EU27 population projected to peak by around 2040 with strongest population growth forecast for Ireland, Luxembourg and Cyprus
Date Published: 16-06-2011
The latest population projections issued by Eurostat for period 2010-2060 show:
- An increase in EU27 population from 501 million on 1 January 2010, to 525 million in 2035, to peak at 526 million around 2040, and then gradually decline to 517 million in 2060.
- Strongest population growth is projected for Ireland (+46%), Luxembourg (+45%), and Cyprus (+41) with the sharpest declines in Bulgaria (-27%), Latvia (-26%), Lithuania (-20%), Romania and Germany (both -19%).
The EU27 population is projected to continue to grow older:
- The share of the population aged 65 years and over is expected to rise from 17% in 2010 to 30% in 2060, and those aged 80 and over rising from 5% to 12% over the same period.
- The share of the population aged 65 years or more is projected to range from 22% in Ireland and 25% in the United Kingdom, Belgium and Denmark to 36% in Latvia, 35% in Romania and Poland and 33% in Bulgaria, Germany and Slovakia.