Italy's Population Reaches Historic Low: Demographic Crisis Looms


(MENAFN) The latest figures released by Italy's National Institute of Statistics have revealed a historic low in the country's population, with fewer than 400,000 babies born in 2022. This sharp decline in population has been described as a "national emergency" and has raised concern among demographers and policymakers. The total number of newborns in Italy dropped by 1.8% from the previous year's figure of 400,249 births, which is the lowest it has been since 1861. In addition, the new data shows that for every seven births in Italy, there were 12 deaths in 2022. This resulted in a significant decrease in the country's overall population, with 179,000 fewer people living in Italy than the previous year.

Maria Rita Testa, a demographer at Luiss University in Rome, expressed her concern over the situation in Italy. She stated that "It's a demographic crisis" and that "We are going to lose a lot of people in the future." Testa highlighted that the primary reason for the decline in Italy's population is due to the fact that women are having fewer children than before.

The Italian government introduced a scheme in 2021 to encourage families to have more children by providing monthly financial incentives for each child born. The incentives range between euro50 to euro175 (USD55 to USD192), depending on the family's income. Despite this, the latest data shows that the scheme has not had the desired effect, and the decline in the country's population continues. The situation in Italy highlights a growing concern in many developed countries facing similar demographic challenges, and it raises questions about the long-term sustainability of their populations.

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