Which European country has the largest population?
Quick answer
Russia has the largest population of any country in Europe, about 145 million, with roughly three-quarters of its people living in the European part west of the Ural Mountains. If you count only countries located entirely in Europe, Germany is the most populous, with about 84 million people.
Europe’s most populous countries
| Rank | Country | Population (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 145 million | Spans Europe and Asia |
| 2 | Turkey | 85 million | Mostly in Asia; about 3% of its land is in Europe |
| 3 | Germany | 84 million | Largest entirely in Europe; largest in the EU |
| 4 | United Kingdom | 69 million | |
| 5 | France | 68 million | Includes overseas regions |
| 6 | Italy | 59 million | |
| 7 | Spain | 49 million |
Turkey is often left out of European lists because most of its territory and people are in Asia, though its largest city, Istanbul, straddles both continents. See what the capital of the Byzantine Empire was.
Where Europe ends
Geographers usually draw Europe’s eastern border along the Ural Mountains, the Ural River and the Caucasus. Russia’s European part covers only about a quarter of its land but holds most of its population, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, the two largest cities.
Europe’s population is shrinking
Many European countries have low birth rates, often below the 2.1 children per woman needed to keep population steady. Germany, Italy and Spain rely on immigration to avoid population decline. Some Eastern European countries, such as Bulgaria and Latvia, have lost a significant share of their populations since 1990.
Smallest populations
At the other end, Vatican City has only around 800 residents; see the smallest country in the world.
For Germany’s neighbor, see which countries border France. For the current time in Germany, see what time it is in Germany.
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