Key figures for enlargement countries

Data from April 2026

Planned article update: July 2027

Highlights

In 2024, the population density of the enlargement countries ranged from 46 inhabitants per km² in Montenegro to 112 in Türkiye. Türkiye was the only enlargement country with a population density above the EU average of 110 inhabitants per km².

In 2025, GDP per capita at current market prices ranged from €6 500 in Albania (2022 data) to €14 140 in Türkiye (2024 data) among the enlargement countries. By comparison, the EU average stood at €41 620

In 2025, 99.3% of households in both Albania and Kosovo^[1] had internet access at home, while Türkiye reached 96.2%. All 3 exceeded the EU average of 94.7%. The lowest shares among the enlargement countries were recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina (88.2%) and Montenegro (88.1%).

In 2025, Bosnia and Herzegovina recorded the widest unemployment gender gap among the enlargement countries, with unemployment among women 7.5 percentage points (pp) higher than among men. North Macedonia was the only country where unemployment was higher for men than for women (-1.1 pp).

This article is part of an online publication and provides information on six main topics for the enlargement countries and compares this with the corresponding data for the European Union (EU).

The data used in this article have all been submitted to and validated by Eurostat's subject matter units, following the same process as for the EU countries. For Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, data on the indicators presented in this article are not yet transmitted according to this process and are therefore not yet available. However, data on Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine are also presented in the Statistics Explained articles for European Neighbourhood Policy - East countries; these articles are based on annual indicators supplied by and under the responsibility of the national statistical authorities of each country.

The article includes information relating to population density; gross domestic product per capita at current prices; Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income; energy productivity; households with internet access, and the unemployment gender gap.

Population density

Data on population density, measured in number of inhabitants per square kilometre (km²), are illustrated in Figure 1 for the enlargement countries compared with the EU. Data are not available for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Kosovo.

In 2024, Türkiye recorded the highest population density among the enlargement countries, at 112 inhabitants per km², slightly above the EU average of 110 inhabitants per km². Serbia followed with 91 inhabitants per km² (2019 data), while Albania and North Macedonia recorded 85 and 73 inhabitants per km² respectively. Montenegro had the lowest population density among the enlargement countries with available data, at 46 inhabitants per km².

The observed variation in population density across the enlargement countries reflects differences in territorial extent and in how the population is distributed between urban and rural areas.

Gross domestic product per capita

GDP per capita (per inhabitant) is a broad economic indicator that may be used for a basic analysis of living standards. By removing the influence of population size, GDP per capita makes comparisons between countries of different sizes more relevant.

Figure 2 shows GDP per capita at current market prices in the enlargement countries and in the EU in 2025. For converting GDP in national currencies into euro, the average current exchange rate of the reference year has been used. Data are not available for Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Kosovo.

In 2025, the highest GDP per capita among the enlargement countries was recorded in Türkiye, with €14 140 (2024 data), followed by Serbia with €13 540 (estimated) and Montenegro with €13 110 (provisional). These values represent around one third of the EU average of €41 620 in 2025. GDP per capita was considerably lower in North Macedonia (€8 590; 2024 data, estimated) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (€8 050; 2024 data), while the lowest value was recorded in Albania at €6 500 (2022 data).

Across the enlargement countries, the highest GDP per capita was slightly more than twice the lowest. By contrast, disparities within the EU were considerably larger, with GDP per capita ranging from around €18 000 in Bulgaria to more than €130 000 in Luxembourg.

Income inequality

The Gini coefficient is a measure of income inequality. It shows the extent to which the incomes within the population differ from the average income: the closer the coefficient is to 100, the less equal are the incomes; the closer the coefficient is to 0, the more equal they are.

In Figure 3, the Gini coefficient for 2025 has been calculated on the basis of the equivalised disposable income, i.e. the sum of all income received by the members of a household, after tax and social contributions but including social benefits, divided by the number of household members (converted into ‘equivalised adults’). Data are not available for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Kosovo.

The income inequality in the EU measured by the Gini coefficient stood at 29.4 in 2024, lower than in all enlargement countries for which data are available. Among these, Türkiye recorded by far the highest level of income inequality, with a coefficient of 43.9 in 2025.

The other enlargement countries displayed relatively similar levels of income inequality. Serbia recorded a Gini coefficient of 31.9 (2024 data), followed by Montenegro with 31.5 (2022 data), North Macedonia with 30.3 (2023 data) and Albania with 30.2 (2023 data).

