Lithuania, Latvia see EU's largest population decrease

LUXEMBOURG - Lithuania and Latvia have suffered the largest population decrease in the EU, according to a recent report from Eurostat, the EU's official statistics agency.

The Eurostat report, published on July 27, found that Lithuania suffered the largest population decrease in 2009 at -6.2% -- 4.6% of which was a result of migration, and 1.6% of which from natural causes. Latvia had the second largest population decrease at -5.7% -- 2.1% from migration and 3.6% from natural causes.

Latvia also had the dubious honor of being tied with Bulgaria for having the greatest natural loss of population, with both the second highest death rate (13.3%) and one of the lowest birth rates (9.6%)

"The largest decreases [were] in Lithuania (-6.2‰), Latvia (-5.7‰), Bulgaria (-5.6‰) and Germany (-2.5‰)," the report said.

The eurostat report also marked a major milestone for the EU as a whole, with the total population as of the start of this year surpassing 500 million people, up from 499 million the year before.

The report said the majority of the increse, 60%, was a result of migration.

Luxembourg, in addition to housing the statistics agency itself, saw by far the largest population increase at more that 17%.