Source
Central Bank

European Central Bank

International Reserves

USD 882.5 billion (2018)

World Bank, Data retrieved October 2019

Countries that are part of the Eurosystem (Countries that use the euro)

Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,  Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain. Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City have adopted the euro as their national currency by virtue of specific monetary agreements with the EU. Montenegro and Kosovo likewise use the euro, but without a formal arrangement.

Source: European Commission/European Central Bank

Gross Domestic Product at market prices

Euro Area:

USD 13,639.1 billion (2018, estimate)

European Union: 

USD 18,736.9 billion (2018, estimate)

Source: IMF - World Economic Outlook, October 2019

GDP PPP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Euro Area:

N/A

European Union:

Intil $22,042.1 billion (2018, Estimate)

Source: IMF–World Economic Outlook, October 2019

Real GDP Growth
  2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
European Union               0.3% 1.6% 2.3% 1.9% 1.7%
Euro area 2.1% 1.9% 2.5% 1.9% 1.2%
GDP per capita PPP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Euro Area:

N/A

European Union:

Intl$ 43,187.5 (2018, estimate) 

Source: IMF - World Economic Outlook, October 2019


GDP - composition by sector

European Union

Agriculture: 1.6%
Industry: 5.1%
Services: 0.9% 

(2017 estimate)

Source: CIA World Facebook

 
 
Source
Gross domestic expenditure on R&D (% of GDP)

Euro Area:

N/A

European Union:

2% (2017)

Source: OECD

Inflation
  2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Euro Area 0.2% 0.2% 1.5% 1.8% 1.2%
European Union 0.1% 0.2% 1.7% 1.9% 1.5%
Unemployment Rate
  2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Euro Area 10.9% 10.0% 9.1% 8.2% 7.7%
European Union 9.4% 8.6% 7.6% 6.8% N/A
Household Saving Rates

Euro Area: 

5% (2017)

Source: OECD/Household saving rates (% of household disposable income) 

Public Debt (General government gross debt as a % of GDP)
  2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Euro Area 98.2% 89.5% 87.3% 85.4% 83.9%
European Union 86.5% 83.6% 81.9% 81.9% 80.4%
Public Deficit (General government net lending/borrowing as a % of GDP)
  2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Euro Area -2.0% -1.6% -1.0% -0.5% -0.9%
European Union -2.3% -1.6% -1.0% -0.6% -0.9%
Largest companies

European Union:

