The population of the European Union is expected to continue growing for a few more years and then decline over the course of several decades, according to staff at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. According to the scientists’ forecast, the EU population, currently at 450.6 million people, will peak at 453.3 million in 2029 and then fall to 398.8 million by 2100 — back to levels seen in the 1970s.

At the same time, life expectancy, which stood at 81.5 years in 2024, is expected to rise by 2100 to 90 years for women and 86 years for men, DW reports. According to these estimates, while people aged 65 and older currently make up about 20 percent of the EU population, by 2050 that figure will reach one-third.

According to the researchers, some consequences of demographic change can be mitigated through immigration, but this cannot fully solve the problems of an ageing society. European Commissioner Dubravka Šuica spoke of “serious challenges” such as a shortage of skilled workers, pressure on the budget, as well as on care and education systems.