The European Union explained in five figures:
Group Of 28 Nations
It was born out of the European Economic Community formed in 1958 by six nations seeking closer economic integration: Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and West Germany.
In 1993 the six joined with Britain, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain to establish the European Union.
The EU grew over the years to reach 28 member nations. However Britain is planning its departure, the deadline for its troubled Brexit process set at October 31, 2019.
The bloc's biggest expansion was in 2004 when 10 countries signed up: eight ex-communist nations, including the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland; and the Mediterranean islands of Cyprus and Malta.
Nineteen today share the euro which replaced national currencies like the Deutschmark, French franc and Italian lira in 1999, with coins and notes coming into circulation in 2002. Britain, Denmark and Sweden chose to remain outside the euro and recent EU entrants are making preparations to join it.
One Market
Together EU members form a single market in which goods, people, capital, and services can move freely without red tape at internal borders.
In force since 1993 and considered among its greatest achievements, the EU boasts that its single market is "the biggest trading bloc in the world".
Its whopping gross domestic product of $17.2 trillion in 2017 is behind that of the US’ $19.3 trillion but ahead of China's $12.2 trillion.
Total of 513 Million People
With a combined population of 513 million in 2018, the EU is the third most populous area in the world after China and India, each with more than a billion people. It outstrips the US population of 327 million.
Germany has the most people (82 million) and Malta the least (468,000).
Stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Black Sea, and from the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean, the EU covers 4.3 million km2 (1.6 million square miles).
It is dwarfed by Russia's 17 million km2 and the US (9.8 million km2), but is larger than India (3.2 million km2).
France is the largest EU country (632,800 km2, including overseas territories) and Malta is the smallest (316 km2).
Twenty-two EU countries have abolished passport controls between them as part of the Schengen zone.
24 Languages
Its 24 official languages range from widely spoken English and French to lesser-known Irish, Finnish and Bulgarian.
The mix means a potential 552 language combinations at European Parliament sessions, requiring an army of translators.
EU Budget Member states contribute one per cent of their GDP to the EU budget but also take out in the form of agricultural subsidies and aid for job creation, poor regions, rural development and fisheries.
Its purse for 2014-2020 is around $1 trillion. There is a concern that Britain's departure will cause a shortfall.
The EU also has tens of thousands of pieces of legislation and legal acts which member states must adopt, ranging from international agreements to environmental standards for beaches, working hours for lorry drivers and standards for fishing nets.
(Sources: European Union website, World Bank, AFP).
This photograph taken on April 28, 2026 shows a boy getting "thali", a sacred thread tied to his neck symbolising marriage to Hindu warrior god Aravan during the annual Koovagam transgender festival at the Koothandavar temple in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district. For a few fleeting days each year, at the heart of the Koothandavar Temple where ostracised transgender community members from across India come to honour the Hindu deity Aravan, a tradition rooted in millennia-old Hindu texts -- and to enjoy a brief oasis of freedom.Getty Images
This photograph taken on April 29, 2026 shows a member of the transgender community mourning as a priest cuts the "thali", a sacred thread symbolising end of her marriage to Hindu warrior god Aravan during the annual Koovagam transgender festival at the Koothandavar temple in Tamil Nadu's Kallakurichi district. For a few fleeting days each year, at the heart of the Koothandavar Temple where ostracised transgender community members from across India come to honour the Hindu deity Aravan, a tradition rooted in millennia-old Hindu texts -- and to enjoy a brief oasis of freedom. Getty Images
Many traditions which involved bride's parents to serve the groom and family are generally not followed, as both families are treated equal.iStock
The fluctuating prices of gold have resulted in less and optimum purchase, just for the sake of following the tradition.iStock
Women are choosing reverse Kanyadan, rather than giving away the bride, groom's father are also performing Kanyadan.iStock
Instead of buying jewelry, Indian couples are choosing to rent it, so that the money can be invested somewhere else.iStock
A screenshot of Prada manufactured Kolhapuri Chappal on their website.
A shoemaker in his workshop in Kerala village. Services and hand-making is very cheap in India.iStock
Footwear vendors in the streets of Mahabaleshwar in IndiaiStock