The population in Europe reached the 502.5 million last January
According to data provided by the statistical office of the European Union, the population of the European Union amounted 502.5 million on 1 January 2011, which means one million and a half in one year. The population increased in twenty Member States and decreased in seven, with considerable variations between Member States.
The statistical office of the European Union (Eurostat) published its data with regard the population in its report "Population grows in twenty EU Member States". The euro area was estimated at 332 million on January 2011, compared with 330.9 million on January 2010. The grew of population of the euro area was due to a natural increase of 0.3 million and net migration of 0.7 million.
By countries, highest natural growth rates in Ireland, Cyprus, France, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom and in general, the highest population growth was in 2010 in Luxembourg, Sweden, Malta, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
In addition, over 60% of the increase in the EU population came from migration. In relative terms, Luxembourg, Malta, Sweden, Italy and Belgium had the largest net inflows, while Lithuania and Ireland recorded the highest net outflows.