Member state of the European Union facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Member state of the European Union

Category	Member state
Location	European Union
Created	1952/1958/1993
Number	27 (as of 2024)
Possible types	Republics (21) Monarchies (6)
Populations	Smallest: Malta, 542,051 Largest: Germany, 84,358,845
Areas	Smallest: Malta, 316 km² (122 sq mi) Largest: France, 638,475 km² (246,517 sq mi)
Government	Parliamentary representative democracy (21) Semi-presidential representative democracy (5) Presidential representative democracy (1)

The European Union (EU) is a special group of 27 countries in Europe. These countries have agreed to work together on many important things. They share some of their power to make decisions through EU organizations. This makes the EU different from other international groups.

When countries join the EU, they agree to follow its rules and laws. Sometimes, all countries must agree on a decision. Other times, decisions are made by a majority vote. The idea is to make decisions together only when it's better than each country deciding alone.

Each EU country sends a person called a European commissioner to work for the European Commission. These commissioners don't represent their home country. Instead, they work for the good of all EU countries.

The EU started in the 1950s with six countries: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and West Germany. More countries have joined over time. To join, a country must be a democratic government with a free-market economy. It also needs to respect human rights and the rule of law. All current members must agree for a new country to join.

The United Kingdom joined the EU in 1973 but left on January 31, 2020. This was called Brexit. No other country has left the EU, and none have been suspended.

Countries in the European Union
- Former Member States
Special Territories of EU Countries
How EU Membership Has Changed
- Joining the EU: Enlargement
- Leaving the EU: Withdrawal
How Countries are Represented in the EU
How Countries Share Power
- What the EU Can Do
- Special Support for Countries
Different Speeds of Integration
Types of Governments in the EU
Images for kids
See also

Countries in the European Union

The EU has 27 member countries. Each country has its own unique features. Here is a list of the current members.

