The population of Eastern Europe. Brief description of the largest countries in the region

Europe - part of the world, located in the Northern Hemisphere and forming a continent with Eurasia Eurasia. In its territory there are 46 officially recognized states and 5 unrecognized states. It is generally accepted to divide Europe into four parts: Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern. A brief overview of the population of Eastern Europe and the countries forming it will be presented to your attention further.

Characteristics of Eastern Europe

The development of Eastern Europe was greatly influenced by the geographical location of the part of the world. Historically, it has turned out that the region now and then is at the junction of two warring factions. Only over the past 100 years, the outlines of European states have changed several times. Some countries disappeared, others appeared. All these processes inevitably left scars on the economy and politics.

For the countries of Eastern Europe, the level of economic development is characterized by a lower level than that of their western "neighbors." However, countries are also characterized by a high level of ethnic and cultural identity. The population of Eastern Europe is 135 million people.

Countries in Eastern Europe

Previously, geographers conducted a line dividing Eastern and Western Europe, along the border of the Slavic states, thus ranking only Eastern Slavs as Slavs. But after the Second World War, the UN conducted a new border region, according to which the composition of Eastern Europe includes 9 countries and part of Russia.

Countries of Eastern Europe:

1. Ukraine.
2. Poland.
3. Czech Republic.
4. Romania.
5. Belarus.
6. Hungary.
7. Bulgaria.
8. Slovakia.
9. Moldova.

The total population of Eastern Europe is already known to you. Most of the residents are concentrated in Ukraine and Poland. The average population density in Eastern Europe is 30 people per square kilometer.

After the Second World War, all the countries listed above, one way or another fell under the influence of the USSR, in fact, this played a decisive role in moving the borders of the region. Of all the Eastern European states, only three are not Slavic - these are Romania, Hungary and Moldova.

Almost all countries of Eastern Europe are experiencing a shortage of minerals, although the region as a whole is not resource-poor. The point is that the issue of "incompleteness" of resources is acute here (in each country there are large reserves of one or two minerals and absolutely no others). Do not give to bring the economic situation to critical numerous transit routes passing through the region, and active trade between countries.

The states themselves vary greatly in size, population, standard of living, ecology, etc. It is impossible to get a clear picture of the region, considering only some of them.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is a small state with a population of 11 million people (7% of the population of Eastern Europe). The number practically does not change the last almost twenty years. The postwar maximum for the population of the Czech Republic reached in 1991, after a steady decline in the number.

Since 2006, the state's population is gradually increasing, largely due to migrants from the countries of the former USSR. At the end of 2008, for example, almost 500 thousand foreigners legally lived in the Czech Republic. Most of them were immigrants from Ukraine (31%), Slovakia (17%), as well as Poland, Russia and Vietnam. Vietnamese (13%), Russians (6%), Poles (5%) and Germans (4%). The remaining 24% are representatives of other nationalities.

Most of the residents - 70% - young and mature people aged 25 to 50, 13% are children under 15 years old, the rest of the population - 16% - the elderly. The coefficient of total demographic burden for the Czech Republic is 42.4%. This means that the number of able-bodied citizens is almost twice as large as the number of those who are still or are no longer able to work and provide themselves. The child load factor (the ratio of the number of children under 15 to the adult population) is 19%, the pension ratio (the ratio of the number of pensioners to able-bodied citizens) is 23%.

The national composition of the Czech Republic is represented by 95% ethnic Czechs. This includes Czechs directly (81.3%), as well as immigrants from Silesia and Moravia (13.7%).

Poland

Poland is the most religious country not only in the region, but throughout Europe. Out of 39 million people (which is 29% of the population of Eastern Europe) 85% profess Catholicism. Like the Czech Republic, Poland is considered very attractive for tourists. Travelers are attracted by low prices, a large number of medieval castles and delicious national cuisine.

In the middle of last century, Poland experienced a severe economic decline, which had a great impact on the quality of life of the population. However, after joining the UN and the reforms carried out in the 1990s, the state began a rapid rise. At the moment, Poland is considered one of the most dynamically developing countries in Europe. It attracts a large number of migrants from Ukraine.

