European Union Population Growth
Annual population growth rate SP.POP.GROW
European Union's population growth was 0.49% in 2025, ranked 145th globally. This represents a 64.7% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1961–2025.
Overview
European Union's population growth stood at 0.49% in 2025, a rise of +0.19pp from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach 0.49% by 2025. European Union ranked 145th globally.
The European Union’s population growth rate has slipped to 0.49 % in 2025, placing it 145th in the world and edging just below peers such as Croatia (0.52 %) and Antigua and Barbuda (0.49 %). Over the 65‑year span from 1961, when growth stood at 0.83 %, the Union experienced its highest annual increase of 0.87 % in 1964, a period marked by post‑war baby booms and expansive labor mobility. The subsequent demographic transition, combined with aging cohorts and lower fertility, produced a historic trough of –0.15 % in 2011, the only year the region recorded a negative growth rate. Since then, modest rebounds have kept the rate positive but well below the mid‑1960s peak, reflecting persistent structural constraints such as limited immigration and delayed family formation. Continued policy shifts toward higher fertility incentives or more open migration regimes could alter this modest upward trajectory, while stagnation would likely keep growth near its current low‑single‑digit level.
Data & projection
| Year | Population Growth | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | 0.71% | - | - |
| 2026* trend | 0.60% | - | - |
| 2025* trend | 0.49% | - | - |
| 2025 | 0.49% | +0.19pp | #145 |
| 2024 | 0.30% | −0.08pp | #58 |
| 2023 | 0.38% | +0.16pp | #65 |
| 2022 | 0.22% | +0.36pp | #61 |
| 2021 | -0.14% | −0.14pp | #45 |
| 2020 | -0.01% | −0.14pp | #44 |
| 2019 | 0.13% | −0.10pp | #51 |
| 2018 | 0.23% | +0.08pp | #56 |
| 2017 | 0.14% | −0.05pp | #50 |
| 2016 | 0.20% | +0.00pp | #54 |
| 2015 | 0.20% | +0.08pp | #51 |
| 2014 | 0.11% | +0.03pp | #47 |
| 2013 | 0.08% | −0.07pp | #43 |
| 2012 | 0.15% | +0.30pp | #43 |
| 2011 | -0.15% | −0.31pp | #31 |
Analysis
European Union's population growth was 0.49% in 2025, a rise of +0.19pp from 2024. Based on trends, estimated 0.49% by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
European Union's population growth was 0.49% in 2025. Ranked 145th globally. This represents a 64.7% increase from the previous year.
European Union's population growth peaked at 0.87% in 1964.
The lowest population growth in European Union was -0.15% in 2011.
European Union ranks 145th globally in population growth as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SP.POP.GROW. Data sourced from World Bank.
European Union's population growth is projected to reach 0.49% by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The population growth of European Union in 2025 was 0.49%. This ranks 145th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_european-union_population-growth,
title = {European Union Population Growth},
url = {https://historysaid.com/european-union/population-growth/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}