Country	ISO	Joined	Population	Area (km²)	Largest city	GDP (US$ M)	GDP (PPP) per cap.	Currency	Gini	HDI	MEPs	Official languages
Austria	AT	January 1, 1995	&&&&&&&&08926000.&&&&&08,926,000	&&&&&&&&&&083855.&&&&&083,855	Vienna	&&&&&&&&&0447718.&&&&&0447,718	55,406	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&029.10000029.1	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.9220000.922	20	German
Belgium	BE	Founder	&&&&&&&011566041.&&&&&011,566,041	&&&&&&&&&&030528.&&&&&030,528	Brussels	&&&&&&&&&0517609.&&&&&0517,609	50,114	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&033.&&&&&033.0	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.9310000.931	22	Dutch French German
Bulgaria	BG	January 1, 2007	&&&&&&&&06916548.&&&&&06,916,548	&&&&&&&&&0110994.&&&&&0110,994	Sofia	&&&&&&&&&&066250.&&&&&066,250	23,741	lev	&&&&&&&&&&&&&029.20000029.2	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.8160000.816	17	Bulgarian
Croatia	HR	July 1, 2013	&&&&&&&&04036355.&&&&&04,036,355	&&&&&&&&&&056594.&&&&&056,594	Zagreb	&&&&&&&&&&080180.&&&&&080,180	42,531	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&029.&&&&&029	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.8510000.851	12	Croatian
Cyprus	CY	May 1, 2004	&&&&&&&&&0896000.&&&&&0896,000	&&&&&&&&&&&09251.&&&&&09,251	Nicosia	&&&&&&&&&&024280.&&&&&024,280	39,079	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&031.20000031.2	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.8870000.887	6	Greek Turkish
Czechia	CZ	May 1, 2004	&&&&&&&010574153.&&&&&010,574,153	&&&&&&&&&&078866.&&&&&078,866	Prague	&&&&&&&&&0246953.&&&&&0246,953	40,293	koruna	&&&&&&&&&&&&&025.80000025.8	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.9000000.900	21	Czech
Denmark	DK	January 1, 1973	&&&&&&&&05833883.&&&&&05,833,883	&&&&&&&&&&043075.&&&&&043,075	Copenhagen	&&&&&&&&&0347176.&&&&&0347,176	57,781	krone	&&&&&&&&&&&&&024.70000024.7	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.9400000.940	15	Danish
Estonia	EE	May 1, 2004	&&&&&&&&01330068.&&&&&01,330,068	&&&&&&&&&&045227.&&&&&045,227	Tallinn	&&&&&&&&&&031038.&&&&&031,038	37,033	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&036.&&&&&036.0	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.8920000.892	7	Estonian
Finland	FI	January 1, 1995	&&&&&&&&05527493.&&&&&05,527,493	&&&&&&&&&0338424.&&&&&0338,424	Helsinki	&&&&&&&&&0269654.&&&&&0269,654	49,334	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&026.90000026.9	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.9380000.938	15	Finnish Swedish
France	FR	Founder	&&&&&&&067439614.&&&&&067,439,614	&&&&&&&&&0632785.&&&&&0632,785	Paris	&&&&&&&&02707074.&&&&&02,707,074	45,454	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&032.70000032.7	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.9010000.901	81	French
Germany	DE	Founder	&&&&&&&083120520.&&&&&083,120,520	&&&&&&&&&0357386.&&&&&0357,386	Berlin	&&&&&&&&03863344.&&&&&03,863,344	53,571	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&031.90000031.9	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.9470000.947	96	German
Greece	GR	January 1, 1981	&&&&&&&010682547.&&&&&010,682,547	&&&&&&&&&0131990.&&&&&0131,990	Athens	&&&&&&&&&0214012.&&&&&0214,012	29,045	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&034.30000034.3	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.8880000.888	21	Greek
Hungary	HU	May 1, 2004	&&&&&&&&09730772.&&&&&09,730,772	&&&&&&&&&&093030.&&&&&093,030	Budapest	&&&&&&&&&0170407.&&&&&0170,407	32,434	forint	&&&&&&&&&&&&&030.&&&&&030.0	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.8540000.854	21	Hungarian
Ireland	IE	January 1, 1973	&&&&&&&&05006324.&&&&&05,006,324	&&&&&&&&&&070273.&&&&&070,273	Dublin	&&&&&&&&&0384940.&&&&&0384,940	89,383	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&034.30000034.3	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.9550000.955	14	English Irish
Italy	IT	Founder	&&&&&&&058968501.&&&&&058,968,501	&&&&&&&&&0301338.&&&&&0301,338	Rome	&&&&&&&&01988636.&&&&&01,988,636	40,065	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&036.&&&&&036.0	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.8920000.892	76	Italian
Latvia	LV	May 1, 2004	&&&&&&&&01862700.&&&&&01,862,700	&&&&&&&&&&064589.&&&&&064,589	Riga	&&&&&&&&&&035045.&&&&&035,045	30,579	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&035.70000035.7	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.8660000.866	9	Latvian
Lithuania	LT	May 1, 2004	&&&&&&&&02795680.&&&&&02,795,680	&&&&&&&&&&065200.&&&&&065,200	Vilnius	&&&&&&&&&&053641.&&&&&053,641	38,605	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&035.80000035.8	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.8820000.882	11	Lithuanian
Luxembourg	LU	Founder	&&&&&&&&&0633347.&&&&&0633,347	&&&&&&&&&&&02586.4000002,586.4	Luxembourg	&&&&&&&&&&069453.&&&&&069,453	112,875	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&030.80000030.8	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.9160000.916	6	French German
Malta	MT	May 1, 2004	&&&&&&&&&0516100.&&&&&0516,100	&&&&&&&&&&&&0316.&&&&&0316	St. Paul's Bay	&&&&&&&&&&014859.&&&&&014,859	43,086	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&025.80000025.8	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.8950000.895	6	Maltese English
Netherlands	NL	Founder	&&&&&&&017614840.&&&&&017,614,840	&&&&&&&&&&041543.&&&&&041,543	Amsterdam	&&&&&&&&&0902355.&&&&&0902,355	57,101	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&030.90000030.9	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.9440000.944	31	Dutch
Poland	PL	May 1, 2004	&&&&&&&037840001.&&&&&037,840,001	&&&&&&&&&0312685.&&&&&0312,685	Warsaw	&&&&&&&&&0565854.&&&&&0565,854	33,739	złoty	&&&&&&&&&&&&&034.90000034.9	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.8800000.880	56	Polish
Portugal	PT	January 1, 1986	&&&&&&&010298252.&&&&&010,298,252	92,212	Lisbon	&&&&&&&&&0236408.&&&&&0236,408	33,131	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&032.10000032.1	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.8640000.864	21	Portuguese
Romania	RO	January 1, 2007	&&&&&&&019186201.&&&&&019,186,201	&&&&&&&&&0238391.&&&&&0238,391	Bucharest	&&&&&&&&&0243698.&&&&&0243,698	30,141	leu	&&&&&&&&&&&&&031.50000031.5	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.8280000.828	33	Romanian
Slovakia	SK	May 1, 2004	&&&&&&&&05459781.&&&&&05,459,781	&&&&&&&&&&049035.&&&&&049,035	Bratislava	&&&&&&&&&0106552.&&&&&0106,552	32,184	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&025.80000025.8	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.8600000.860	15	Slovak
Slovenia	SI	May 1, 2004	&&&&&&&&02108977.&&&&&02,108,977	&&&&&&&&&&020273.&&&&&020,273	Ljubljana	&&&&&&&&&&054154.&&&&&054,154	38,506	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&031.20000031.2	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.9170000.917	9	Slovene
Spain	ES	January 1, 1986	&&&&&&&048692804.&&&&&048,692,804	&&&&&&&&&0504030.&&&&&0504,030	Madrid	&&&&&&&&01647114.&&&&&01,647,114	52,012	euro	&&&&&&&&&&&&&032.&&&&&032.0	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.9110000.911	61	Spanish
Sweden	SE	January 1, 1995	&&&&&&&010370000.&&&&&010,370,000	&&&&&&&&&0449964.&&&&&0449,964	Stockholm	&&&&&&&&&0528929.&&&&&0528,929	52,477	krona	&&&&&&&&&&&&&025.&&&&&025.0	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.9450000.945	21	Swedish

