Brussels: Europe and Arabs
Italy, Portugal and Bulgaria have registered the highest percentage of population over the age of 65 in the European Union in 2024. But how will the population composition of Europe develop until 2100? This question is answered by the European News Network "Euronews" in Brussels and stated that at the beginning of 2024, the population of the European Union was estimated at 449.3 million people, more than five of whom are 65 years or more.
This number represents a 0.3% increase compared to 2023 and an increase of 2.9% compared to ten years ago, according to the latest Eurostat numbers.
In 2024, the percentage of people over the age of 65 in 26 countries in the European Union increased compared to 2023, but only decreased in Malta. The countries that recorded the highest percentage of people over the age of 65 in Italy (24.3 %), Portugal (24.1 %), Bulgaria (23.8 %), Finland (23.4 %), Greece (23.3 %) and Croatia (23.0 %).
Meanwhile, Luxembourg (15.0%) and Ireland (15.5%) recorded the lowest percentage.
According to the figures issued by the European Statistical Office in Brussels, the average age of the European Union has increased by 2.2 years since 2014
On January 1, 2024, the average age of the European Union residents reached 44.7 years. This means that half of the people in the European Union were greater than 44.7 years, while the other half was younger. The European Union crossed, ranging from 39.4 years in Ireland to 48.7 years in Italy.
The average age has increased by 2.2 years since 2014, when it was 42.5 years. Increases were recorded in all European Union countries, with the exception of Malta (-0.7 years old) and Germany (-0.1 years old).
The aging of the population was more clear in Greece, Italy, Portugal and Slovakia, with an average increase for 4.0 years. The average age in Cyprus, Spain and Poland increased by 3.8 years.
It is expected that an ascending trend in the aging of the residents of the coming contracts due to increased life and the fertility levels continuously. This can lead to "an increase in the burden on those of working age to provide the social expenditures required by the progress of the population for a group of relevant services,"
Children between the ages of 0 and 14, about 15% of the European Union population, constituted more than 60% of people who are considered to be more than 60%. The highest rates of children were observed in 2024 in Ireland by 18.9%, Sweden by 17.1%and France by 17%.
On the other hand, the lowest proportions were recorded in Italy (12.2%), Malta (12.3%) and Portugal (12.8%).