Italy's Birth Rate Crisis: A National Emergency

In Italy, births are predicted to hit a record low in 2024, marking a 16-year consecutive decline, according to ISTAT. From January to July, births decreased by 2.1% compared to last year. Italy's fertility rate averages at 1.2, far below the 2.1 required for population stability.

Italy's birth rate is set for a new record low in 2024, marking the 16th consecutive year of decline, according to national statistical bureau ISTAT. Despite government pledges, no effective measures have halted this downward trend, harking back to the lowest birth numbers since Italian unification in 1861.

From January through July, 4,600 fewer births were registered compared to the same period last year, a 2.1% decline. In 2023, Italy recorded 379,890 births, equating to six newborns per thousand residents—a 3.4% drop from 2022, and a dramatic 34.1% decrease since 2008, the last year that saw a birth increase.

Current data reveals the fertility rate of 1.2 children per woman, significantly below the 2.1 necessary for a steady population. This demographic trend presents a risk to Italy's economy and public finances, accompanied by an aging population and the EU's lowest employment rate, as noted by Eurostat data.

(With inputs from agencies.)