World Immigration News

Demographic crisis: Aging EU population relies on immigration, with Italy leading the decline

Release Date: 2025-05-20
Media: eunews
Summary: The European Union is facing a deep and long-term demographic crisis that will reshape its political, economic, and social priorities in the coming decades. As of January 1, 2024, the EU's population reached 449 million, growing by 0.4% (1.6 million people), mainly due to immigration and the arrival of Ukrainian refugees. Without this, the population would be declining, as natural population change has been negative since 2012.

The EU is aging rapidly: the share of people over 80 has risen to 6.1%, while the proportion of children under 15 has dropped to 14.6%. The median age is now 44.7 years, and as high as 48.7 in Italy. Fertility rates are low (EU average 1.38; Italy 1.21), and women are having children later in life.

Life expectancy has rebounded to 81.4 years post-COVID, with wide gaps between Western and Eastern Europe. Women live on average 5.3 years longer than men.

Population growth and density are uneven across the EU, with countries like Luxembourg, Malta, and Ireland growing rapidly, while Latvia, Bulgaria, and Lithuania face steep declines.

In 2023, around 6 million migrants entered the EU, mostly from outside the bloc, with Germany and Spain receiving over 40% of them. Immigration is now the only factor offsetting Europe’s natural population decline, though only 1.1 million migrants received citizenship.

This demographic reality demands urgent reform of the EU's social and economic systems, including pension and healthcare sustainability, improved family policies, and a strategic approach to immigration, which could become a key resource for labor market stability and social cohesion.
Tags: Europe

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