53 million people in Europe are informal carers.

Omissions

• The claim says 'Europe' but the figure of 53 million appears in available sources as referring specifically to the European Union, not the broader European continent.
• The MEP did not cite any source for the figure, making independent verification essential.
• Only one secondary source (DSV Europa, from 2021 — five years before the session) was found that explicitly states the 53 million figure. Two independent sources or one primary source confirming the claim could not be found within the search limit.
• The term 'informal carer' lacks a standardised definition across sources; the European Commission notes estimates range from 10% to 25% of the population depending on the definition used, making any single figure inherently contestable.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean CommissionThe available estimates of the number of informal caregivers ranges from 10% up to 25% of the total population in Europe. The average varies significantly depending on the definition used.
• SecondaryDeutsche Sozialversicherung Europavertretung (DSV Europa)The number of informal carers in the EU is currently estimated at 53 million.