Lausanne World Pulse – PEOPLES OF THE WORLD – An Overview of Western Europe

By Justin Long

Western Europe has three areas: northern Europe, western Europe and southern Europe. Because each is slightly different—and has different issues it is facing—we will focus on each area separately.

Northern Europe
The ten nations (and three smaller island chains) of northern Europe may be small, but their contributions to global politics, economics and missions are substantial. They are far enough north that ice can impede maritime traffic. Rare and precious metals can be found in the region, as can fish, timber and arable land. Petroleum and natural gas are found in small quantities, but these will likely be depleted in the near future.

This is the least populated region in Europe, and one of the least populated in the world. It is also one of the slowest growing. At a growth of only 300,000 people per year, it will likely increase from ninety-four million in AD 2000 to only 101 million in 2025. It is heavily urbanized and over eighty-three percent of the population lives in cities. Over 180 cities have a population of one million or more. Northern Europe has the third highest concentration of elderly in the world: twenty percent of the people are 65 or older.

Although they have many rich resources, most of the nations are dependent on trade with other nearby countries for certain key items. In this they have been successful. The people of northern Europe are very wealthy (as usual, some more so than others). The region accounts for one-fifth of Europe’s total Gross National Product (GNP), with economies that are a modernized mix of capitalism and extensive welfare systems.

All have benefited from globalization and low defense requirements. Wile Norway, Sweden and Finland are among the best economies in the world, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia lag behind. Iceland is pursuing hydrogen energy, and Sweden and Finland have highly advanced telecommunications companies. All have stable governments. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have ongoing thorny issues with ethnic minorities (particularly Russians). Britain and Ireland have cemented a peace agreement which is being implemented, though slowly and not without difficulty.

Problems with AIDS are isolated. Estonia has a significant but declining epidemic. Britain has a growing drug problem. Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine and synthetic drugs are all consumed here.