African migrants are seen at the Libya-Tunisia border in Ras Ajdir, Libya, on July 26, 2023. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Germany, France and Italy remain the bloc’s most populous countries, accounting for almost half of the total EU population. While 19 EU countries recorded population increases in 2024, eight saw declines.

“The observed population growth can be largely attributed to the increased migratory movements post-Covid-19,” EU statistics arm Eurostat said. During the height of the pandemic, many EU countries experienced population declines due to a high mortality rate and tightened border controls.