A masterclass in talking points, name-drops, and wilful blindness, penned by a reporter who’s visited the front line at least once… on Zoom.

The story of Northern Europe’s future population is one of stark regional contrast. This infographic reveals how countries like Sweden and Norway are projected to maintain steady growth, sustained by high living standards and strong immigration. Meanwhile, the Baltic states face a far more severe fate. Despite EU membership, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are projected to experience some of the world’s steepest population declines, as they remain unable to match the economic and social magnetism of their older Nordic peers, leading to sustained outmigration and plummeting numbers.