Brussels: European Union member states employed 372,400 professional firefighters in 2025, down from 390,600 recorded in 2024. The 2025 workforce accounted for 0.18% of overall employment across the 27-nation bloc, Eurostat stated on Monday.

According to Anadolu Agency, fire services relied heavily on younger personnel, with 74.7% of all working firefighters under the age of 50, compared to a 64.4% average across general employment. This trend highlights the vital role of younger individuals in maintaining the firefighting workforce within the EU.

Greece recorded the highest share of firefighters in total employment at 0.47% among member states, followed by Croatia at 0.43% and Portugal at 0.33%. These figures indicate the varying reliance on professional firefighters across different EU countries.

The Netherlands posted the lowest proportion at 0.05%, while Austria and Sweden reported shares of 0.07% and 0.10%, respectively. This disparity underscores the differences in employment structures and firefighting needs among EU nations.