The 2025 edition of “Key Figures on the EU in the World,” published by Eurostat, presents a detailed comparison of the European Union with countries and regions worldwide. The report provides insight into demographics, economic performance, trade, environment, and society, based on harmonised data from Eurostat and international sources. As of 2023, the EU’s population stood at 448 million, representing 5.5% of the global population. While India and China each accounted for over 17% of the global total, the EU ranked third in size ahead of the United States and Indonesia. However, projections show the EU’s share of global population will fall to 4.2% by 2075, reflecting demographic challenges, including an ageing population and lower fertility rates. The EU’s population density of 106 inhabitants per square kilometre remains well above the global average of 62. Urbanisation levels are also high, with 75.7% of the EU population living in urban areas compared to 57.3% globally. The median age in the EU reached 44.5 years in 2023, far above the world average of 30.4. Ageing remains a prominent demographic feature, with the EU’s old-age dependency ratio at 33.4%, more than double the world average of 15.4%. This is projected to rise to 55.5% by 2075, driven by increasing life expectancy and declining birth rates. In terms of fertility, the EU recorded an average of 1.46 children per woman in 2022, below the replacement level of 2.1 and well below the global average of 2.25 in 2023. The crude birth rate in the EU was 8.2 per 1,000 inhabitants, while the crude death rate was higher at 10.8, leading to a negative natural population change of –2.6 per 1,000. Despite these demographic trends, migration remains a key driver of population growth in the EU. In 2023, the total population change was positive due to net migration, with 3.7 more people per 1,000 inhabitants. There were 27.4 million non-EU citizens residing in the EU, with Ukrainians, Turks, and Moroccans forming the largest groups. A significant increase in migration flows was noted in 2022, largely linked to geopolitical developments. On health indicators, the EU showed a strong performance. Life expectancy reached 81.5 years in 2023, higher than the world average of 73.2. Infant mortality rates in the EU stood at 3.3 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022, far below the global figure of 27.3. Healthcare expenditure in the EU represented 10.9% of GDP in 2021, marginally above the world average. In education, over a third (35.1%) of EU citizens aged 25–64 had completed tertiary education. Youth not in employment, education or training (NEETs) made up 9.2% of those aged 15–24, significantly lower than the global rate of 20.4%. Labour market performance showed steady recovery following the pandemic. In 2023, the EU employment rate for people aged 15–64 stood at 70.5%, and the unemployment rate was 6.1%. Men worked an average of 39.2 hours per week compared to 34.2 hours for women. The Eurostat report offers a broad statistical perspective of the EU’s global position, highlighting both its strengths and areas where demographic and economic shifts may pose future challenges. Source: Eurostat