Map: Where Europe is growing and where it is shrinking - The Washington Post
▻https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/06/23/map-where-europe-is-growing-and-where-it-is-shrinking
However, new research, released by German researchers this week, reveals a far more nuanced picture of which parts of Europe have shrunk over the first decade of this century and which have grown.
Some of the data collected by Germany’s federal institute for construction research offers stunning insights. The institute’s map is one of the first attempts to compare demographic trends all over Europe between 2001 and 2011. Areas colored green had an average annual increase in population over that time span, and areas colored brown experienced a decline in population. In areas colored white, no significant change occurred.
These are the key findings:
These European cities are becoming more American
According to the researchers, many of Europe’s largest city centers have seen their populations dwindle between 2001 and 2011 as more people moved away and birthrates went up in metropolitan areas and suburbs where housing is more affordable.
mouais, pour la bagnole alors
Unlike in many other nations, France’s population is expanding above E.U. average in rural areas. German researcher Volker Schmidt-Seiwert told WorldViews: “The country’s excellent transport system might help explain why families deliberately decide to stay in rural areas, instead of moving into cities.”