Poland's demographic indicators worsened after the country joined the European Union. The reason was mass migration of the able-bodied population into more developed (at that time) states. As a result, the birth rate decreased, an annual population decline, albeit a small (-0.06) is observed.

As for the national composition, Poland is one of the most mono-national states in the world. 97% of the population consider themselves to be Poles, other nationalities are represented by Roma, Germans, Ukrainians and Byelorussians.

Romania

Romania is an industrial country with a developing economy. The main emphasis in the economy on the state makes for oil (which is here in abundance) and high-quality oil refining equipment. Almost 60% of the population are able-bodied citizens. Of these, 40% are engaged in services, 30% in agriculture and the same in the industrial sector.

In Romania today there is a decrease in population. The main cause of negative demographic phenomena is migration outflow. For example, in 1991 the population loss (migration) was 18%, in 2001 - 25%, and in 2007, after the country's accession to the European Union - 22%. In recent years, migration loss has somehow been covered by migrants from Moldova who have massively arrived in Romania, providing citizenship. However, already in 2013 the country does not receive a natural migration increase.

Ukraine

Ukraine is an industrial-agrarian country, with just over 40 million inhabitants. The twentieth century the country met with the highest rates of population growth in Europe. Its number was further influenced by the First and Second World Wars, the Civil War, the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the political crisis, which, beginning in 2014, did not end until now. The situation with the population is far from the best.

Hungary

Hungary is a small country with a rapidly developing economy. The main emphasis of the state is on engineering and industry. The population in 2013 was 9 million people. The number of citizens is steadily growing, although there is a negative natural increase.

The population of the country is monoethnic, because most of the inhabitants are Hungarians. A significant number of Hungarian communities live in neighboring countries.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a small country with a weak economy, the population is just over 7 million (5% of the population of Eastern Europe). The economy of Bulgaria has experienced many dramatic moments and is currently in decline. There are coal and gas reserves in the country, on the whole, there are very few resources. Great emphasis Bulgaria makes on agriculture (especially on tobacco and winemaking).

Most of the population lives in cities, although the number of urban residents has been growing very slowly. The predominant number of citizens is employed in the services sector, slightly less in the industrial sector. Only 10% of the population is engaged in agriculture.

Slovakia

Slovakia is a small country with a population of only 5 million people (about 4% of the population of South-Eastern Europe). The country is considered to be the most developed country. Stable rates of development of the state were reflected in the population - a natural increase in 2016, for example, amounted to 5.2 thousand people.

In addition, the country also differs in national composition: there are more than 15 regions with a high concentration of Hungarian population in Slovakia, and Russian-speaking citizens live mainly in Presov region. Slovakia accounts for 85% of the population, other ethnic groups are represented by such nationalities:

• Hungarians (10%);
• Gypsies (2%);
• Czechs (0.8%);
• Russians and Ukrainians (0.6%);
• Other nationalities (1.4%).

Moldova

Moldova is the country with the lowest number in Eastern Europe. According to the latest estimates, there are just over 3 million people living here. This is only 2% of the population of Eastern Europe. However, it is in this country that the population density is very high. It is 131 people per square kilometer. This is the largest population density in Eastern Europe.

The number of citizens has been declining since the nineties. Although, according to statistics, there are 12 deaths per 15 births. The number of Moldovans is decreasing due to migration processes - many citizens decide to try their luck abroad.

The economy in the country is very weak, the main focus is on agriculture, where most of the population is employed (65%). There are almost no mineral resources on the territory of the state, so resources must be purchased mainly from neighbors. Despite the large number of attractions, tourism is poorly developed.

Belarus

Belarus is a medium-sized country with a population of 10 million people. The economy of the state is based on social orientation. The main focus is on light industry, agriculture and engineering.

The population of the republic at the moment is 9.5 million people. The number of deaths exceeds the number of births long enough. The population of Belarus has been steadily declining since 1993. Most of the inhabitants then lived in cities (67%), today this figure is even higher - 76%.

The average life expectancy in the country is 72 years. This is slightly higher than in neighboring Russia and Ukraine, but much lower than in European countries.