…EU25 population up by 0.5% in 2004
On 1 January 2005, the population of the EU25 was estimated at 459.5 million, compared to 457.2 million on 1 January 2004.The population of the EU25 increased by 2.3 million in 2004, an annual rate of 0.5%, mainly due to net migration of 1.9 million, while the natural increase was 0.4 million. As a comparison, the population of the US increased by 0.9% (294.4 million on 1 January 2005), that of Japan by 0.1% (127.4 million), while in Russia it decreased by 0.5% (143.5 million). The world’s two most populous countries recorded a population growth: China rose by 0.6% (1 302.6 million on 1 January 2005) and India by 1.4% (1 072.7 million).
These figures come from a report published jointly by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, and the Council of Europe, providing figures on the EU25 and its Member States, other Council of Europe Member States and other major countries.
Population change ranged from -6.0‰ in Lithuania to +25.4‰ in Cyprus
In 2004, the population increased in most EU25 Member States. The largest increases were recorded in Cyprus (+25.4 per 1000), Ireland (+20.0‰) and Spain (+16.2‰). The population fell in Lithuania (-6.0‰), Latvia (-5.5‰), Estonia (-3.0‰), Hungary (-1.9‰), Germany and Poland (both -0.4‰).
Within the EU25, the highest rates of natural increase (i.e. the difference between the number of live births and deaths, per thousand inhabitants) were observed in Ireland (+8.6‰), France and Cyprus (both +4.2‰), Luxembourg (+4.1‰) and the Netherlands (+3.5‰), compared to an EU25 average of +1.0‰. The largest rates of natural decrease were observed in Latvia (-5.1‰), Hungary (-3.7‰) and Lithuania (-3.2‰).
In 2004, net migration in the EU25 was +4.0 per 1000 inhabitants. Cyprus (+21.3‰), Spain (+14.3‰) and Ireland (+11.4‰) registered the highest rates. Positive net migration was recorded in all Member States except Lithuania (-2.8‰), the Netherlands (-0.6‰), Latvia (-0.5‰), Estonia and Poland (both -0.2‰).
Slight increase in the total fertility rate in the EU25
The fertility rate (i.e. average number of children per woman) in the EU25 is estimated to have increased from 1.48 in 2003 to 1.50 in 2004. The corresponding rate for the US in 2004 was 2.07. The highest fertility rates were found in Ireland (1.99), followed by France (1.90), Finland (1.80) and Denmark (1.78). No Member State, however, reached the replacement level of 2.1. The lowest fertility rates were found in Slovenia (1.22), followed by the Czech Republic and Poland (both 1.23), Latvia (1.24) and Slovakia (1.25).
Highest share of births outside marriage in the north
In the EU25, 31.6% of the total live births took place outside marriage in 2004. Among the Member States, the highest shares were found in Estonia (57.8% in 2003), Sweden (55.4%), Denmark (45.4%), Latvia (45.3%), France (45.2% in 2003), Slovenia (43.5%) and the United Kingdom (42.3%), while Cyprus (3.3%), Greece (4.9%), Italy (14.9%) and Poland (17.2%) recorded the lowest shares.
The last part is the most interesting one. In many countries children born out of marriage are about 50%. The average is 31.6%. In Cyprus it is just 3.3% !! I think thats a good thing.