Former Member States

Only one country has ever left the European Union.

List of European Union member states
Country	ISO	Joined	Left	Population	Area (km²)	Largest city	GDP (US$ M)	GDP (PPP) per cap.	Currency	Gini	HDI	Official languages
United Kingdom	GB	January 1, 1973	January 31, 2020	&&&&&&&067791400.&&&&&067,791,400	&&&&&&&&&0242495.&&&&&0242,495	London	3,158,938	56,471	sterling	&&&&&&&&&&&&&036.60000036.6	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.9290000.929	English

Special Territories of EU Countries

Some areas that belong to EU countries are far away. They are legally part of the EU but have special rules. This is because they are so remote. These "outermost regions" follow some EU laws but not all. For example, they might not be part of the Schengen travel area or the EU VAT (sales tax) area. However, they all use the euro currency.

Territory	Member State	Location	Area km²	Population	Per capita GDP (EU=100)	EU VAT area	Schengen Area
Azores	Portugal	Atlantic Ocean	2,333	237,900	66.7	Yes	Yes
Canary Islands	Spain	Atlantic Ocean	7,447	1,715,700	93.7	No	Yes
French Guiana	France	South America	84,000	161,100	50.5	No	No
Guadeloupe	France	Caribbean	1,710	425,700	50.5	No	No
Madeira	Portugal	Atlantic Ocean	795	244,800	94.9	Yes	Yes
Saint-Martin	France	Caribbean	52	25,000	61.9	No	No
Martinique	France	Caribbean	1,080	383,300	75.6	No	No
Mayotte	France	Indian Ocean	374	212,645		No	No
Réunion	France	Indian Ocean	2,512	837,868	61.6	No	No

How EU Membership Has Changed

The EU has grown a lot since it started. New countries have joined over time.

Joining the EU: Enlargement

Member states of the European Union (dark blue) (1993–present). Pre-1993, the EU was known as the European Communities (sky blue). Animated in order of accession and secession.

Any European country can join the EU if it meets certain rules. These rules are called the Copenhagen criteria. A country must be a stable democracy with a free-market economy. It also needs to respect human rights and the rule of law.

New members must agree to follow all existing EU laws. This is a huge amount of rules, sometimes called the acquis communautaire. All current EU countries must agree for a new country to join.

Leaving the EU: Withdrawal

Before 2009, there was no clear way for a country to leave the EU. The Lisbon Treaty changed this. It added a rule, called Article 50, that explains how a country can leave.

A country can decide to leave based on its own laws. It must tell the EU it wants to leave. If they don't agree on a deal within two years, the country still leaves. This means a country can leave even without a special agreement.

The United Kingdom held a vote in 2016 and decided to leave the EU. They officially left on January 31, 2020. Before this, no country had ever left the EU. However, some smaller areas connected to EU countries have left in the past due to changes in their status.

How Countries are Represented in the EU

Each country in the EU has a say in how things are run. They send representatives to different EU organizations.

