Median age in the EU has increased by 2.2 years since 2014
Jacek Dylag, Unsplash
According to Eurostat, on 1 January 2024, the median age of the European Union population was 44.7 years, which means that half of the EU population is older than this age and the other half is younger. This is 2.2 years more than in 2014, when the median age was 42.5 years.
The median age of the population in the EU varies considerably from country to country. Italy has the highest rate (48.7 years), reflecting an ageing population and low fertility rates. It is followed by Greece, Portugal and Slovakia, where the median age has also increased by 4 years since 2014. Cyprus, Spain and Poland show an increase of 3.8 years, also due to population ageing and the migration of young people to other countries.
Ireland has the lowest median age in the EU at 39.4 years, which is explained by a high birth rate and a significant influx of young migrants. Malta is the only EU country where the median age has fallen by 0.7 years since 2014, while in Germany it has fallen by only 0.1 years. In Luxembourg, the increase was negligible, by only 0.5 years, indicating the stability of the population. Despite the general ageing trend, the Grand Duchy is constantly attracting young qualified professionals.
On 1 January 2024, the median age of the EU native population was 2 years higher than that of immigrants (45.1 vs. 43.1 years). Foreigners are more often represented in the age group between 20 and 54 years (59.7 per cent), while this group accounts for 42.1 per cent of the native population. This is explained by the economic migration of young people in search of work and better life in the EU countries.
Population ageing has a significant impact on the EU economy and social policy. As the number of elderly people grows, the burden on pension and health care systems increases. In addition, the shrinking working-age population may slow down economic growth and require labour market adaptation.
The EU is already taking steps to address these challenges, including fertility support programmes, active migration policies and pension reforms. However, demographic change continues to be a key challenge to Europe's sustainable economic development.
Eurostat forecasts that population ageing in the EU will continue in the coming decades. The median age in some countries is expected to exceed 50 years by 2050, especially in Southern and Eastern Europe. This requires long-term strategies to adapt economies and social policies to the new demographic realities.
