Following a decline in population during the years 2020 and 2021 as a result of the far-reaching effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Union experienced a population increase in 2022.
Data provided by the European Office for Statistics, Eurostat, revealed that the population rose from 446.7 million individuals on January 1, 2022, to 448.4 million people on January 1, 2023, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
According to the same source, the observed growth in population can be largely attributed to the increased migration movements post-COVID-19 and the significant influx of displaced individuals from Ukraine, who were granted temporary protection status in EU countries due to the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Further figures from Eurostat show that for a long time, the population of the EU has seen an increase from 354.5 million in 1960 to 448.4 million on January 1 of this year, thus marking a growth of 93.9 million people.
On the other hand, in recent decades, the population growth rate has slowed down gradually. As the Eurostat explains, the EU’s population grew by an average of about 0.8 million people per year during the period from 2005 to 2022, compared to an average increase of about 3.0 million persons per year during the 1960s.
“While the EU population shortly declined in 2020 by around half a million persons and in 2021 by almost 0.3 million persons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has started to regain its growth as the new figures show,” the report reads.
Based on previous Eurostat population forecasts, the EU’s population is expected to decrease by six per cent by 2100, accounting for 27.3 million fewer people.
In addition, in the last three years, the population of the EU has experienced two significant differences, including the decline of the people during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 and dealing with the massive influx of refugees from Ukraine to the EU.
However, the population is estimated to have reached 451 million people by this year, showing the influence of people coming from Ukraine after the Russian army. Eurostat also said the EU’s population would reach 453 million in 2026 before falling to 420 million in 2100.
Older age groups, such as those aged 65-79, will also grow by two per cent – from 15 per cent of the entire population in 2022 to 14 per cent in 2100.
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