Italy is grappling with a deepening demographic crisis in 2024, with national statistics bureau ISTAT revealing startling figures that highlight the country's ongoing struggle. The record low number of births, coupled with a sharp rise in emigration, has intensified the population decline, leaving Italy with a shrinking populace.
A staggering 281,000 more deaths than births were recorded in 2024, causing the population to shrink by 37,000 to 58.93 million, marking a troubling trend that has persisted for a decade. Since 2014, Italy has witnessed a population decrease of nearly 1.9 million, a figure surpassing the total residents of Milan or the entire region of Calabria.
The birth rate in 2024 hit a historic low, with only 370,000 babies born, marking the 16th consecutive year of decline and the lowest figure since Italy's unification in 1861. This number was 2.6% lower than the previous year and a significant 35.8% drop from 2008, the last year the country observed a rise in birth rates.
The fertility rate plummeted to a record low of 1.18, falling far below the threshold of 2.1 needed for a stable population. This decline echoes the previous record low of 1.19 children per woman registered in 1995. Additionally, the influx of deaths dropped in 2024 to levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, while the average life expectancy climbed to 83.4 years.
Emigration surged in 2024, with 191,000 Italians relocating abroad, the highest number this century, a 20% increase from the previous year. The spike was attributed in part to a new law that penalizes Italians failing to register as expatriates in their new country. On the other hand, the foreign population in Italy rose by 3.2% to reach 5.4 million, accounting for 9.2% of the total population, with a significant portion residing in the northern regions.
Italy's aging population poses further challenges, with nearly a quarter of its residents over the age of 65. The number of centenarians reached a new peak at 23,500, underscoring the rapid aging trend among Italy's populace. As the country grapples with these demographic shifts, addressing the declining birth rates and rising emigration remains a pressing challenge for policymakers.