![\"Old](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4bfe75b37f8b9af95bb10b00-239-179\/old-men-germany.jpg\")
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Germany may look like the healthy heart of Europe right now, but the country’s demographic position could see its competitive edge fall flat, according to Der Spiegel<\/a>.<\/p>\n With all eyes currently on the short term crisis in European debt, observers may be overlooking Europe’s more long term demographic sickness. But Germany, faced with a declining birth rate and an increase in emigration that now sees more people leaving the country than entering, is starting to wake up.<\/p>\n The country has already tried policies to encourage family growth that have thus far failed, according to Der Spiegel. And Germany’s key country for immigration, Turkey, is now not such a boon, with net 10,000 Turks returning rather than coming to Germany<\/a>.<\/p>\n But Germany’s problems still pale in comparison to many other European states, where declining birthrates and restrictive policies on immigration have halted population growth.<\/p>\n The issue of preventing immigration from all Muslim countries<\/a> took center stage in recent local elections.<\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2007: 6.6%<\/strong><\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2035: 10%<\/strong><\/p>\n Change in working age population by 2020:<\/span> -4.3%<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: 2009 EU Aging Report<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Luxembourg has the highest amount of foreign born citizens<\/a> in any country in Europe.<\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2007: 8.7%<\/strong><\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2035: 17%<\/strong><\/p>\n Change in working age population by 2020:<\/span> -1.1%<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: 2009 EU Aging Report<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Denmark has very strict immigration rules which prevent the wives and husbands of naturalized citizens from moving to the country for 28 years<\/a> after their spouse’s naturalization.<\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2007: 9.1%<\/strong><\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2035: 11%<\/strong><\/p>\n Change in working age population by 2020:<\/span> -4.3%<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: 2009 EU Aging Report<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The head of Bulgaria’s immigration team has recently been arrested for illegally helping foreigners get citizenship<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2007: 8.3%<\/strong><\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2035: 9.0%<\/strong><\/p>\n Change in working age population by 2020:<\/span> -5.6%<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: 2009 EU Aging Report<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Czech pension profits grew by 720 Million Kc (40 Million<\/a>) while membership grew in private pensions to 4.47 million people.<\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2007: 7.8%<\/strong><\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2035: 7.6%<\/strong><\/p>\n Change in working age population by 2020:<\/span> -8.3%<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: 2009 EU Aging Report<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n New EU rules on traveling without a visa are supplying a large amount of Balkan immigrants to Belgium since the beginning of the year<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2007: 10%<\/strong><\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2035: 14%<\/strong><\/p>\n Change in working age population by 2020:<\/span> -3.5%<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: 2009 EU Aging Report<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Poland is keeping steady<\/a> in its plan on pensions, hoping that a slight increase in returns and increasing the retirement age will allow the program to remain in good stead.<\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2007: 12%<\/strong><\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2035: 9.3%<\/strong><\/p>\n Change in working age population by 2020:<\/span> -5.7%<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: 2009 EU Aging Report<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hungary is attempting to take advantage of foreign discrimination against Indians by offering them places in their universities<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2007: 11%<\/strong><\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2035: 12%<\/strong><\/p>\n Change in working age population by 2020:<\/span> -5.0%<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: 2009 EU Aging Report<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Italy experienced nationwide strikes of immigrant workers<\/a> on March 1 showing the signs of tension within the country.