FX.co ★ Ten countries with biggest population decline

10. Hungary

Hungary is a multi-ethnic country. The majority of its population consists of Hungarians (92.3%). In 2017, its population was 9.72 million people. By 2050, according to experts, 8.28 million people will live in the country (which represents a population decline of 15%).

Today, there is a sharp decline in the number of people wishing to have children among the 20-year-old residents. Meanwhile, the fall in the birth rate affects the way of life and the way people live together, as well as the time of training and work experience.

9. Poland

According to the data, 38.17 million people lived in Poland in 2017. But by 2050 experts predict 32.39 million (a 15% decline). The population of the country in recent years has sharply declined due to the growth of emigration and the fall in the birth rate. A large number of Poles moved to Western European countries after Poland became a member of the EU.

To date, the Polish expat community is represented in Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, as well as in other states.

8. Serbia

Serbia faces the sad demographic future. Serbia is ranked 225th out of 233 countries in terms of population growth.

The total fertility rate is 1.44 children per mother, which is one of the lowest rates in the world.

The figure of 8.79 million people living in the country in 2017 will be reduced to 7.45 million people by 2050, according to experts (a 15% decline).

7. Romania

Romania is a country of emigration. Every year, the number of expats exceeds the number of migrants. To cap it all, there is a demographic decline. The birth rate is 10.5 per 1,000 people, while the death rate is 12.0 per 1,000 people.

The population was 19.68 million in 2017. By 2050, it is expected to come in at 16.40 million people (a 17% decline).

6. Lithuania

In Lithuania, the population is shrinking at a fast rate. The loss of the population of 28.366 (1%) is fueled by rapid emigration of residents, an increase in mortality, and a decrease in the birth rate.

According to various sources, after Lithuania joined the EU in 2005, about a million people left it. Lithuanians choose the countries of Western Europe for the emigration.

The small population of Lithuania (2.89 million people) will decrease to 2.41 million by 2050 (a 17% decline).

5. Croatia

Today, the population of Croatia is 4.19 million people.

More than 90% of the population is represented by the Croats; however, the Slovenes, Czechs, Gypsies, Hungarians, Bosnians, and the Serbs also live in the country. The latter represent the largest national minority (186,633 people). They mostly live in Slavonia, Lika, and Gorski Kotar . Some of the minorities choose one region for life, for example, Italians opt for Istria, while Hungarians choose territory along the border with Hungary.

It is expected that the population will decline to 3.46 million by 2050 (a 17% decline).

4. Ukraine

Ukraine is among the nations with the lowest birth rates in Europe. The lowest birth rate was recorded in Zaporozhye, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kharkov, Dnipropetrovsk regions, and Kiev.

With a natural population decline of 183,000 people, the natural population growth was observed only in the Transcarpathian (+1,239 people) and Rivne (+1,442 people) regions and Kiev (+5,133 people).

Today, there are 44.22 million people living in Ukraine. By 2050 the population is expected to decrease by 18% (36.42 million).

3. Moldova

The demographic situation in Moldova in the post-Soviet period is steadily deteriorating.

Small population of 4.05 million could further decline to 3.29 million by 2050 (a 19% fall). A difficult social and economic situation is the main reason why the country's population is declining.

Amid a decrease in the natural population growth, there is an increase in emigration of the most efficient and professionally prepared part of the population. The most significant outflow of population was recorded in the Drochia district. There is also an increase in mortality.

2. Latvia

Latvia is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Europe. It is home to 1.95 million people. The number of residents continues to decline, even despite the recent increase in the birth rate. This is due to excess mortality over births and migration. Ireland and the UK are the most popular countries among expatriates.

According to forecasts, the population of Latvia will decline by 22% to 1.52 million by 2050.

1. Bulgaria

The average annual rate of population decline is about 0.7%.

Today, 7.08 million people live in Bulgaria. Only 19.6% of people have higher education, 43.4% of people have secondary-level education, 23.1% have basic education, 7.8% have elementary level of education, 4.8% with incomplete primary education, and 1.2% have never attended school.

In 54.1% of houses in cities and 18.1% in villages there are personal computers, with 51.4% and 16.4% respectively having internet access.

By 2050 the population will decrease by 23% to 5.42 million people. This is the biggest population decline in Europe.