EU population to peak in 2029 before long-term decline

BRUSSELS: The population of the 27-nation European Union will peak in 2029 before falling in the coming decades, according to a report published on Tuesday (Jul 14) that puts a spotlight on the major challenges of an ageing citizenry.Today there are 450.6 million people, but researchers say this will peak at 453.3 million in 2029 before a slow long-term decline.The population will fall to 398.8 million people by 2100, an overall drop of 11.7 per cent and a level that was last experienced in the 1970s.Europeans are living longer than ever before thanks to vastly improved healthcare, and better life and social conditions. But an ageing population poses challenges for society and the EU economy.The EU executive's Joint Research Centre said life expectancy at birth reached 81.5 years in 2024.B