Skopje, 27 May 2026 (MIA) - In 2025, the European Union was home to 451 million people, marking an increase of one million compared to 2024. However, six percent of the EU population was over the age of 80, while the median age rose from 39.6 years in 2005 to 44.9 years in 2025.

According to Eurostat's latest projections, the EU population is expected to decrease by 11.7 percent by 2100, which means 53 million fewer people by the start of the next century. According to the projections, the EU population is expected to grow over the next three years, reaching a peak of 453.3 million in 2029, after which it will begin to gradually decline to 398.8 million in 2100.

In the last 20 years, the percentage of people over 65 in the EU has increased from 17 percent in 2005 to 22 percent in 2025.

Eurostat data for North Macedonia shows that over the last three years, the population decreased by 14.500 people, from 1.837.114 in 2022, to 1.829.954 in 2023, 1.826.247 in 2024, and 1.822.612 in 2025.

Two-thirds of the EU population lives in five countries – Germany (84 million), France (69 million), Italy (59 million), Spain (49 million), and Poland (36 million).

The smallest populations are found in Malta with 574.000 people or 0.1 percent of the total EU population, Luxembourg with 682.000, and Cyprus with 983.000 inhabitants.

Over the last 20 years, the total population of the EU increased by 4 percent, from 435 million in 2005 to 451 million in 2025. In total, 19 countries recorded a population increase, while 8 recorded a decline. In relative terms, the largest population increase was in Luxembourg (48 percent), followed by Malta (43 percent) and Ireland (32 percent), while the largest relative population declines were seen in Latvia (-17 percent), Bulgaria (-16 percent), Lithuania (-14 percent), Romania (-11 percent), and Croatia (-10 percent).

In absolute numbers, France and Spain recorded the highest population growth, both with six million each, while the largest declines in absolute numbers were recorded in Romania and Poland, both with -2 million each, and Bulgaria with a decline of 1 million inhabitants.

Between 2025 and 2100, the share of children, young people, and working-age individuals in the total EU population is expected to decrease. It is projected that the share of children and young people (aged 0-19) will drop from 20 percent to 17 percent, while the share of working-age individuals (aged 20-64) will decrease from 58 percent to 50 percent by 2100. At the same time, the share of older age groups (65 and over) is projected to increase. The share of individuals aged 65-79 is expected to rise from 16 percent in 2025 to 17 percent in 2100, while the share of people aged 80 and over is expected to grow by 10 percentage points, from 6 percent to 16 percent.

MIA file photo