Italy faces an impending demographic crisis as preliminary data suggests the country is on track for a new record low in birth rates for the year 2023. The latest figures, released by the national statistics bureau ISTAT, indicate a deepening of Italy’s longstanding demographic issues.
Between January and June of this year, there were 3,500 fewer births compared to the same period in 2022, according to ISTAT data. This ongoing trend is cause for concern as Italy grapples with its 14th consecutive annual drop in births. In 2022, Italy recorded 393,000 births, a 1.7% decline from the previous year and the lowest number since the country’s unification in 1861.
The demographic crisis in Italy, which shows no sign of abating, has raised alarms and been acknowledged as a national emergency. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently allocated approximately 1 billion euros ($1.05 billion) to address this crisis. A significant portion of the issue revolves around Italian women’s difficulties balancing work and motherhood, a challenge that requires comprehensive solutions.
A shrinking and aging population carries serious economic implications, including a decline in productivity and increased welfare costs. Italy already has the highest state pension expenditures among the 38 nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The ISTAT report indicates that, based on data from January to June, the fertility rate in 2023 is expected to decrease slightly to 1.22 children per woman, down from 1.24 in 2022. It’s worth noting that the fertility rate is partly sustained by immigrants. Among women of Italian nationality, the rate stood at a lower 1.18 in 2022.
The report also highlights other demographic trends in Italy. On average, Italian women tend to have their first child at the age of 31. Moreover, in 2022, 41.5% of babies born in the country were to unmarried women. These figures reflect the complex challenges faced by Italy in the realm of demographics and underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address this critical issue.
