The European Union (EU) has a combined population of approximately 450 million people, making it one of the largest political and economic blocs in the world by population.
With a global population of about 8.23 billion people, the EU accounts for roughly 5.5% of the world’s population.
Total population of the European Union
The EU is a political and economic union of 27 member states, primarily located in Europe.
- Estimated population: ~450,000,000 (2025 estimate)
- Share of world population: ~5.5%
- Population density: ~109 people per square kilometer
- Growth rate: ~0.4% per annum
Following a temporary decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, the population of the EU increased again in 2024 and 2025.
This growth occurred despite a negative natural population change, as positive net migration more than offset the excess of deaths over births.
Most populous countries in the European Union
A small number of countries account for a large share of the EU’s total population.
Germany is the most populous EU member state and the demographic center of the bloc.
France and Italy follow, each with populations of around 60 million.
Spain and Poland complete the top five most populous EU countries.
Together, these five countries account for just over 65% of the European Union’s total population. Several of these countries also rank among the largest in the EU by land area.
Least populous countries in the European Union
At the opposite end of the scale are several small member states.
Malta is the least populous country in the European Union.
Luxembourg and Estonia also have relatively small populations compared to other EU member states.
European Union population by country
The table below ranks EU member states by total population, from largest to smallest.
Population figures are based on the most consistent international estimates from the World Urbanization Prospects 2025 and may vary slightly between sources.
| EU ranking | Country | Population (Thousands) | World ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 84,075 | 19 |
| 2 | France | 66,651 | 23 |
| 3 | Italy | 59,146 | 25 |
| 4 | Spain | 47,890 | 32 |
| 5 | Poland | 38,141 | 42 |
| 6 | Romania | 18,909 | 69 |
| 7 | Netherlands | 18,347 | 71 |
| 8 | Belgium | 11,759 | 83 |
| 9 | Sweden | 10,657 | 91 |
| 10 | Czechia | 10,609 | 92 |
| 11 | Portugal | 10,412 | 93 |
| 12 | Greece | 9,939 | 95 |
| 13 | Hungary | 9,632 | 97 |
| 14 | Austria | 9,114 | 99 |
| 15 | Bulgaria | 6,715 | 110 |
| 16 | Denmark | 6,003 | 114 |
| 17 | Finland | 5,623 | 119 |
| 18 | Slovakia | 5,475 | 123 |
| 19 | Ireland | 5,308 | 125 |
| 20 | Croatia | 3,848 | 130 |
| 21 | Lithuania | 2,830 | 142 |
| 22 | Slovenia | 2,117 | 149 |
| 23 | Latvia | 1,854 | 151 |
| 24 | Cyprus | 1,371 | 157 |
| 25 | Estonia | 1,344 | 158 |
| 26 | Luxembourg | 680 | 169 |
| 27 | Malta | 545 | 173 |
Note: Only current European Union member states are included in this ranking. All non-EU countries and territories are excluded.
Population growth in the European Union
Population change in the European Union is now driven almost entirely by migration.
Since 2012, the EU has recorded a negative natural population change, meaning deaths consistently outnumber births.
In recent years, overall population growth has only been possible due to positive net migration.
Key factors shaping population trends in the EU include:
- Persistently low fertility rates across most EU member states, resulting in negative natural population change
- Population aging is widespread across the European Union, with median ages rising in nearly all member states.
- Strong positive net migration in most Western and Northern EU countries, which has offset population decline
- Population decline in several Central and Eastern EU countries, where migration has not been sufficient to counter low birth rates
In 2024, the EU recorded approximately 1.3 million more deaths than births, but net migration of about 2.3 million people resulted in a net population increase.
While 19 EU countries recorded population growth in 2024, eight experienced population decline, highlighting the uneven demographic dynamics across the bloc.
The median age in the EU increased by 2.2 years since 2014, and has reached 44.7 years in January 2024. This means that half of the population in the EU were younger than 44.7 years, while the other half was older.
EU population history
Since the 1990s, migration rather than natural population increase has been the primary driver of population change within the European Union.
At the EU level, population change now reflects a clear structural shift. Natural population growth was positive until 2011, but has remained negative since 2012 as fertility declined and populations aged.
Population density across the European Union
Population density varies widely across the EU.
Densities exceed 300 people per square kilometer in countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium, while falling below 20 people per square kilometer in parts of Finland and Sweden.
Much of the EU’s population is concentrated in urban and industrial regions, including major metropolitan corridors in Western and Central Europe.
The European Union in global population context
Although the EU represents a relatively small share of the global population, it remains one of the world’s most economically influential regions.
Demographic trends within the EU are increasingly defined by aging populations, migration flows, and long-term fertility decline, rather than natural population growth.
For a broader perspective, see:
Caitriona Maria is an education writer and owner of The Facts Institute. With seven years of teaching experience and a background in educational content, she specialises in creating clear reference resources about countries, geography and global topics.