List of European countries by population

Russia is the most populous country in Europe and the only European country with a population exceeding 100 million. With 143 million people, Russia leads second-ranked Germany by 6 million, with a population 1.71 times that of Germany. The United Kingdom, France, and Italy complete the top five. A notable gap also exists between eighth-ranked Poland and ninth-ranked Romania, as Ukraine’s population is almost twice that of Romania. The ten most populous countries collectively account for 78.7% of Europe’s total population.

As of 2026, 14 countries in Europe have populations exceeding 10 million. The Holy See, the world’s least populous country, is located in Europe. Fourteen European countries and dependent territories have populations below one million. The 17 least populous countries and territories collectively account for just 1% of Europe’s total population, while the 32 lowest-ranked entities together make up only 10% of the continent’s population.

Only one European country ranks among the world’s ten most populous countries: Russia, which ranks ninth globally. However, eight European countries feature among the world’s 50 most populous countries.

Of the 50 countries and territories in Europe, 20 are projected to experience population growth in 2026, while the remaining 30 are expected to see declines. The combined population of these 30 countries and territories is projected to decrease by 1.80 million. Together, they account for 72% of Europe’s total population. The United Kingdom is expected to record the largest population increase (+364K), followed by the Netherlands (+94K) and France (+91K). In contrast, the Russian Federation is projected to experience the largest decline (-330K), followed by Ukraine (-291K).

Gibraltar is projected to have Europe’s highest population growth rate in 2026, at 1.73%, followed by the Holy See at 1.38%. These are the only two European countries and territories with growth rates above 1%. Moldova is expected to record the lowest growth rate (-0.98%), followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina (-0.84%). None ranks among the world’s 50 fastest-growing countries and territories, and only three feature in the top 100.

Since 1950, the populations of seven European countries and territories have more than doubled, while four have experienced population declines. Russia is projected to remain the continent’s most populous country through 2100. By 2100, the United Kingdom is expected to overtake Germany to become Europe’s second-most populous country.

The Holy See is projected to remain Europe’s least populous country through 2100.

• Population
• Growth rate (%)
• Choropleth Map
• Bubble Map

Population (UN)

Estimated and Projected population (UN)