Background: In the aftermath and devastation of the two World Wars, a number of far-sighted European leaders in the late 1940s sought to respond to the overwhelming desire for peace and reconciliation on the continent. In 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert SCHUMAN proposed pooling the production of coal and steel in Western Europe, which would bring France and West Germany together and be open to other countries as well. The following year, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was set up when six members -- Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands -- signed the Treaty of Paris. Within a few years, the ECSC was so successful that member states decided to further integrate their economies. In 1957, envisioning an 'ever closer union,' the Treaties of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), which eliminated trade barriers among the six member states to create a common market. In 1967, the institutions of all three communities were formally merged into the European Community (EC), creating a single Commission, a single Council of Ministers, and a legislative body known today as the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament were initially selected by national parliaments, but direct elections began in 1979 and have been held every five years since. In 1973, the first enlargement of the EC added Denmark, Ireland, and the UK. The 1980s saw further membership expansion, with Greece joining in 1981 and Spain and Portugal in 1986. The 1992 Treaty of Maastricht laid the basis for further cooperation in foreign and defense policy and judicial and internal affairs, as well as the creation of an economic and monetary union -- including a common currency. The Maastricht Treaty created the European Union (EU), at the time standing alongside the EC. In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the EU/EC, raising the total number of member states to 15. On 1 January 1999, the new euro currency was launched in world markets and became the unit of exchange for all EU member states except Denmark, Sweden, and the UK. In 2002, citizens of the 12 participating member states began using euro banknotes and coins. In an effort to ensure that the EU could function efficiently with an expanded membership, the Treaty of Nice in 2000 set forth rules to streamline the size and procedures of the EU's institutions. An effort to establish a 'Constitution for Europe,' growing out of a Convention held in 2002-2003, foundered when it was rejected in referenda in France and the Netherlands in 2005. A subsequent effort in 2007 incorporated many features of the rejected draft Constitutional Treaty, while also making a number of substantive as well as symbolic changes. The new treaty, referred to as the Treaty of Lisbon, sought to amend existing treaties rather than replace them. The treaty was approved at a conference of member states, and after all member states ratified, the Lisbon Treaty came into force on 1 December 2009, at which point the EU officially replaced and succeeded the EC. Ten new countries joined the EU in 2004 -- Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007 and Croatia in 2013. UK citizens on 23 June 2016 narrowly voted to leave the EU; the formal exit, widely known as 'Brexit,' took place on 31 January 2020. The EU and the UK negotiated a withdrawal agreement that included a status quo transition period through December 2020, when the follow-on EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement was concluded. Current EU membership stands at 27. Eight of the newer member states -- Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia, and Slovenia -- have now adopted the euro, bringing total euro-zone membership to 20.

Area
Total: 4,236,351 km²
Rank by area (sq km): 1. France (includes five overseas regions) 643,801;2. Spain 505,370;3. Sweden 450,295;4. Germany 357,022;5. Finland 338,145;6. Poland 312,685;7. Italy 301,340;8. Romania 238,391;9. Greece 131,957;10. Bulgaria 110,879;11. Hungary 93,028;12. Portugal 92,090;13. Austria 83,871;14. Czechia 78,867;15. Ireland 70,273;16. Lithuania 65,300;17. Latvia 64,589;18. Croatia 56,594;19. Slovakia 49,035;20. Estonia 45,228;21. Denmark 43,094;22. Netherlands 41,543;23. Belgium 30,528;24. Slovenia 20,273;25. Cyprus 9,251;26. Luxembourg 2,586;27. Malta 316
Comparative: less than one-half the size of the United States

Land boundaries
Total: 13,770 km
Border countries (18): (18) Albania 212 km; Andorra 118 km; Belarus 1,176 km; Bosnia and Herzegovina 956 km; Holy See 3 km; Liechtenstein 34 km; North Macedonia 396 km; Moldova 683 km; Monaco 6 km; Montenegro 19 km; Norway 2,375 km; Russia 2,435 km; San Marino 37 km; Serbia 1,353 km; Switzerland 1,729 km; Turkey 415 km; United Kingdom 499 km; Ukraine 1,324 km
Note: data for European continent only

Coastline: 53,563.9 km

Climate: cold temperate; potentially subarctic in the north to temperate; mild wet winters; hot dry summers in the south

Terrain: fairly flat along Baltic and Atlantic coasts; mountainous in the central and southern areas

Elevation
Highest point: Mont Blanc, France 4,810 m
Lowest point: Zuidplaspolder, Netherlands -7 m

Irrigated land: 154,539.82 km² (2011 est.)

Natural hazards: flooding along coasts; avalanches in mountainous area; earthquakes in the south; volcanic eruptions in Italy; periodic droughts in Spain; ice floes in the Baltic Sea region

Population
Total: 451,815,312 (2024 est.)
Male: 220,631,332
Female: 231,183,980
Distribution: population distribution varies considerably from country to country but tends to follow a pattern of coastal and river settlement, with urban agglomerations forming large hubs; the area in and around the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg (known collectively as Benelux), is the most densely populated area in the EU
Growth rate: 0.1% (2021 est.)

Languages: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish
Note: only the 24 official languages are listed; German, the major language of Germany and Austria, is the most widely spoken mother tongue - about 16% of the EU population; English is the most widely spoken foreign language - about 29% of the EU population is conversant with it; English is an official language in Ireland and Malta and thus remained an official EU language after the UK left the bloc (2020)

Religions: Roman Catholic 41%, Orthodox 10%, Protestant 9%, other Christian 4%, Muslim 2%, other 4% (includes Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu), atheist 10%, non-believer/agnostic 17%, unspecified 3% (2019 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 14.5% (male 33,606,273/female 31,985,118)
15-64 years: 63.5% (male 143,874,460/female 143,104,994)
65 years and over: 22% (2024 est.) (male 43,150,599/female 56,093,868)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 57.2 (2024)
Youth dependency ratio: 22.8 (2024)
Elderly dependency ratio: 34.5 (2024)
Potential support ratio: 3 (2024)

Median age
Total: 44 years (2020)
Male: 42.6 years
Female: 45.5 years

Population growth rate: 0.1% (2021 est.)

Birth rate: 8.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: population distribution varies considerably from country to country but tends to follow a pattern of coastal and river settlement, with urban agglomerations forming large hubs; the area in and around the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg (known collectively as Benelux), is the most densely populated area in the EU

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 77.63 years (2021)
Male: 72.98 years
Female: 82.51 years

Total fertility rate: 1.54 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 6% (2024 est.); 6.1% (2023 est.); 6.2% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France), Luxembourg, Frankfurt (Germany)
Geographic coordinates: (Brussels) 50 50 N, 4 20 E
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Time zone note: the 27 European Union member states are spread across three time zones
Note: the European Council and the Council of the European Union meet in Brussels, Belgium, except for Council of the EU meetings held in Luxembourg in April, June, and October; the European Parliament meets in Brussels and Strasbourg, France, and has administrative offices in Luxembourg; the Court of Justice of the European Union is located in Luxembourg; and the European Central Bank is located in Frankfurt, Germany

Legal system: unique supranational system in which EU treaties and EU law have primacy over member-state law

Executive branch: Three EU institutions have functions that can be regarded as executive in nature: European Council - composed of member-state heads of state or government, along with the president of the European Commission; meets at least four times a year to issue general policy guidance; the president of the European Council is appointed by leaders of the EU member states for a 2 1/2 year term, renewable once
President: Ursula von der Leyen (since 1 December 2019)
Note: for external representation and foreign policy, member-state leaders appoint a High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; the High Representative's concurrent appointment as Vice President of the European Commission is meant to bring more coherence to the EU’s foreign policy; the High Representative helps develop and implement the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defense Policy, chairs the Council of the EU's meetings of member-state foreign ministers, represents and acts for the EU in many international contexts, and oversees the European External Action Service, the EU's diplomatic corps