Erste Group Bank, OMV Group, Raiffeisen Bank International, Voestalpine, Vienna Insurance Group, STRABAG, Verbund, Bawag Group, Uniqa, Anheuser-Busch InBev, KBC Group, Ageas, Solvay, Dexia, UCB, Umicore, Colruyt, Proximus, Sofina, Møller-Maersk, Danske Bank, Novo Nordisk, Orsted, Carlsberg, Vestas Wind Systems, DSV, Coloplast, Jyske Bank, Novozymes, H Lundbeck, ISS, Drilling Company of 1972, Sampo, Nokia, UPM-Kymmene, Neste, Fortum, Kone, Stora Enso, Wärtsilä, Kesko, Aeroports de Paris, Accor, Gecina, Dassault Aviation, Klepierre, Covivio, Arkema, Dassault Systemes, SEB SA, Finatis, Rexel, Wendel, Burelle, Bureau Veritas, Ipsen, EssilorLuxottica, Bouygues, Pernod Ricard, Thales, Saint-Gobain, Sodexo, Carrefour, Publicis Groupe, Capgemini, Veolia Environnement, Vivendi, Eiffage, ATOS, Hermès International, Valeo, Scor, Air France-KLM, Alstom, Financiere de l'Odet, Legrand, Total, BNP Paribas, AXA Group, Credit Agricole, Sanofi, Christian Dior, Société Générale, VINCI, Orange, L'Oréal, Renault, Peugeot, ENGIE, Danone, Schneider Electric, Air Liquide, EDF, CNP Assurances, Safran, Natixis, Kering, Michelin Group, Evonik, RWE Group, Porsche Automobil Holding, Deutsche Boerse, Uniper, Covestro, Infineon Technologies, EnBW-Energie Baden, Deutsche Wohnen, ThyssenKrupp Group, Beiersdorf, TUI, Schaeffler, Knorr-Bremse, Metro Group, Brenntag, Volkswagen Group, Allianz, Daimler, BMW Group, Siemens, BASF, Deutsche Telekom, Munich Re, Bayer, SAP, Deutsche Post, Continental, Fresenius, E.ON, Henkel, Deutsche Lufthansa, Adidas, HeidelbergCement, Talanx, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Merck, Vonovia, Wuestenrot & Wuerttembergische, KION Group, Ceconomy, HELLA, MTU Aero Engines AG, LEG Immobilien AG, Deutsche Pfandbriefbank, BayWa, Wirecard, Aareal Bank, Nuernberger Beteiligungs, Zalando, Fraport, Lanxess, National Bank of Greece, Piraeus Bank, Alpha Bank, Eurobank Ergasias, OTP Bank, MOL Hungarian Oil, Medtronic, Accenture, Johnson Controls International, Eaton, CRH, Ingersoll Rand, Allergan, Aptiv, AIB Group, Ryanair Holdings, Seagate Technology, Bank of Ireland, Kerry Group, AerCap Holdings, Experian, DCC, Adient, Smurfit Kappa Group, Banca MPS, Pirelli, FinecoBank, Banca Mediolanum, Credito Emiliano, Banca Popolare di Sondrio, Saipem, Prysmian, Saras, Enel, Eni, Intesa Sanpaolo, Generali Group, UniCredit, Poste Italiane, Atlantia, Unipol Gruppo, Telecom Italia, Mediobanca, Snam, Leonardo, Terna, UBI Banca, Ferrari, Banco BPM, BPER Banca, Cattolica Assicurazioni, ArcelorMittal, Aroundtown, Tenaris, Ternium, RTL Group, Spotify Technology, CPI Property Group., Altice Europe, Wolters Kluwer, X5 Retail Group, Yandex NV, KPN, Adyen, VEON, Royal Dutch Shell, ING Group, AIRBUS, Unilever, EXOR, Royal Ahold Delhaize N.V., Heineken, NN Group, ASML Holding, Philips, Aegon, NXP Semiconductors, Unibail-Rodamco, Akzo Nobel, DSM, Steinhoff International, Randstad Holding, Asr Nederland, PKN Orlen, Grupa PZU, PKO Bank Polski, Pgnig Group, Bank Pekao, PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna, Grupa LOTOS, Edp-energias De Portugal, Galp Energia, Jeronimo Martins, Banco Comercial Portugues, Bankinter, Grifols, Ferrovial, Red Eléctrica, Merlin Properties SOCIMI S.A, Acciona, Unicaja Banco, Liberbank, Santander, BBVA-Banco Bilbao Vizcaya, Telefónica, Iberdrola, Repsol, Inditex, CaixaBank, Grupo ACS, Mapfre, Naturgy Energy Group, Aena, Bankia, Amadeus IT Group, Banco de Sabadell, Nordea Bank, Volvo Group, SEB AB, Svenska Handelsbanken, Swedbank, H&M - Hennes & Mauritz, Telia, Atlas Copco, Ericsson, Essity Ab, Sandvik, Investor AB, Skanska, Assa Abloy, SKF Group, Hexagon, Electrolux Group, Boliden, ICA Gruppen, Epiroc, Fastighets Balder, Industrivarden, Alfa Laval, Autoliv, Lundbergs, Securitas, 3i Group, Phoenix Group Holdings, Ashtead Group, RSA Insurance Group, Johnson Matthey, Bunzl, IHS Markit, Segro, Smith & Nephew, St. James's Place, Barratt Developments, Persimmon, Next, Wm Morrison Supermarkets, Antofagasta, BT Group, Diageo, Reckitt Benckiser Group, LyondellBasell Industries, Standard Chartered, Imperial Brands, International Airlines, Vodafone, CNH Industrial, WPP, Compass Group, Associated British Foods, Aon, RELX, Coca-Cola European Partners, HSBC Holdings, BP, Lloyds Banking Group, British American Tobacco, Rio Tinto, Prudential, GlaxoSmithKline, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Linde, Aviva, AstraZeneca, National Grid, Tesco, Anglo American, Legal & General Group, Land Securities Group, Burberry Group, Berkeley Group Holdings, Inchcape, Daily Mail & General Trust, TP ICAP, Micro Focus International, Kingfisher, Taylor Wimpey, Quilter, Whitbread, Cybg, Atlassian, United Utilities, Informa plc, Marks & Spencer, Dixons Carphone, Royal Mail, Sensata Technologies Holding, EasyJet, Thomas Cook Group, Willis Towers Watson, London Stock Exchange, Rolls-Royce Holdings, Liberty Global, SSE, Ferguson, Evraz Group, Mylan, Centrica, En+ Group Plc Sponsored GDR RegS, J Sainsbury, Investec, Melrose Industries Plc, Technipfmc, Mondi

