Baltics face EU's biggest population decline

RIGA- The Baltics are set to face one of the biggest population decreases in the European Union by 2060.

According to the data of the European Commission's statistics agency Eurostat, between 2008 and 2060, populations are set to increase in 13 member states and to drop in 14 member states.

The agency forecasts that Latvia's population will shrink by 26 percent, ranking the Baltic country second to Bulgaria whose population is expected to dwindle by 28 percent over the next half-century.

Lithuania follows with a 24 percent, Romania with 21 percent and Poland with an 18 percent drop, Eurostat data reported.

Concurrently, the number of residents is set to rise by 66 percent in Cyprus, by 53 percent in Ireland, by 52 percent in Luxembourg, by 25 percent in the UK and by 18 percent in Sweden.

The UK is expected to become the EU's most populous country with 77 million residents, followed by France with 72 million, Germany with 71 million, Italy with 59 million and Spain with 52 million.

Latvia also stands out in terms of seniority figures. According to the Eurostat prognosis, by 2060 more than 60 percent of Latvia's residents will be older than 65, with similar prospects awaiting Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia.