The European Union in Numbers: Key Statistics and Data
The European Union (EU) is saw by many as a key player in both global economic progress and so much more. So, what does the EU look like in terms of statistics and data? Here are some of the key figures, giving us an insight into the inner workings of the EU.
Number of Member States
The European Union started out in 1952 with six founding members: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Now, the EU includes 28 member states. The most recent nation to join the EU was Croatia, in 2013.
Demographics
The population of the EU is currently estimated at 500 million people. The countries with the largest populations are Germany (just over 82 million residents), France (over 66 million), the UK (nearly 66 million), Italy (just over 60 million) and Spain (just under 46 million).
Languages
The EU recognises 24 official languages. The founding nations spoke three of these languages: French, German and Dutch. The other 21 languages are Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, English, Estonian, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish and Swedish.
Economy
The EU is the world’s biggest economy, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $17.2 trillion. This makes it slightly bigger than the United States (with a GDP of $17.1 trillion). However, this is only a figure for the whole EU. The individual member state with the biggest economy is Germany, with a GDP of over $3.3 trillion.
Government
The European Union is governed by numerous institutions and bodies, the main one being the European Commission. The European Commission is an executive body based in Brussels and is led by a President (currently Ursula von der Leyen), who is elected by the European Parliament.
The European Commission is responsible for the day-to-day running of the EU’s affairs. It is split into a number of departments that are responsible for areas such as agriculture, competition and environmental issues. Each department is led by a Commissioner, who is appointed by the European Council.
The EU also has a legislature in the form of the European Parliament, which is made up of 751 Members of European Parliament (MEPs). MEPs are elected by citizens of member states, and are responsible for representing their interests and passing EU laws.
Budget
The EU has its own budget, which was estimated to be €162.5 billion ($181.7 billion) between 2020-2027. It is funded primarily by contributions from the member states, which are determined according to their wealth (GDP). Money is allocated to a number of initiatives, such as development aid and research programmes.
Trade
The EU is the world’s biggest importer and exporter, with exports and imports totalling €3.3 trillion ($3.7 trillion). The biggest trading partners are China, the US, Switzerland and Russia.
Military
The European Union does not have its own standing army. However, the EU does have a number of organisations that are responsible for defence and military affairs. These include the European Defence Agency, which works to coordinate the defence capabilities of member states, and the European Union Military Staff, which provides advice to the Union and assists in the planning of military operations.
Admissions
The European Union is keen to expand, with more and more countries wishing to become members. Currently, there are five official candidate countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Turkey. There are also four prospective candidate countries: Georgia, Kosovo, Serbia and Moldova.
These statistics and data paint a vivid picture of the European Union, showing us the size and scope of the Union, and the work that goes into running it. It is clear to see that the EU is a major player on the global stage, and its influence can be seen in all areas of society, from politics and finance to defence and trade.
