2023 was marked by crisis, transition and conflict.

As the war in Ukraine dragged into its second year, the EU was confronted with yet another conflict on its doorstep: The Israel-Hamas war, which brought fresh instability to the Middle East and exacerbated divisions between EU countries.

Europe now heads into a big election year and governments are left grappling with major challenges: The lingering effects of the cost-of-living crisis, the impact of migration and an ever-warming planet.

From the toll of bloody wars to sky-high temperatures, here are the figures behind the topics that defined 2023.