Migration into the European Union pushed the continent’s population to a record 450.4 million last year, offsetting natural population decline for the fourth year in a row, EU figures released on Friday showed.

Since 2012, there have been more deaths than births in the EU every year, making migration the only driver of population growth. The trend illustrates Europe’s demographic challenges, as ageing populations and low fertility rates are straining welfare systems and leading to labour shortages..

In 2024, the EU population will have increased by 1.07 million, with positive net migration of 2.3 million people offsetting a natural population decline of 1.3 million, as deaths (4.82 million) continue to outnumber births (3.56 million). Germany, France, and Italy remain the most populous countries in the bloc, accounting for almost half of the EU’s total population, 47%. While 19 EU countries recorded population increases in 2024, eight saw population decreases. Malta has the highest growth rate, 19.0 per 1000 inhabitants, while among countries with declining populations, Latvia was the steepest (-9.9).

The bloc’s population has grown from 354.5 million in 1960, though growth rates have slowed significantly from 3 million annually in the 1960s to 0.9 million during 2005-2024.

“The observed population growth can be largely attributed to the increased migratory movements post-COVID-19,” EU statistics arm Eurostat said.

According to the Eurostat’s Demography of Europe—2025 edition, in 2023, almost 6 million people immigrated to the EU countries. Of those, 4.9 million people came from non-EU countries and 1.1 million people previously residing in one EU country migrated to another EU country. In 2023, the largest numbers of persons immigrating were recorded in Germany (1.271.000 persons or 21% of all immigrants into EU countries), Spain (1.250.000, 21%), Italy (440.000, 7%) and France (418.000, 7%). Immigrants entering these 4 countries made up 56% of all immigrants entering the EU in 2023. Slovakia , Latvia,  and Estonia (26.400, 0.4%) recorded the smallest numbers of immigrants.

Some European governments have also tightened border controls amid public concerns over migration even as illegal border crossings dropped 38% in 2024 to their lowest level since 2021.

Belgium, Poland, Germany, and the Netherlands have all introduced temporary border checks over the past year and a half, straining the EU’s passport-free Schengen zone.

The EU also rolled out a revamped migration system last year, aimed at reducing illegal migration and speeding up asylum procedures.

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