Source: Forbes Global 2000 (2016)

Top 15 Banks in the EU

HSBC, United Kingdom
BNP Paribas ,France
Credit Agricole, France
Deutsche Bank, Germany
Barclays, United Kingdom
Societe Generale, France
Royal Bank of Scotland, United Kingdom
Groupe BPCE, France
Banco Santander, Spain
ING Netherlands
Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe,  Germany
Lloyds Bank, United Kingdom
UniCredit, Italy
Rabobank, Netherlands
Nordea, Sweden

Source
 
 
Source
Current Account Balance (% GDP)

Euro Area:

2.8% (2019 estimate)

European Union:

2% (2019 estimate)

Source: IMF - World Economic Outlook, October 2019

Exports of goods and services (% GDP)

Euro Area:

46 % (2018)

European Union:

44% (2018)

Source: World Bank–World Development Indicators

Share in world total merchandise exports

European Union:

11.9% (2018, Intra-EU trade excluded)

Source: World Trade Organization–World Trade Stastical Review 2019

Share of world total commercial services export

European Union:

18.9% (2018, Intra-EU trade excluded)

Source: World Trade Organization–World Trade Stastical Review 2019

Total export (trade in goods and commercial services, excluding intra-EU trade)

European Union:

USD 1,929 billion (2016 Estimate)

Source: CIA World Factbook

Export commodities

European Union:

Machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, fuels, aircraft, plastics, iron and steel, wood pulp and paper products, alcoholic beverages, furniture

Source: CIA World Factbook

Total import (trade in goods and commercial services, excluding intra-EU trade)

European Union:

USD 1,895 billion (2016 Estimate)

Source: CIA World Factbook

Import commodities

European Unions:

Fuels and crude oil, machinery, vehicles, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, precious gemstones, textiles, aircraft, plastics, metals, ships

Source: CIA World Factbook

 
 
Source
Export - Main trading partners (excluding intra-EU trade)

European Union:

United States 20.7%

China 9.6%

Switzerland 8.1%

Turkey 4.4%

Russia 4.1%

(2016 est.)

Source: CIA World Factbook

Import - Main trading partners

European Union:

China 20.1%

United States 14.5%

Switzerland 7.1%

Russia 6.3% 

(2016 est.)

