Geography and Demographics of Europe

Europe and the European Union

Europe's Physical Geography

The European Territory

Europe, a continent of relatively small extension, is located in the Northern Hemisphere between 35° and 72° north latitude. It is characterized by a prevalence of plains.

Key topographical features include:

• Old Mountains: These reliefs are heavily eroded, forming hilly or flat shapes. Examples include the French Massif Central, the Vosges, and parts of the Alps.
• Plains: Extensive plains stretch from France eastward to the Ural Mountains.
• Young Mountains: These ranges feature high altitudes. Notable examples are the Alps, the Apennines, and the Carpathians.

European Natural Environments

Europe exhibits a diverse range of natural environments:

• Tundra: Characterized by a polar climate, with vegetation primarily consisting of mosses and lichens. Rivers in these regions are often frozen.
• Deciduous Forest: Found in areas with an oceanic climate, featuring vegetation composed of deciduous trees. These regions are rich in rivers and coastal areas.
• Pine Forest (Taiga): Prevalent in continental climates, this vegetation zone includes the taiga, grasslands, and steppes. It is home to long rivers.
• Forest and Mediterranean Scrub: Typical of Mediterranean climates, with vegetation like oaks, cork trees, and various bushes. Rivers here are generally short and irregular.
• High Mountain: Defined by a high mountain climate, with vegetation arranged in distinct altitudinal zones.

The physical environment in Europe has significantly fostered human activity. The long history of settlement and intense occupation of the territory have resulted in a highly humanized landscape. Europe is the birthplace of major civilizations, including the Greek, Roman, and Christian, contributing to its great diversity.

The European Population

Demographic Overview

Europe is home to over 730 million inhabitants, representing approximately 11.2% of the world population. Its population density is high, second only to Asia. However, the population is distributed irregularly across the continent, leading to significant regional contrasts.

The evolution of the European population has largely followed the model of demographic transition. Currently, due to low birth and death rates, natural growth is in a phase of stagnation, sometimes even becoming negative, where the mortality rate exceeds the birth rate.

Migration has historically played a crucial role on the European continent. In the twentieth century, thousands of people emigrated from Europe. Years later, millions of immigrants arrived, shaping the continent's demographic profile.

The age structure of Europe corresponds to that of an aging population, primarily due to low birth rates and high life expectancy.