Brussels, 20/08/2003 (Agence Europe) - According to Eurostat estimates, the European Union had a population of 379 million on 1 January 2003, far behind China (1.283 billion) and India (1.420 billion) but more than the United States (289 million). The population of the EU increased by only 0.3% in 2002, i.e. hardly 1 290 000 persons. This increase mainly results from migration (around +1 million) whereas, in the United States, whose population increased by 0.9%, two-thirds of the rise are due to natural population increase. Thanks to the data provided by the Council of Europe, the Statistical Office of the European Communities also states that the population of the acceding countries fell by 0.1% in 2002. Out of these ten countries, only Cyprus, Malta and Slovenia had population increases. Population remained stable in Slovakia.
It should be noted that life expectancy is longer in Spain for women (83.1 years) and in Sweden for men (77.7). Average life expectancy in the EU in 2002 was 81.6 years for women (as opposed to 77.2 in 1980) and 75.5 for men (70.5 in 1980). The total fertility rate in the EU remains stable at 1.47 babies per woman. Ireland has the highest level (2.01), whereas Greece and Spain (each 1.25) and Italy (1.26) remain at the lowest level.