Population growth slowing and life expectancy increasing in the Euro-Mediterranean region, 2000-2007

Between the years 2000 and 2007, the population in the nine Mediterranean partner countries (MPCs) grew faster than in the EU-27 (13.0% compared with 2.6%). Over the same period, the population of Turkey increased by 9.3%. Growth rates varied widely among the MPCs, with annual rates of well over 2% in the occupied Palestinian territory and Jordan, and virtually nil in Lebanon. Patterns of crude birth and death rates were broadly consistent with that of population growth, with high birth rates in the MPCs compared to a low birth rate coupled with a relatively high death rate in the EU-27. Apart from Israel, life expectancy was lower in the MPCs and Turkey than in the EU-27 – although this indicator improved in all countries over the period 2000-2007. The proportion of the population in the three age groups (under 15, 15-64, and 65 and over) varied greatly with, for example, 46% of Palestinians in the youngest group compared with 16% in the EU-27. For clarity, only the years 2000 and 2007 are shown in the graphs.