Number of births in Italy 2010-2018

Between 2010 and 2018, the number of births in Italy decreased constantly. In 2010, 549.8 thousand births were registered in the country, while in 2018 the figure dropped to roughly 440.8 thousand. The largest number of births nationwide was registered in the North Italian region of Lombardy, with approximately 76 thousand infants born in 2018. Indeed, Lombardy is the most populous region of the country.

Birth rates

Data on birth rates in Italy reveal that Lombardy is only fifth in terms of infants born per every 1,000 inhabitants. In 2019, Trentino-South Tyrol recorded the highest birth rate nationwide, with 8.8 newborns newborns every 1,000 inhabitants. Three Southern regions followed in the ranking: Campania, Sicily, and Calabria. In fact, in 2019, the South of Italy was the macro-region with the largest birth rate in Italy.

Ageing population

As a consequence of the lower birth rates, the Italian population is aging fast. According to the predictions made for 2020, the average age in Italy is 45.7 years, 2.1 years older than in 2011. This figure is estimated to increase further in the next years. Projections made in 2019 suggested that the median age will reach 50.8 years in 2030. Afterwards, the average age of Italians might reach 53.6 years by 2050.