Source: CIA World Factbook

Foreign direct investment inflows (from extra EU countries)

Euro Area:

2016– USD 314,947 million

2017– USD 191,709 million

2018– USD 163,765 million

European Union:

2016– USD 556,119 million

2017– USD 340,570 million

2018– USD 277,640 million

Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Foreign direct investment outflows (toward extra EU countries)

Euro Area:

2016– USD 314,947 million

2017– USD 191,709 million

2018– USD 163,765 million

European Union:

2016– USD 556,119 million

2017– USD 340,570 million

2018– USD 277,640 million

Source: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

 
 
Source
Time zone

European Union:

UTC+1 (Brussles)

Source: CIA World Factbook

Source
Total area

European Union:

4,324,782 sq km

Source: CIA World Factbook

Member states European Union

28 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK

Source: European Commission

Candidate countries European Union

Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and  Turkey

Source: European Commission

Capital/political centers European Union

Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France), Luxembourg. Note - the European Council, a gathering of the EU heads of state and/or government, and the Council of the European Union, a ministerial-level body of ten formations, meet in Brussels, Belgium, except for Council meetings held in Luxembourg in April, June, and October; the European Parliament meets in Brussels and Strasbourg, France, and has administrative offices in Luxembourg; the Court of Justice of the European Union is located in Luxembourg; and the European Central Bank is located in Frankfurt, Germany.

Source: CIA World Factbook

Languages

Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish.

Source: CIA World Facebook

Religions

Roman Catholic 48%

Protestant 12%

Orthodox 8%

Other Christian 4%

Muslim 2% O

ther 1% (includes Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu)

Atheist 7%

Non-believer/agnostic 16%

Unspecified 2%

(2012 est.)

Source: CIA World Factbook

Total population

Euro Area:

341,925,001

European Union:

513,481,690

(2019)

Source: Eurostat
 

 
 
Source
Population density (inhabitants per km²)

European Union:

117.7 (2017)

Source: Eurostat

Population age structure

Euro Area:

0-14 Years: 15.1%

15-24 Years: 10.7%

25-54 Years: 32.9%

55-66 Years: 20.9%

65 Years and over: 20.4% 

European Union:

0-14 Years: 15.6%

15-24 Years: 10.8%

25-54 Years: 33.5%

55-66 Years: 20.4%

65 Years and over: 19.8%

(2018)

Source: Eurostat

Population Median Age:

42.9 years 

(2017 estimate)

Source: CIA World Factbook

Population growth rate

European Union:  

0.19%

(2018 estimte)

Source: CIA World Factbook

Life expectancy at birth by gender

Euro Area:

Male: 82 years
Female: 84.5 years
Total population: 79.4 years

(2017)

European Union:

Male: 78.3 years
Female: 83.5 years
Total population: 80.9 years

(2017)

Source: Eurostat
 

Inequality of wealth distribution (Gini Index)

European Union: 

30.8 (2016 estimate)

(0=perfect equality, 100=absolute inequality)

Source: CIA World Factbook

Computer use (Individuals who used a computer within the last year)

Euro Area:

80% 

European Union: 

81%

(2017)

Source: Eurostat

% of households who have internet access at home

Euro Area:

89%

European Union:

89%

(2018)

Source: Eurostat

% of households with a broadband connection

Euro Area:

86%

European Union:

86%

(2018)

Source: Eurostat

Mercer Cost of living index

Copenhagen: 20th
London: 23rd
Libreville: 24th
Dublin: 43rd
Milan: 45th
Paris: 47th
Vienna: 51st
Rome: 55th
Amsterdam: 58th
Helsinki: 65th
Munich: 67th
Frankfurt: 74th
Brussels: 77th
Berlin: 81st
Madrid: 82nd
Luxembourg: 84th
Barcelona: 91st
Düsseldorf: 92nd
Lisbon: 95th
Prague: 97th
Hamburg: 100th
Riga: 111th
Lyon: 123rd
Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe): 125th
Stuttgart: 126th
Stockholm: 127th
Athens: 128th
Bratislava: 131st
Birmingham: 135th
Aberdeen: 137th
Tallinn: 140th
Ljubljana: 142nd
Zagreb: 143rd
Glasgow: 145th
Nürnberg: 151st
Vilnius: 152nd
Leipzig: 156th
Belfast: 158th
Limassol: 161st
Budapest: 164th
Warsaw: 173rd
Bucharest: 176th
Sofia: 177th
Tbilisi: 202nd
Banjul: 204th

(2019)

Source: Mercer - 2019 Cost of Living Ranking

Source