Lorenzo Macchi
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Italy
Demographics of Italy - Statistics & Facts
In 2024, the total resident population of Italy amounts to 58.99 million, a decrease of around 650,000 people in the last four years. The largest number of residents lives in the northern region of Lombardy, about one-sixth of the whole population. The second and third most populous regions are Lazio, in the center, and Campania, in the south. Indeed, the largest cities of Italy are located in these three regions: Rome, Milan, and Naples. However, the population of the country is predicted to continue a downward trend in the next decades. Forecasts estimate that by 2050, the number of inhabitants will amount to 52 million.
Decreasing birth rates
One of the reason for the population decrease is the constantly falling number of births in recent years. Between 2010 and 2023, this figure declined from roughly 550,000 to 379,000 newborns. In 2023, only 6.4 children were born per 1,000 inhabitants, three babies less than in 2002. The highest birth rate was recorded in the southern regions, well above the national average, while the lowest value was registered in the center of Italy, where the share of residents aged 65 years or more is the highest nationwide. Data on the average age of mothers in the different regions show that the south and the islands had the youngest mothers in the whole country.Long lifespan and aging population
A lower birth rate is also linked to an aging population. Data on the age distribution of the Italian population show that the share of people aged up to 14 years dropped steadily. Consequently, the percentage of the population aged 65 years and older grew, exceeding the young population by about ten percent. In 2023, the average age of Italians was 46.6 years, but projections reveal that it will increase in the future. In fact, it could reach 53.4 years by 2050.Family structure
Further relevant changes in population figures are visible in the marriage rate and family structures. Nowadays, fewer people are getting married in Italy compared to previous years. Additionally, the average size of households shows a declining trend. Hence, Italy has fewer and smaller families than before. Moreover, the number of single-person households is increasing, and families without a nucleus represent a very widespread phenomenon.
