Statistics in Focus: Population and social conditions. First demographic estimates for 2001.

Abstract

After a period of decline, the net inflow of international migrants (immigration minus emigration) to the European Union increased from 581 000 in 1998 to 756 000 people in 1999 and 1 068 000 persons in 2000. Based upon monthly data available at the end of 2001, latest forecasts and expert opinion, net migration is expected to show a very slight decrease in 2001 to a level of around 1 million people. Also, the total number of live births and deaths are expected to decrease slightly. Natural population growth (live births minus deaths) is forecast to increase slightly from 380 000 in 2000 to 410 000 in 2001. Consequently, total population growth is estimated to reach a level of close to 1.5 million, bringing the EU population on 1 January 2002 to 379.4 million.