European Union member state facts for kids

The European Union (EU) is a group of countries in Europe that work together. A European Union member state is a country that has joined this group. The EU started in 1958 as the European Economic Community (EEC) with just six countries. Over time, more countries joined, making the group bigger. The largest growth happened on May 1, 2004, when ten new countries joined at once.

The EU now has 27 member countries. When more countries join, it's called "enlargement" or "European integration." To join, a country must meet certain rules, known as the Copenhagen criteria. These rules mean a country must be a democracy, respect human rights, and follow the law. All current EU countries and the European Parliament must agree before a new country can join.

Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU on January 1, 2007. They signed an agreement called the Treaty of Accession in Luxembourg in 2005.

The United Kingdom used to be an EU member. It joined in 1973. On June 23, 2016, people in the UK voted to leave the EU. The country officially left the EU on January 31, 2020. This is why there are now 27 member states.

The member states of the European Union are those not highlighted in light brown

List of EU Countries

The European flag flies outside Leeds Town Hall in Leeds, England.

Current Members

Flag	Country	Joined	Population	Capital City
	Austria	January 1, 1995	8,169,929	Vienna
	Belgium	March 25, 1957	10,274,595	Brussels
	Bulgaria	January 1, 2007	7,679,290	Sofia
	Croatia	July 1, 2013	4,290,612	Zagreb
	Cyprus	May 1, 2004	835,000	Nicosia
	Czechia	May 1, 2004	10,256,760	Prague
	Denmark	January 1, 19732	5,368,854	Copenhagen
	Estonia	May 1, 2004	1,415,681	Tallinn
	Finland	January 1, 1995	5,157,537	Helsinki
	France	March 25, 1957	59,765,983	Paris
	Germany	March 25, 19571	83,251,851	Berlin
	Greece	January 1, 1981	10,645,343	Athens
	Hungary	May 1, 2004	10,075,034	Budapest
	Ireland	January 1, 1973	4,234,925	Dublin
	Italy	March 25, 1957	58,751,711	Rome
	Latvia	May 1, 2004	2,366,515	Riga
	Lithuania	May 1, 2004	3,382,041	Vilnius
	Luxembourg	March 25, 1957	448,569	Luxembourg
	Malta	May 1, 2004	397,499	Valletta
	Netherlands	March 25, 1957	16,318,199	Amsterdam
	Poland	May 1, 2004	38,625,478	Warsaw
	Portugal	January 1, 1986	10,084,245	Lisbon
	Romania	January 1, 2007	21,698,181	Bucharest
	Slovakia	May 1, 2004	5,422,366	Bratislava
	Slovenia	May 1, 2004	1,932,917	Ljubljana
	Spain	January 1, 1986	44,708,964	Madrid
	Sweden	January 1, 1995	9,090,113	Stockholm

¹ On October 3, 1990, the former German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany, automatically becoming part of the EU.
² Greenland left the Community in 1985.

Former Members

Flag	Country	Joined	Left	Population	Capital City
	United Kingdom	January 1, 1973	January 31, 2020	60,201,000	London

Images for kids

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  Member states of the European Union (dark blue) (1993–present). Before 1993, the EU was known as the European Communities (sky blue). This animation shows countries joining and leaving.

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  A 2011 'family photo' of the European Council. This group includes the leaders of the member states, along with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.

See also

In Spanish: Estado miembro de la Unión Europea para niños