Europe’s population is steadily ageing—and the latest figures make that trend unmistakable.
As of 1 January 2025, the median age of people living in the European Union reached 44.9 years. In simple terms, half of the EU’s population is now older than 44.9, while the other half is younger. Just a decade ago, that midpoint stood at 42.8 years, meaning Europe has aged by 2.1 years since 2015.
Big differences across countries
The pace of ageing is far from uniform across the bloc. In 2025, median ages ranged from 39.6 years in Ireland, the youngest population in the EU, to 49.1 years in Italy, which remains the oldest.
While most countries saw their populations grow older over the decade, two exceptions stood out. Germany and Malta were the only EU members where the median age actually fell slightly, by 0.4 years in each case.
Where ageing is accelerating fastest
The sharpest increases were recorded in central and southern Europe. Slovakia and Cyprus experienced the most pronounced ageing, with their median ages rising by 4.0 years since 2015. They were followed closely by Italy (+3.9 years), Greece and Poland (both +3.8 years), and Portugal (+3.7 years).
These shifts reflect long-term demographic forces at work: lower birth rates, longer life expectancy, and migration patterns that vary widely between countries.
Native-born vs. foreign-born populations
Ageing also looks different depending on where people were born. Across the EU, the native-born population had a median age of 45.2 years in 2025—2.1 years higher than the foreign-born population, whose median age stood at 43.1 years.
Foreign-born residents tend to be younger on average, often arriving during their working years. This age gap helps explain why migration can partially slow population ageing in some countries, even as overall trends point upward.
Why it matters
An older population has far-reaching implications: from labour markets and pension systems to healthcare demand and economic growth. As Europe continues to age, policymakers face growing pressure to adapt social systems—and to rethink how migration, employment, and family policies can shape the continent’s demographic future.
The numbers make one thing clear: Europe isn’t just getting older—it’s doing so at different speeds, and those differences will matter more with each passing year. Photo by Alexis Brown alexisrbrown,Wikimedia commons.