Population growth (annual %) (World Population) in European Union
European Union: Population growth (annual %) (World Population) was 0.2% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Population growth in European Union, 1961–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
European Union recorded 0.2% for population growth in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 32.6% on the previous year and up 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth in European Union peaked at 0.9% in 1964 and was at its lowest, -0.2%, in 2011.
That places European Union 42nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth (annual %) (World Population) in European Union, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.8% | — |
| 1962 | 0.8% | +1.0% |
| 1963 | 0.9% | +2.6% |
| 1964 | 0.9% | +1.7% |
| 1965 | 0.8% | -5.2% |
| 1966 | 0.8% | -5.5% |
| 1967 | 0.8% | -3.6% |
| 1968 | 0.7% | -6.6% |
| 1969 | 0.7% | -1.8% |
| 1970 | 0.6% | -18.1% |
| 1971 | 0.6% | -2.1% |
| 1972 | 0.7% | +22.4% |
| 1973 | 0.6% | -4.5% |
| 1974 | 0.6% | -6.8% |
| 1975 | 0.6% | -5.2% |
| 1976 | 0.5% | -8.4% |
| 1977 | 0.5% | -7.0% |
| 1978 | 0.5% | -5.0% |
| 1979 | 0.4% | -4.1% |
| 1980 | 0.5% | +3.7% |
| 1981 | 0.4% | -7.6% |
| 1982 | 0.3% | -27.6% |
| 1983 | 0.3% | -14.5% |
| 1984 | 0.2% | -14.8% |
| 1985 | 0.2% | +3.9% |
| 1986 | 0.3% | +16.2% |
| 1987 | 0.3% | +7.3% |
| 1988 | 0.3% | +11.8% |
| 1989 | 0.3% | +6.4% |
| 1990 | 0.3% | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 0.3% | -14.8% |
| 1992 | 0.3% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 0.3% | +11.7% |
| 1994 | 0.2% | -23.2% |
| 1995 | 0.2% | -24.1% |
| 1996 | 0.2% | -13.9% |
| 1997 | 0.2% | -7.7% |
| 1998 | 0.1% | -11.0% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | +23.1% |
| 2000 | 0.1% | -27.4% |
| 2001 | 0.1% | +11.0% |
| 2002 | 0.2% | +77.7% |
| 2003 | 0.4% | +56.1% |
| 2004 | 0.4% | +5.4% |
| 2005 | 0.4% | -5.4% |
| 2006 | 0.3% | -7.9% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | -4.1% |
| 2009 | 0.3% | -24.4% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | -37.5% |
| 2011 | -0.2% | -196.4% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | -197.3% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | -45.8% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | +39.0% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | +75.9% |
| 2016 | 0.2% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -27.2% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | +14.3% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | +15.3% |
| 2020 | -0.0% | -104.6% |
| 2021 | -0.1% | +1528.5% |
| 2022 | 0.2% | -251.7% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | +73.2% |
| 2024 | 0.3% | -21.7% |
| 2025 | 0.2% | -32.6% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth (annual %) (World Population) in European Union changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | -1528.5% | -0.0% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | +251.7% | -0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2012 | +197.3% | -0.2% | 0.1% |
| 2011 | -196.4% | 0.2% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | -104.6% | 0.2% | -0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | -0.2% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.2% | -0.1% | 0.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More climate change data for European Union
- Population, total, annual growth rate 0.1997 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, total 451.13 million (2025)
- Urban population growth 0.4% (2025)
- Urban population 339.13 million (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate 0.3919 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.7517 units per person (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, total, per square kilometre 112.55 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Urban population, per square kilometre 84.3 units per square kilometre (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth in European Union?
- Population growth in European Union was 0.2% in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest population growth recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 0.9% in 1964.
- What is the lowest population growth recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was -0.2% in 2011.
- How does European Union rank for population growth?
- European Union ranks 42nd out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is population growth rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.