| dc.description.abstract | On 1 January 1993 the population of the European Community stood at 347 million according to Eurostat estimates based on the latest figures available. At the same date the population of the European Economic Area (the Community countries plus Austria, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Sweden) was estimated at 373 million. The average annual growth rate over the last decade was 0.3% for both sets of countries - one of the lowest figures in the world. In 1992 the number of births fell for the third year running, and the marriage rate reached its lowest level since 1960. Life expectancy, however, increased and the infant mortality rate again f |
