Europe's population has reached a record high but is expected to peak within the decade before entering a sustained decline, according to the European Commission's latest demographic report.
The bloc's 27 member states currently account for 450 million residents, with projections showing a peak of 453.3 million in 2029 before numbers begin falling. The population is expected to drop to 445 million by 2050 and 398.8 million by 2100, returning to levels last seen in the late 1970s. Ageing will accelerate sharply, with nearly one in three EU citizens aged 65 or older by mid-century, up from one in five today.
The third edition of the commission's demographic review also forecasts life expectancy surpassing 90 years for women and 86 for men by 2100. A child born in 2023 can expect roughly 75 years free of serious illness.