The largest net migration – 392 thousand people – was recorded in Germany, which also set an anti-record in terms of natural increase. According to last year's results, 196 thousand more people died there than were born. Thus, the overall population growth of Germany amounted to 195 thousand people, and the total number of residents reached 80.5 million.
The United Kingdom can boast the highest population growth in the European Union, where this figure reached 393 thousand people. At this rate, the Foggy Albion, whose population already stands at 63.9 million people, may soon catch up with the second most populous country in the EU – France with its 65.6 million. Note that in both countries the level of natural increase is extremely high – 244 thousand in the UK and 251 thousand in France. However, the British Isles attract far more migrants – 148 thousand people compared to 54 thousand in France.
The situation is different in the southern countries of the European Union. Spain faced a record outflow of population, with 162 thousand people leaving last year. However, the overall population loss was partly compensated by a natural increase of 40 thousand people. Negative demographic trends affected Greece and Portugal in all respects, which lost a total of 61 and 55 thousand people. A sad picture is also observed in Lithuania and Latvia, which lost 32 and 21 thousand people respectively. Lithuania's demographic losses also reached a symbolic mark – the country's population officially decreased from 3 to 2.9 million people.
Carmen KIRZING,
'Russian Germany'.