<\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2007: 14%<\/strong><\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2035: 15%<\/strong><\/p>\n Change in working age population by 2020:<\/span> -3.0%<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: 2009 EU Aging Report<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sweden has a policy of “integration<\/a>” for its immigrants giving them the language and cultural skills necessary to survive in the country.<\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2007: 9.5%<\/strong><\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2035: 9.4%<\/strong><\/p>\n Change in working age population by 2020:<\/span> -6.0%<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: 2009 EU Aging Report<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Malta, a relatively closed post-colonial state, is experiencing an influx of immigration which some are saying is a positive move for its society<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2007: 7.2%<\/strong><\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2035: 9.7%<\/strong><\/p>\n Change in working age population by 2020:<\/span> -7.1%<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: 2009 EU Aging Report<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Greece is making moves to give the children of migrant workers citizenship<\/a>, but there is a substantial backlash to these political moves.<\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2007: 12%<\/strong><\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2035: 19%<\/strong><\/p>\n Change in working age population by 2020:<\/span> -3.9%<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: 2009 EU Aging Report<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n France is preventing an immigrant from Morocco from getting citizenship because he makes his wife wear an “Islamic veil<\/a>.”<\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2007: 13%<\/strong><\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2035: 14%<\/strong><\/p>\n Change in working age population by 2020:<\/span> -5.5%<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: 2009 EU Aging Report<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Finland experienced a 48% increase<\/a> in asylum seekers last year, with most coming from Iraq and Somalia.<\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2007: 10% Pension cost compared to GDP in 2035: 14%<\/strong><\/p>\n Change in working age population by 2020:<\/span> -8.5%<\/strong><\/p>\n Source: 2009 EU Aging Report<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Slovenia’s pension scheme remained balanced for 2009, with spent and received 4.6 Billion Euros ($6.3 Billion)<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2007: 9.9%<\/strong><\/p>\n Pension cost compared to GDP in 2035: 15%<\/strong><\/p>\n Change in working age population by 2020:<\/span> -6.6%<\/strong><\/p>\nNo. 15: Netherlands<\/h2>\n
![\"No.](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4b8d75617f8b9abe5bcc0500-400-300\/no-15-netherlands.jpg\")
<\/div>\nNo. 14: Luxembourg<\/h2>\n
![\"No.](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4b8d756b7f8b9abe5be70500-400-300\/no-14-luxembourg.jpg\")
<\/div>\nNo. 13: Denmark<\/h2>\n
![\"No.](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4b8d75787f8b9aaa78b50400-400-300\/no-13-denmark.jpg\")
<\/div>\nNo. 12: Bulgaria<\/h2>\n
![\"No.](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4b8d758d7f8b9a5d786b0700-400-300\/no-12-bulgaria.jpg\")
<\/div>\nNo. 11: Czech Republic<\/h2>\n
![\"No.](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4b8d759b7f8b9a445e1f0300-400-300\/no-11-czech-republic.jpg\")
<\/div>\nNo. 10: Belgium<\/h2>\n
![\"No.](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4b8d75a57f8b9aaa78fd0400-400-300\/no-10-belgium.jpg\")
<\/div>\nNo. 9: Poland<\/h2>\n
![\"No.](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4b8d75b07f8b9ab870ba0400-400-300\/no-9-poland.jpg\")
<\/div>\nNo. 8: Hungary<\/h2>\n
![\"No.](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4b8d75bc7f8b9a1e71da0100-400-300\/no-8-hungary.jpg\")
<\/div>\nNo. 7: Italy<\/h2>\n
![\"No.](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4b8d75c67f8b9ad777d40a00-400-300\/no-7-italy.jpg\")
<\/div>\nNo. 6: Sweden<\/h2>\n
![\"No.](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4b8d75d07f8b9a445e890300-400-300\/no-6-sweden.jpg\")
<\/div>\nNo. 5: Malta<\/h2>\n
![\"No.](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4b8d75dc7f8b9a59790a0000-400-300\/no-5-malta.jpg\")
<\/div>\nNo. 4: Greece<\/h2>\n
![\"No.](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4b8d75eb7f8b9a0379bf0300-400-300\/no-4-greece.jpg\")
<\/div>\nNo. 3: France<\/h2>\n
![\"No.](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4b8d760c7f8b9a5879720000-400-300\/no-3-france.jpg\")
<\/div>\nNo. 2: Finland<\/h2>\n
![\"No.](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4b8d76147f8b9a1d71d90100-400-300\/no-2-finland.jpg\")
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<\/strong><\/p>\nNo. 1: Slovenia<\/h2>\n
![\"No.](\"http:\/\/static.businessinsider.com\/image\/4b8d76247f8b9a6479020000-400-300\/no-1-slovenia.jpg\")
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