EU countries by population growth

Malta had the highest population growth of 27 EU countries in 2019, at 4.05%. Bulgaria had the lowest, at -1.41%. The median was 0.33%. Source: the World Bank.

Highest4.05Malta
Lowest-1.41Bulgaria
Median0.3327 EU countries

All EU countries, 2019

CSVChart (SVG)

MaltaMalta: 4.05 %4.05LuxembourgLuxembourg: 1.96 %1.96IrelandIreland: 1.59 %1.59CyprusCyprus: 1.25 %1.25SwedenSweden: 1.01 %1.01SpainSpain: 0.72 %0.72SloveniaSlovenia: 0.7 %0.7NetherlandsNetherlands: 0.66 %0.66BelgiumBelgium: 0.54 %0.54AustriaAustria: 0.44 %0.44CzechiaCzechia: 0.39 %0.39EstoniaEstonia: 0.37 %0.37DenmarkDenmark: 0.36 %0.36FranceFrance: 0.33 %0.33GermanyGermany: 0.23 %0.23SlovakiaSlovakia: 0.14 %0.14FinlandFinland: 0.11 %0.11PortugalPortugal: 0.02 %0.02PolandPoland: -0.02 %-0.02GreeceGreece: -0.11 %-0.11HungaryHungary: -0.13 %-0.13ItalyItaly: -0.25 %-0.25LithuaniaLithuania: -0.29 %-0.29RomaniaRomania: -0.53 %-0.53LatviaLatvia: -0.7 %-0.7CroatiaCroatia: -0.99 %-0.99BulgariaBulgaria: -1.41 %-1.41
%. Source: World Bank. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

Full ranking

RankEU countries2019 (%)Change on 2018
1Malta4.05+0.52 pts
2Luxembourg1.96+0.03 pts
3Ireland1.59+0.14 pts
4Cyprus1.25-0.06 pts
5Sweden1.01-0.15 pts
6Spain0.72+0.27 pts
7Slovenia0.7+0.33 pts
8Netherlands0.66+0.07 pts
9Belgium0.54+0.09 pts
10Austria0.44-0.04 pts
11Czechia0.39+0.06 pts
12Estonia0.37+0.02 pts
13Denmark0.36-0.14 pts
14France0.33-0.03 pts
15Germany0.23-0.08 pts
16Slovakia0.14-0 pts
17Finland0.11-0.02 pts
18Portugal0.02+0.18 pts
19Poland-0.02-0.02 pts
20Greece-0.11+0.1 pts
21Hungary-0.13+0.08 pts
22Italy-0.25-0.04 pts
23Lithuania-0.29+0.54 pts
24Romania-0.53+0.06 pts
25Latvia-0.7+0.08 pts
26Croatia-0.99+0.32 pts
27Bulgaria-1.41-0.04 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 4.05% in 2019, according to the World Bank.

Which EU country has the lowest population growth?

Bulgaria, with -1.41% in 2019.

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