The Population Reference Bureau projected on 17 August 2004 that the United States would gain more than 126 million residents by 2050, reaching 419.9 million, a 43 percent increase from its then-current 293.6 million.
Europe faces the reverse. The continent's combined population is expected to fall from 728 million to 668 million by mid-century, an eight percent contraction. The Washington-based bureau noted that the United States stands alone among major industrialized nations in sustaining meaningful population growth.
Within Europe, the picture is uneven. Britain, France, and Ireland are all projected to grow, by 10, seven, and 16 percent respectively. Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain are forecast to shrink, with losses ranging from three to 11 percent.
Russia faces the sharpest decline, with its population expected to fall 17 percent, from 144.1 million in 2004 to 119.1 million in 2050. Eastern European nations will also lose ground: Hungary and Romania are each projected to shed roughly a quarter of their populations, Bulgaria more than a third, and Poland 15 percent, dropping to 32.4 million.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in August 2004, in its own words.