Which EU Countries Have the Fastest-Growing Populations: Eurostat's 2026 Ranking

As of early 2026, the European Union had a population of 452 million, and the population had been growing for the fifth consecutive year. At the same time, population growth was recorded in only 16 of the 27 member states. Learn more about the most populous EU countries and those with the highest and lowest population growth rates

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The population of the European Union continues to grow, even though the number of deaths in the region has exceeded the number of births for many years. According to Eurostat data, this demographic growth is driven by positive net migration, which has been offsetting the EU’s natural population decline since 2012.

However, the situation varies significantly from country to country. While Malta, Cyprus, and Luxembourg are experiencing the highest growth rates, the populations of Latvia, Estonia, and Hungary are declining. Let’s take a look at the latest EU statistics, trends over the past decades, and the distribution of the population among member states.

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EU Population in 2026: Key Figures

As of January 1, 2026, the population of the European Union was estimated at 452 million people. Over the course of the year, it increased by 706,000 people. This marks the fifth consecutive year of population growth following the decline recorded in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to official Eurostat data, the EU’s population has grown by 8 million people over the past 10 years, not 10 million as some media outlets have reported. Compared to 2006, there are 16 million more people living in the European Union.

In the long term, the growth is even more pronounced: from 1960 to 2026, the population increased by 97.5 million people, from 354.5 million to 452 million. However, the rate of growth is slowing. In the 1960s, the population grew by an average of 3 million people each year, whereas in the 2010s, it grew by only 600,000 per year.

Population trends in the European Union from 2006 to 2026, in millions. Source: Eurostat.

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Which EU countries have the largest populations?

The population of European Union member states is unevenly distributed. The five most populous countries account for 65.8% of the EU’s total population, or about 297 million people:

1. Germany – 83.5 million people, or 18.5% of the EU’s population

2. France – about 69 million, or 15.3%

3. Italy – about 59 million, or 13%

4. Spain – nearly 50 million, or 11%

5. Poland – over 36 million, or 8%

Thus, nearly one in five EU residents lives in Germany. At the same time, Malta remains the smallest EU country by population, with about 600,000 people living there at the beginning of 2026. The difference between the largest and smallest countries exceeds 80 million residents.

Population of EU countries as of January 1, 2026, in millions. Source: Eurostat.

Where is the population growing the fastest, and where is it declining?

Between January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026, the population increased in 16 of the 27 EU countries. Eurostat compares countries based on the overall rate of population change per 1,000 residents, which allows for a comparison between large and small countries.

The highest growth rates were recorded in:

1. Malta – +24.1 people per 1,000 residents, or approximately +2.41%

2. Cyprus – +13.7 per 1,000, or +1.37%

3. Luxembourg – +13.1 per 1,000, or +1.31%

The population declined most rapidly in:

1. Latvia – −8.3 people per 1,000 residents, or approximately −0.83%

2. Estonia – −6.8 per 1,000, or −0.68%

3. Hungary – −5.4 per 1,000, or −0.54%

These figures reflect the rate of change relative to the population size, not the absolute number of new residents. Therefore, small Malta may top the ranking in terms of growth rate, even though the actual population increase in larger countries may be more significant.

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Why Is the EU’s Population Growing Despite a Low Birth Rate?

Since 2012, more people have died than been born in the European Union each year. This means that natural population change remains negative, and without an influx of people from other countries, the total population of the EU would be declining.

Growth is driven by positive net migration: the number of people moving into EU countries exceeds the number leaving. As a result, net migration offsets the difference between birth and death rates. The exception was 2021, when the EU’s population declined during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The data also show that the demographic situation is increasingly dependent on migration. In the 1960s, the EU’s population grew by an average of 3 million people annually, while in the 2010s, the average annual growth fell to 600,000. This indicates not rapid demographic expansion, but rather slow growth that is distributed very unevenly among countries.

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Reminder! European countries continue to actively attract foreign specialists by offering clear and relatively simple mechanisms for obtaining work visas. In 2026, the most accessible countries for migration will remain those with transparent rules and high chances of application approval. Read about the best countries for labor migration in 2026 at the link.

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