Energy productivity

Figure 4 presents energy productivity in the enlargement countries and the EU in 2024. It shows how much economic output is generated from each unit of energy used. Higher values indicate a more efficient use of energy. The indicator is measured as gross domestic product (GDP) per kilograms of oil equivalent (kgoe) of gross available energy (GAE) which covers the energy needed to meet a country's total demand for energy.

The data reflect the energy efficiency and economic structures of these economies, and can be influenced by many factors, including technological advancements, shifts in the industrial base and energy policy.

Among the enlargement countries, Türkiye recorded the highest energy productivity in 2024, at €7.3 per kgoe. Albania followed with €6.0 per kgoe, while Montenegro and North Macedonia recorded €4.0 and €3.8 per kgoe, respectively.

Lower levels were observed in Serbia (€2.8 per kgoe) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (€2.6 per kgoe). Kosovo reported €2.5 per kgoe (2022 data), the lowest value among the enlargement countries with available data. Data are not available for Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine.

The EU recorded a higher level of energy productivity than any of the enlargement countries, at €10.0 per kgoe in 2024. This may reflect higher energy efficiency and/or a larger share of economic activity in less energy-intensive sectors.

Households with internet access

The data in Figure 5 presents the share of households in the enlargement countries and the EU that had internet access at home in 2025. The data are independent of the type of device used by households or the type of internet connection. Data are not available for Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine.

Kosovo and Albania recorded the highest shares among the enlargement countries, with 99.3% of households having internet access at home in 2025. Türkiye followed with 96.2%. All 3 exceeded the EU average of 94.7%.

In the remaining enlargement countries, the shares were below the EU average. Internet access at home was available in 91.2% of households in North Macedonia and 90.1% in Serbia. The lowest shares were recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina (88.2%) and Montenegro (88.1%).

Unemployment gender gap

The unemployment gender gap is calculated for the economically active population (also called the labour force), in Figure 6 for the population aged between 25 and 74. The gender gap is defined as the difference between the unemployment rates for women and men, respectively, calculated as the rate for women minus that for men. The gap is measured in percentage points (pp) difference. Positive values indicate a higher unemployment rate for women than for men.

Figure 6 presents the unemployment gender gap in the enlargement countries and in the EU in 2025. Data are not available for Albania, Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine and Kosovo.

In 2025, the unemployment rate for women was 7.5 pp higher than for men in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the widest unemployment gender gap among the enlargement countries. The second largest gap was recorded in Türkiye, where the unemployment rate for women was 3.3 pp higher than for men.

In Serbia and Montenegro, the unemployment gender gap was substantially smaller, at 0.8 pp in both countries (Montenegro: 2020 data), compared with 0.5 pp in the EU.

North Macedonia was the only enlargement country where the unemployment rate for men was higher than that for women, with an unemployment gender gap of -1.1 pp in 2025.

Source data for tables and graphs

Key figures for enlargement countries: tables and figures

Data sources

The enlargement countries provide data directly to Eurostat's subject matter units, responsible for the respective statistical sectors; these data have been used in this article. The same process applies to Eurostat's regular data collection from EU countries. These statistics are available on Eurostat's website.

While basic principles and institutional frameworks for producing statistics are already in place, the enlargement countries are expected to increase the volume and quality of their data progressively, and to transmit these data to Eurostat in the context of the EU enlargement process. European statistical system (ESS) standards in the field of statistics require the existence of a statistical infrastructure based on principles such as professional independence, impartiality, relevance, confidentiality of individual data and easy access to official statistics; they cover methodology, classifications and standards for production.

For more details on the specific surveys and data collections providing the data presented in this overview article, please consult the 'Data sources' section of the respective thematic articles for the enlargement countries.

Context

Eurostat assesses and supports the alignment of statistical production in the enlargement countries with the EU acquis in the field of statistics. Eurostat supports the national statistical offices and other producers of official statistics through a range of initiatives, such as statistical projects, training courses, traineeships, study visits, workshops and seminars, and participation in meetings within the ESS. The ultimate goal is the provision of harmonised, high-quality data that conforms to European and international standards.

Additional information on statistical cooperation with the enlargement countries is provided in the Statistics explained background article Enlargement policy and statistical cooperation.

Footnotes

This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence. ↑