The European Union (EU) population is forecast to peak in 2029 and then enter a decline, falling below 400 million by 2100.
According to the latest EU demographic report released on the 14th (local time), the EU population, now 450.6 million, is expected to reach a peak of 443.3 million in 2029 and then decline gradually.
As a result, the EU population in 2100 is estimated at 398.8 million, down 11.7% from now, falling below 400 million. AFP said this would be the first time since the 1970s that the EU population dips under 400 million.
The decline is attributed to a sharp drop in births. The EU's annual number of births fell from 6.8 million in 1964 to 3.5 million in 2024, halving over 60 years.
Aging is also expected to accelerate with advances in medical technology and improvements in living conditions. The share of people 65 and older, now about 1 in 5 EU residents, is projected to rise to 1 in 3 by 2050. By 2100, women's life expectancy is forecast to exceed 90, and men's to surpass 86.
The EU noted that this demographic shift could lead to labor shortages, worsening public finances, and greater strain on health care, care, and education systems. However, it also saw a positive aspect in the expansion of markets for goods and services for older adults, with the so-called "silver economy" emerging as a new growth driver.