6.1 Figure 10 shows how the projected change in Scotland’s population between 2008 and 2033 compares to that for other countries in Europe. For UK countries these have been calculated using the 2008-based principal projection. For the other countries the figures are taken from Eurostat’s 2008-based convergence scenario projection3. Countries such as Germany and most of the recent accession states in eastern Europe are projected to experience a decline in population. The populations of Greece, Italy, Malta, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Portugal are all projected to increase but by less than in Scotland. The population of the remaining 10 EU member states, including the UK, are projected to increase by more than in Scotland.
Figure 10 Projected Percentage Population Change in Selected European Countries, 2008-2033