How big is the EU?

The European Union covers nearly four million square kilometres. Seen on a map of the world, this is not a huge area – but it embraces 25 countries. Their size varies widely, from France (biggest) to Malta (smallest).Surface area in 2001, measured in thousands of square kilometres

The figure for France does not include the Overseas departments - Source: EurostatSurface area, measured in millions of square kilometres

Source: Eurostat and World Bank

Quality of life

A good quality of life depends on a whole series of factors, including having enough money and being in good health. How wealthy and healthy are Europeans? The answer varies from one country to another.

To get a rough idea of the material standard of living in a particular country we can measure the total value of everything that country produces in a given calendar year (its ‘gross domestic product’: GDP) and then divide that figure by the number of inhabitants.

But prices vary from one country to another, and those price differences must be eliminated before we can compare standards of living. We can do this by measuring the price of a comparable and representative ‘basket’ of goods and services in each country. This figure is given not in national currency units but in a common artificial currency we call the ‘purchasing power standard’ (PPS).

Comparing GDP per inhabitant in PPS gives a fair comparison of the standard of living in different countries

GDP PER INHABITANT

Standards of living in Europe have improved significantly over the past decade. In 1995, GDP per inhabitant (in PPS) for the EU-25 was 15 200. Ten years later it had risen to 23 400.In European countries, standards of living are among the highest in the world. The standard of living in the EU varies from country to country. GDP per inhabitant (in PPS) is highest in Luxembourg and lowest in Latvia. The EU is striving to strengthen the EU’s economy, make it more competitive and create more jobs so we can all enjoy a better quality of life.

GDP per inhabitant in PPS as a percentage of the EU-25 average, 2006

Standards of living also vary within each country. In some regions of the EU, as the map shows, GDP per inhabitant in PPS is less than 50% of the EU-25 average. In other regions it is 25% higher than the EU-25 average.

The EU’s ‘structural funds’ help even out these differences by improving life in poorer regions. Over 35% of the EU’s budget is used to boost the economies of these regions, and in turn strengthen the EU as a whole.

How healthu are Europeans?

Smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise are among the factors that increase your risk of developing cancer and ischaemic heart disease – in which clogged or damaged arteries deliver too little blood to the heart.

Interestingly, more men than women die of these diseases in the EU, and the proportion of the population affected varies widely from one member state to another. In 2000, Hungary had the highest death rate from cancer, while for ischaemic heart diseases it was Estonia. The death rate from cancer was lowest in Finland, while France reported the EU’s lowest death rate for ischaemic heart diseases.

Deaths from cancer and ischaemic heart diseases per 100 000 inhabitants, EU-25, 2001

Sport is good for health. A Eurobarometer survey carried out in late 2004 indicates that 38% of people in the EU engage in some sporting activity at least once a week. The percentage in each country varies: it is highest in Scandinavia and lowest in some southern countries such as Portugal and some new member states such as Hungary.

But there are exceptions to the old-new divide: for example, Slovenians appear to be very physically active.

Overall, more men than women go in for sports, and the younger you are the more physically active you are likely to be.

The graph shows the percentage of people interviewed in each EU country who say they never do any sports.

 Percent of people interviewed in each country who never do any sport, 2007 .A fair and caring society

The European social model takes different forms in different countries, but all EU countries aim to be fair and caring societies. Tax revenue helps pay for social protection systems (such as pension, health care and unemployment benefit schemes) which are designed to protect vulnerable members of society. The amount of money spent on each inhabitant varies from country to country.

As the population ages, those in work have to support an increasing number of senior citizens. To take account of this trend, and to keep welfare costs under control, EU countries are re-designing their social protection systems. Europe’s social model has to be modernised to preserve it for future generations.