According to the results of its study for 2007, the total population of the EU increased last year by 2.39 million people (0.48% compared to 2006), reaching 497.5 million. At the same time, 80% of the population growth was provided by immigrants from third countries.
According to Eurostat, in 2007, an average of 10.6 children were born per thousand 'native' Europeans, which amounts to a total increase of 5.3 million registered newborns (0.8%). Meanwhile, the total number of immigrants increased last year by an average of 1.9 million people (16.4%) across the EU.
According to European demographers, if birth rates in the EU continue to decline in the coming years, this regional organization will face a problem of natural population growth.