Europe. The population center of Europe is a historically significant political and economical hub. It contains parts of Central, Southern and Western Europe. Europe is the birthplace of industry, but the amount of heavy industry has moved away from Europe as the region has transformed into a service economy. The population is relatively small in modern and global terms, and the area is growing less economically significant. The largest cities of the region include Paris and London, both of which are important centers of tourism and economy.