Data / Rankings / Population growth rate / EU countries

EU countries by population growth

Malta had the highest population growth of 27 EU countries in 2017, at 2.73%. Croatia had the lowest, at -1.61%. The median was 0.23%. Source: the World Bank.

Highest2.73Malta
Lowest-1.61Croatia
Median0.2327 EU countries

All EU countries, 2017

CSVChart (SVG)

MaltaMalta: 2.73 %2.73LuxembourgLuxembourg: 2.43 %2.43CyprusCyprus: 1.38 %1.38IrelandIreland: 1.35 %1.35SwedenSweden: 1.35 %1.35AustriaAustria: 0.69 %0.69DenmarkDenmark: 0.64 %0.64NetherlandsNetherlands: 0.59 %0.59BelgiumBelgium: 0.39 %0.39GermanyGermany: 0.37 %0.37FranceFrance: 0.29 %0.29CzechiaCzechia: 0.27 %0.27SpainSpain: 0.24 %0.24FinlandFinland: 0.23 %0.23SlovakiaSlovakia: 0.16 %0.16EstoniaEstonia: 0.12 %0.12SloveniaSlovenia: 0.07 %0.07PolandPoland: 0.01 %0.01ItalyItaly: -0.19 %-0.19GreeceGreece: -0.2 %-0.2PortugalPortugal: -0.24 %-0.24HungaryHungary: -0.34 %-0.34RomaniaRomania: -0.58 %-0.58LatviaLatvia: -0.89 %-0.89LithuaniaLithuania: -1.21 %-1.21BulgariaBulgaria: -1.32 %-1.32CroatiaCroatia: -1.61 %-1.61
%. Source: World Bank. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2017 (%)Change on 2016
1Malta2.73+0.45 pts
2Luxembourg2.43+0.28 pts
3Cyprus1.38-0.06 pts
4Ireland1.35+0.07 pts
5Sweden1.35+0.09 pts
6Austria0.69-0.39 pts
7Denmark0.64-0.14 pts
8Netherlands0.59+0.06 pts
9Belgium0.39-0.12 pts
10Germany0.37-0.43 pts
11France0.29+0.03 pts
12Czechia0.27+0.07 pts
13Spain0.24+0.17 pts
14Finland0.23-0.05 pts
15Slovakia0.16+0.03 pts
16Estonia0.12+0.09 pts
17Slovenia0.07-0.01 pts
18Poland0.01+0.06 pts
19Italy-0.190 pts
20Greece-0.2+0.22 pts
21Portugal-0.24+0.07 pts
22Hungary-0.34+0.05 pts
23Romania-0.58-0 pts
24Latvia-0.89+0.03 pts
25Lithuania-1.21-0.05 pts
26Bulgaria-1.32-0.03 pts
27Croatia-1.61-0.52 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 2.73% in 2017, according to the World Bank.

Which EU country has the lowest population growth?

Croatia, with -1.61% in 2017.

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