... Experts point to the role of immigration in explaining differences between countries. By 2100, one in three Europeans will be over 65.
The fertility rate is declining and the population is ageing in Europe. The latest projections from Eurostat show that the EU population is expected to fall by 11.7% between 2025 and 2100. The population will decline from 452 million to 399 million, a decrease of 53 million people by the start of the next century. This projection includes possible migration.
The projected population change across Europe varies widely. Some countries will have larger populations in 2100 compared to 2025, while many others will see declines.
So, which countries will face the sharpest population declines? Which countries will grow? What drives these differences across countries? Why do some populations rise while others fall?=Among 30 European countries, 12 are expected to see population growth, while 18 will experience declines by 2100.
Latvia (33.9%), Lithuania (33.4%), Poland (31.6%) and Greece (30.1%) are projected to record the largest declines, all above 30%. This means that more than three in ten people could be lost by 2100.