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Council of the European Union (Council) and the European Parliament (EP) (separate legislative bodies; see note 2)
Number of seats: Council - 27; EP - 720
Electoral system: Council - none, composed of ministers from EU member states; EP - proportional representation
Scope of elections: EP - full renewal
Term in office: 5 years note: for the EP
Most recent election date: EP - 6/9/2024
Parties elected and seats per party: EP - PP (188); S&D (136); PfE (84); ECR (78); Renew (77); Greens/EFA (53); GUE-NGL (46); ESN (25); non-attached (12); other (21)
Percentage of women in chamber: 39.8% note: for the EP
Expected date of next election: EP - June 2,029
Note 1: the European Parliament (EP) President, Roberta METSOLA, was elected in January 2022 and reelected in July 2024 by a majority of EP members (MEPs)
Note 2: the EP and the Council of the EU share responsibilities for adopting the bulk of EU legislation; the European Commission proposes legislation, and the two other bodies have to agree for the proposal to become law -- except in the area of Common Foreign and Security Policy, which is governed by consensus of the EU member-state governments

Flag description: a blue field with 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged in a circle in the center; blue stands for the sky of the Western world, and the stars for unity, solidarity, and harmony

National anthem
Title: 'European Anthem' (Ode to Joy)
Lyrics/music: no lyrics/Ludwig VAN BEETHOVEN, arranged by Herbert VON KARAJAN
History: adopted 1985; the anthem is meant to represent all of Europe rather than just the organization, conveying the ideals of peace, freedom, and unity

Real gdp growth rate: 1% (2024 est.); 0.5% (2023 est.); 3.5% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 1% (2024 est.); 0.5% (2023 est.); 3.5% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 51.6% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 20.8% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 22% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 51.9% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -48.3% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.6% (2024 est.)
Industry: 22.1% (2024 est.)
Services: 66.1% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries
Among the world's largest and most technologically advanced regions, the EU industrial base includes: ferrous and non-ferrous metal production and processing, metal products, petroleum, coal, cement, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, construction equipment, industrial equipment, shipbuilding, electrical power equipment, machine tools and automated manufacturing systems, electronics and telecommunications equipment, fishing, food and beverages, furniture, paper, textiles

Industrial production growth rate: -0.7% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 221.391 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 6% (2024 est.); 6.1% (2023 est.); 6.2% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 6% (2024 est.); 6.1% (2023 est.); 6.2% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Taxes and other revenues: 19.8% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $9.783 trillion (2024 est.); $9.689 trillion (2023 est.); $9.425 trillion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: cars, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, vaccines (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars; includes both exports to external partners and internal trade among EU member states

Imports: $8.953 trillion (2024 est.); $8.978 trillion (2023 est.); $9.072 trillion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: cars, crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars; includes both imports from external partners and internal trade among EU member states

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 1.142 billion kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 2.511 trillion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 407.824 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 405.154 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 169.694 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 33.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 22.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 9.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 17.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 11.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 304.827 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 398.817 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 32.326 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 127.304 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 84.193 billion metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 748,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 11.022 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 40.239 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 335.326 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Exports: 100.238 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 396.993 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.651 billion metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 518.857 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 1.489 billion metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 643.8 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 114.309 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 155.005 million (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 36 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 552.316 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 90% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 172.888 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2022 est.)

Military expenditures: 1.9% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Note 1: the European Defense Fund (EDF) has a budget of approximately $8 billion for 2021-2,027; about $2.7 billion is devoted to funding collaborative defense research while about $5.3 billion is allocated for collaborative capability development projects that complement national contributions; the EDF identifies critical defense domains that it will support
Note 2: NATO is separate from the EU and is resourced through the direct and indirect contributions of its members; NATO’s common funds are direct contributions to collective budgets, capabilities and programs, which equate to only 0.3% of total NATO defense spending (approximately $3.3 billion for 2023) to develop capabilities and run NATO, its military commands, capabilities, and infrastructure; NATO's 2014 Defense Investment Pledge called for NATO members to meet the 2% of GDP guideline for defense spending and the 20% of annual defense expenditure on major new equipment by 2024
Note 3: average spending for all NATO countries was 2.5% of GDP in 2023 and 2.7% of GDP in 2024

Airports: 5,211 (2025)

Heliports: 2,069 (2025)

Railways
Total: 4,894,173 km (2019)