Europe’s population crisis: see how your country compares – visualised

How anti-immigration politics across the EU clashes with demographic reality

Alex Clark

Anti-immigration politics is on the rise across Europe. France’s National Rally and Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) each have significant representation in their country’s legislatures, meanwhile the UK’s Reform party is topping the polls.

But the rise of the far-right could speed up the population decline of Europe, projections show, creating economic shocks including slower growth and soaring costs from pensions and elderly care.

Those wanting to shut Europe’s borders must contend with a stark demographic reality: the continent’s native population is expected to fall sharply over the next century in an era of low birth rates.