-1706-5c86-a67e-fdd6617da78e-9837077.jpg&#8221;] Europe News How scientists forecast heatwaves The Ring Can common debt fix Europe\u2019s growth problem? MEPs debate in The Ring Europe News French parliament adopts assisted dying bill Qatar More world leaders arrive in Doha to honour Qatar&#8217;s former emir Europe News How scientists forecast heatwaves The Ring Can common debt fix [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2045170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2045170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2045170"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2045170\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2045170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2045170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2045170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}