Data / Rankings / Population growth rate / EU countries

EU countries by population growth

Malta had the highest population growth of 27 EU countries in 2016, at 2.29%. Bulgaria had the lowest, at -1.3%. The median was 0.13%. Source: the World Bank.

Highest2.29Malta
Lowest-1.3Bulgaria
Median0.1327 EU countries

All EU countries, 2016

CSVChart (SVG)

MaltaMalta: 2.29 %2.29LuxembourgLuxembourg: 2.16 %2.16CyprusCyprus: 1.43 %1.43IrelandIreland: 1.28 %1.28SwedenSweden: 1.26 %1.26AustriaAustria: 1.08 %1.08GermanyGermany: 0.81 %0.81DenmarkDenmark: 0.78 %0.78NetherlandsNetherlands: 0.53 %0.53BelgiumBelgium: 0.51 %0.51FinlandFinland: 0.29 %0.29FranceFrance: 0.26 %0.26CzechiaCzechia: 0.19 %0.19SlovakiaSlovakia: 0.13 %0.13SpainSpain: 0.08 %0.08SloveniaSlovenia: 0.07 %0.07EstoniaEstonia: 0.03 %0.03PolandPoland: -0.04 %-0.04ItalyItaly: -0.19 %-0.19PortugalPortugal: -0.32 %-0.32HungaryHungary: -0.39 %-0.39GreeceGreece: -0.42 %-0.42RomaniaRomania: -0.57 %-0.57LatviaLatvia: -0.91 %-0.91CroatiaCroatia: -1.09 %-1.09LithuaniaLithuania: -1.17 %-1.17BulgariaBulgaria: -1.3 %-1.3
%. Source: World Bank. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2016 (%)Change on 2015
1Malta2.29-0.16 pts
2Luxembourg2.16-0.2 pts
3Cyprus1.43-0.03 pts
4Ireland1.28+0.34 pts
5Sweden1.26+0.2 pts
6Austria1.08-0.04 pts
7Germany0.81-0.06 pts
8Denmark0.78+0.07 pts
9Netherlands0.53+0.09 pts
10Belgium0.51-0.07 pts
11Finland0.29-0.04 pts
12France0.26-0.09 pts
13Czechia0.19-0 pts
14Slovakia0.13+0.03 pts
15Spain0.08+0.16 pts
16Slovenia0.07-0 pts
17Estonia0.03-0.04 pts
18Poland-0.04+0.02 pts
19Italy-0.19-0.04 pts
20Portugal-0.32+0.1 pts
21Hungary-0.39-0.03 pts
22Greece-0.42+0.24 pts
23Romania-0.57-0.1 pts
24Latvia-0.91-0.1 pts
25Croatia-1.09+0.11 pts
26Lithuania-1.17-0.27 pts
27Bulgaria-1.3-0.03 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Exponential rate of change of the mid-year population from the previous year to the reported year, as a percentage. Includes births, deaths and migration.

Total change, not natural increase (births minus deaths). World Bank series.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the EU countries are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

World Bank, World Development Indicators. Population growth, annual % (SP.POP.GROW). https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.GROW. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

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Questions

Which EU country has the highest population growth?

Malta, with 2.29% in 2016, according to the World Bank.

Which EU country has the lowest population growth?

Bulgaria, with -1.3% in 2016.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: World Bank, Population growth, annual % (SP.POP.GROW). Retrieved 2026-10-09.

Population growth rate: other rankings

EU countries: more rankings