41% of children born in the European Union are born outside of marriage

According to new data released by the European Union’s statistics service, family values and demographic conditions across the continent are undergoing significant change, Zamin.uz reported.

In particular, 41% of children born in the EU in 2024 were born to parents who were not in a formal marriage. Even more striking, in seven EU member states, more than half of all newborns came into the world outside of wedlock.

The highest shares were recorded in Bulgaria at 62%, France at 60%, and Portugal at 59%. In contrast, Greece remained the most traditional, with only just over 10% of births occurring outside marriage.

Hungary and Croatia also showed relatively low rates of non-marital births. Over the past twenty years, the number of children born outside marriage has increased steadily in 18 countries, while only four have seen a decline in this indicator.

The total population of the European Union reached 451 million at the beginning of 2025, up by nearly one million compared to the previous year.

Germany remains the most populous EU country with 84 million inhabitants, accounting for 19% of the bloc’s total population. France, Italy, Spain, and Poland also contribute significantly to the EU’s demographic makeup.

At the same time, the aging of Europe’s population is emerging as a serious concern. The average age has risen from approximately 39 to nearly 45 over the past two decades.

Italy has the oldest population in the EU, while Ireland has the youngest. Experts attribute this trend to declining birth rates and increasing life expectancy.

The decline in marriages and rise in divorces are also influencing demographic balance. For example, while around 1.7 million marriages were registered during the year, approximately 700,000 divorces were recorded.