Balkans | Bulgaria’s population decreased by 11% in 10 years

Among the countries of the European Union, the population of Bulgaria is declining the most. In 2021, the population of our country experienced the most severe decline, down by 11% compared to 2011. It is followed by Croatia with a decrease of 10%, Latvia with a decrease of 9% and Lithuania with a decrease of 8%.

According to the latest population estimates published by Eurostat, the population of the European Union will decrease by 6% between January 1, 2022 and January 1, 2100, which equates to 27.3 million fewer people.

After declining in 2020 and 2021 due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the population of the European Union began to recover in 2022.

As a result of the massive influx of refugees from Ukraine into the European Union, the population of the European Union is estimated at 451 million people as of January 1, 2023.

In addition, the population of the European Union is expected to reach 453 million in 2026, before declining to 420 million people in 2100.

It is estimated that the share of children and youth (0-19 years old) in the total population will decrease from 20% by the beginning of 2022 to 18% in 2100. Similarly, the share of people of working age (20-64 years old) is expected to decrease. From 59% in 2022 to 50% in 2100.

On the other hand, the proportion of age groups of the elderly population (65 and over) in the total population of the European Union is expected to increase. The share of people aged 65 to 79 is expected to increase by two percentage points from 15% at the start of 2022 to 17% in 2100, while the share of people aged 80 and over is expected to double from 6% to 15%.

The EU population pyramid for 2022 already shows how life expectancy is associated with lower death rates and lower birth rates: the highest proportion of the population consists of people of working age over 50, while the proportion of young people under 20 be much smaller. .

The population pyramid of 2100 clearly shows a trend towards a shrinking and aging society: declines in the shares of children and youth under 20 and those of working age are only partially offset by increases in the shares of people aged 65 and over. Unlike in 2022, the population pyramid does not begin to shrink after the age of 55, but remains relatively stable until about the age of 85.

At the top of the population pyramid projected for the year 2100, the age group expands from 100 and over. Then, women aged 100 and over are expected to represent 0.3% of the total population in 2100, compared to 0.02% in 2022.

According to preliminary data, as of 2021, the most populous country in the European Union is Germany with a population of 83.2 million, followed by France (67.9 million), Italy (59 million), Spain (47.4 million), and Poland (37 million). .

Among countries with a medium population density, Sweden beats Portugal, with a population of 10.3 million, to 10.5 million. The least populated countries in the European Union are Malta (500,000), Luxembourg (600,000) and Cyprus (900,000).

Among the large regions of the European Union, the most populous are Madrid (6.7 million people), Barcelona (5.7 million) and Rome (4.2 million people). The least populated are the El Hierro region in Spain (11,290 people), the Eurytania region in Greece (17,428 people) and the Lungau region in Austria (20,164 people).

In 2021, the number of residents in 16 EU member states increased compared to 2011. The largest increases were in Luxembourg (+26 percent), Malta (+24 percent) and Sweden (+10 percent).

By region, population growth is steeper in the western and northern parts of the European Union, while the population is decreasing in the southern and eastern parts of the European Union. During the 2011-2021 period, the Romanian region of Lvov (+40 percent), the German region of Wartbourkris (+27 percent), Luxembourg (+26 percent), the Gozo and Comino regions of Malta and French Guiana (25 percent each) and the population of Malta experienced more ( +24 percent).

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