A 2011 'family photo' of the European Council, which comprises the heads of state or government of the member states, along with President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission

The government leaders of each country sit on the European Council. Ministers from each country meet in the Council of the European Union. When they vote, bigger countries have more votes. But smaller countries still have a strong voice.

The Presidency of the Council of the European Union rotates every six months. This means each country gets a turn to help guide the EU's plans.

People in EU countries also vote for members of the European Parliament. These members represent the citizens, not their governments. Smaller countries get more seats per person than larger ones.

Each country also appoints one person to the European Commission. These people work for the EU as a whole. They also appoint judges to the European Court of Justice.

How Countries Share Power

EU countries are independent, but they agree to share some of their power. This means they let EU organizations make decisions on certain topics. This is called "pooling sovereignty."

If a country doesn't follow EU law, it might have to pay fines. Or it could lose funding from the EU. The EU system is unique because it allows countries to interfere in each other's domestic affairs. This helps them work closely together.

The European Court of Justice has said that EU law is very important. It means that when countries join the EU, they agree to limit some of their own power. This creates a set of laws that apply to everyone in the EU.

What the EU Can Do

The EU has authority in certain areas. These are called "competences." If a topic isn't listed below, then individual countries still have full control over it. For example, countries still decide their own tax laws.

Competences of the European Union in relation to those of its member states

Exclusive competence

Shared competence

Supporting competence

The Union has exclusive competence to make directives and conclude international agreements when provided for in a Union legislative act as to …

the customs union
the establishing of the competition rules necessary for the functioning of the internal market
monetary policy for the Member States whose currency is the euro
the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy
Common Commercial Policy
conclusion of certain international agreements

Member States cannot exercise competence in areas where the Union has done so, that is …

the internal market
social policy, for the aspects defined in the Consolidated Treaty
economic, social and territorial cohesion
agriculture and fisheries, excluding the conservation of marine biological resources
environment
consumer protection
transport
trans-European networks
energy
the area of freedom, security and justice
common safety concerns in public health matters, for the aspects defined in this Treaty

Union exercise of competence shall not result in Member States being prevented from exercising theirs in …

research, technological development and (outer) space
development cooperation, humanitarian aid

The Union coordinates Member States policies or implements supplemental to their common policies not covered elsewhere in …

the coordination of economic, employment and social policies
common foreign, security and defence policies

The Union can carry out actions to support, coordinate or supplement Member States' actions in …

the protection and improvement of human health
industry
culture
tourism
education, youth, sport and vocational training
civil protection (disaster prevention)
administrative cooperation

Special Support for Countries

Sometimes, EU countries help each other out financially. For example, during the European sovereign debt crisis, some countries received help. This help came with conditions. Countries had to agree to make changes to their economies. This showed how much countries rely on each other in the EU.

Different Speeds of Integration

Not all EU countries integrate at the same speed. Some countries want to work together more closely on certain issues. They can do this through "enhanced cooperation." This allows at least nine countries to move forward on a policy. Other countries might choose not to join in.

Some countries also have "opt-outs." This means they don't have to take part in certain EU policies. These opt-outs are agreed upon when they join.

Types of Governments in the EU

presidential republic semi-presidential republic parliamentary republic parliamentary constitutional monarchy

All EU countries are democracies. This means their citizens can vote freely. Most EU countries are parliamentary republics. In these countries, a prime minister leads the government. The president or monarch usually has a more symbolic role.

Six EU countries are constitutional monarchies. They have a king or queen, but elected politicians make the decisions. A few countries have a semi-presidential system. Here, power is shared between a president and a prime minister. Only one country has a presidential system, where the president leads both the country and the government.

Most EU countries have one main parliament (unicameral). Some have two parts (bicameral). People vote for their representatives in all EU countries.

Most EU countries are "unitary states." This means the main government holds most of the power. However, nine countries give more power to their local or regional governments. For example, Austria, Belgium, and Germany are federations. Their regions have their own constitutional powers. Spain and Italy have systems where regions have some power, but the national government can take it back.

Some EU countries, like France, also have overseas territories. These are places far away that are still part of the country.

Images for kids

A 2011 'family photo' of the European Council, which comprises the heads of state or government of the member states, along with President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission
Member states of the European Union (dark blue) (1993–present). Pre-1993, the EU was known as the European Communities (sky blue). Animated in order of accession and secession.
Map showing the different types of government in EU member states.