by InTrieste
The latest report from Italy’s national statistics agency, ISTAT, delivered on Monday, reveals a noteworthy decline in the country’s population, now standing below 59 million. The data underscores a significant demographic shift, with a noticeable rise in the number of elderly citizens coupled with a notable drop in the nation’s birth rate.
As of December 31, 2022, the Italian population is reported at 58,997,201, highlighting what ISTAT describes as an “increasingly unbalanced” generational distribution.
The report introduces an interesting demographic observation, noting that for every child under six in Italy, there are more than five elderly individuals, according to the age index employed in the study.
Further delving into demographic dynamics, the census indicates a substantial change, with 193 people aged over 65 for every 100 youngsters under 15. This contrasts significantly with figures from 1971 when there were only 46 over-65s for every 100 young individuals.
Despite the native population decline, the report brings attention to the “positive dynamics of the foreign population.” In 2022, 5,141,341 registered foreigners were accounted for, marking a 2.2% increase from 2021 and constituting 8.7% of the total population.
Another notable aspect of the report is the increase in the median age in Italy, now standing at 46.4 years. The demographic breakdown indicates that 51.2% of the total population is female, while 48.8% is male.
Adding to demographic considerations, Italy’s birth rate has reached a historic low of 393,000 in 2022. This represents nearly 7,000 fewer births compared to 2021 (-1.7%) and a substantial 183,000 fewer births (-31.8%) compared to 2008. The decline in birth rates poses challenges for Italy’s demographic landscape in the years to come.
