Europe Population 2023

741,869,197

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

Year
Population
Density (/km²)
Growth Rate
2023741,869,19732-0.17%
2022743,147,53832-0.18%
2020745,792,198320.11%
2015741,535,608320.16%
2010735,613,936320.2%
2005728,162,498320.06%
2000726,093,423320%
1995726,021,423320.16%
1990720,320,797310.39%
1985706,460,518310.4%
1980692,527,159300.48%
1975676,008,936290.61%
1970655,923,991280.69%
1965633,773,137280.93%
1960605,225,445261%
1955575,961,255250.95%
1950549,448,40024
showing: 17 rows

Europe is a subcontinent that comprises the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia. It's usually divided from Asia by the watershed divides of the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, the Caucasus and Ural Mountains and waterways that connect the Black and Aegean Seas together. The continent's estimated 2016 population is over 738 million.

Europe is the second-smallest continent by surface area and covers 10.18 million square kilometers (3.93 million square miles), or 2% of the Earth's surface and 6.8% of the world's land area. There are approximately 50 countries in Europe. The largest by size is Russia with 40% of the continent, and Vatican City is the smallest.

Europe is the third most populous continent behind Asia and Africa. Its population in 2016 is estimated at 738 million, which accounts for 11% of the world's population. The continent is currently growing at a rate of 0.3%. Europe has been in a decline for some time and its population is aging rapidly in most countries.

Most Populous Countries

By far the most populous country in Europe is Russia, which is actually located in both Europe and Asia. Russia's population of 143 million is almost equal to the combined populations of the 2nd and 3rd most populous countries on the continent.

Russia is a very interesting situation, as its population is very hard to determine with Russian and CIA estimates varying by 3 million. The country is also very representative of all of Europe with a rapidly declining population growth and an aging population.

The top 10 most populous countries in Europe are:

The asterisks indicate countries with a declining population.

Least Populous Countries

The least populous country in Europe is Vatican City with just over 800 residents. It's also the smallest internationally recognized independent state in the world, both in area and population. Vatican City is a landlocked city-state with a territory consisting of a walled enclave within Rome, Italy. Vatican City is ruled by the Pope and it's the sovereign territory of the Holy See.

The 10 least populous countries (not territories) in Europe are:

Comparison to Other Continents

Europe is the second-smallest continent by surface area but the third most populous after Asia and Africa. The population density of Europe as a whole is 143 people per square mile (compared to Asia's 203/square mile), which makes it the second most densely populated continent.

Europe is leading the world in countries with declining population growth and an aging population, but this problem is one that affects most developed countries at some point.

Europe Population Growth

It's projected that Europe will lose 30 million people of working age by 2050, while the number of people in their 80s and 90s will rise dramatically. This New York Times article is an interesting read for learning more about Europe's declining population and fertility rates. 
Most European countries are dealing with the effects of an aging population, including fertility rates below replacement level as fewer women have children in favor of a career. The population of the European Union (EU) is now expected to peak in 2040 with the sharpest population declines in Romania and Germany (-19%), Bulgaria (-27%), Latvia (-26%) and Lithuania (-20%).

Europe's largest country, Russia, is expected to drop from today's 143 million to just 107 million by 2050.

% of World Pop
9.27%
Density
32.22

Europe Population 2023

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

Country
Population
Density (/km²)
Russia144,444,3598
Germany83,294,633233
United Kingdom67,736,802279
France64,756,584117
Italy58,870,762195
Spain47,519,62894
Poland41,026,067131
Ukraine36,744,63461
Romania19,892,81283
Netherlands17,618,299421
Belgium11,686,140383
Sweden10,612,08624
Czech Republic10,495,295133
Greece10,341,27778
Portugal10,247,605111
Hungary10,156,239109
Belarus9,498,23846
Austria8,958,960107
Switzerland8,796,669213
Serbia7,149,07781
Bulgaria6,687,71760
Denmark5,910,913137
Slovakia5,795,199118
Finland5,545,47516
Norway5,474,36017
Ireland5,056,93572
Croatia4,008,61771
Moldova3,435,931102
Bosnia and Herzegovina3,210,84763
Albania2,832,43999
Lithuania2,718,35242
Slovenia2,119,675105
North Macedonia2,085,67981
Latvia1,830,21128
Estonia1,322,76529
Cyprus1,260,138136
Luxembourg654,768253
Montenegro626,48545
Malta535,0641,693
Iceland375,3184
Jersey111,802964
Isle of Man84,710148
Andorra80,088171
Guernsey63,544815
Faroe Islands53,27038
Liechtenstein39,584247
Monaco36,29717,969
San Marino33,642552
Gibraltar32,6884,807
Vatican City5181,177
showing: 50 rows

Countries in Europe

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

Year
Population
Density (/km²)
Growth Rate
2023741,869,19732-0.17%
2022743,147,53832-0.18%
2020745,792,198320.11%
2015741,535,608320.16%
2010735,613,936320.2%
2005728,162,498320.06%
2000726,093,423320%
1995726,021,423320.16%
1990720,320,797310.39%
1985706,460,518310.4%
1980692,527,159300.48%
1975676,008,936290.61%
1970655,923,991280.69%
1965633,773,137280.93%
1960605,225,445261%
1955575,961,255250.95%
1950549,448,40024
showing: 17 rows

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

Year
Population
Density (/km²)
Growth Rate
2098590,265,31726-0.29%
2093598,862,93526-0.3%
2088607,982,76726-0.32%
2083617,935,08527-0.35%
2078628,800,50627-0.37%
2073640,637,29628-0.4%
2068653,546,34128-0.42%
2063667,459,43229-0.42%
2058681,796,71130-0.39%
2053695,393,26830-0.34%
2048707,198,26531-0.27%
2043716,993,50031-0.23%
2038725,370,36432-0.2%
2033732,577,42232-0.15%
2028738,241,96932-0.1%
2023741,869,19732
showing: 16 rows

Europe Population History and Projections

  1. World Population Prospects (2022 Revision) - United Nations population estimates and projections.

Sources