Italy's demographic crisis worsened in 2024, with births falling to a record low and the population continuing to decline, according to national statistics bureau ISTAT.
The number of registered births dropped to 370,000, down 2.6% from 2023 and 35.8% lower than in 2008. This marks the 16th consecutive year of decline and the lowest number since Italy's unification in 1861. The fertility rate fell to a record low of 1.18 children per woman, far below the 2.1 needed for a stable population.
The population decreased by 37,000 to 58.93 million, with deaths exceeding births by 281,000. Since 2014, Italy's population has shrunk by almost 1.9 million, equivalent to the population of Milan or the entire region of Calabria. Deaths totalled 651,000, the lowest since 2019, while average life expectancy reached 83.4 years.
Emigration also rose, with 191,000 Italians moving abroad last year, the highest this century and an increase of more than 20% from the previous year, though ISTAT noted a regulatory change was likely a key factor. Foreigners made up 9.2% of the population, totalling 5.4 million, a 3.2% increase year-on-year.
The ageing trend continues, with almost one in four residents aged over 65 and the number of centenarians reaching a new high of 23,500.
