Europe’s population is ageing – Greece, Italy, Portugal and Slovakia are in the red
The average age in the European Union has increased by 2.2 years on average and by 4 years in Greece since 2014, according to Eurostat.
The average age of the European Union population reached 44.7 years on 1 January 2024, announced by Eurostat. This means that half of the EU population was older than 44.7 years on that date, while the other half was younger. Across the EU as a whole, the average age ranged 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 in average age were recorded in all EU countries except Malta (-0.7 years) and Germany (0.1 years).
According to Eurostat, population aging was most pronounced in Greece, Italy, Portuga,l and Slovakia, where the average age increased by 4 years. The average age of the population increased by 3.8 years in Cyprus, Spain, and Poland. The average age of the population in Greece was 46.9 years on 1 January 2024, according to Eurostat.
On 1 January 2024, the average age of the population born in the EU was 2 years higher than that of the population born outside the EU (45.1 years compared to 43.1 years).
Compared to EU residents born inside the EU, residents born outside the EU are over-represented in the 20-54 age group and under-represented in both younger and older age groups. Overall 59.7% of EU residents born outside the EU were between the ages of 20 and 54, compared to 42.1% of residents born inside the EU.
