Reuters: Italy’s population to shrink by over 11 million over next 50 years
Italy’s population has dropped below 59 million and the country is ageing at a much faster rate than other EU states, Reuters reports, citing Italy’s National Statistical Agency Istat
A shrinking and aging population is a major problem for Italy’s stagnant economy, as it is linked to falling productivity, less innovation and higher welfare spending.
“As of January 1st, 2022, according to first preliminary data, the population has fallen to 58.983 million people,” Istat Head Giancarlo Blangiardo said at a parliamentary hearing in Rome.
Blangiardo, a noted demography expert, said the country’s population has been shrinking steadily in recent years, with a cumulative loss of more than 1.36 million residents since 2014.
“The demographic outlook in our country is characterised by a significant increase in life expectancy and an equally marked drop in the birth rate, resulting in a much faster ageing of the population compared to the rest of Europe,” he shared.
In September, Istat predicted that Italy could lose almost a fifth of its population, and possibly fall to 54.2 million in 2050 and 47.7 million in 2070, according to the baseline scenario.
Reversing this trend and supporting families is the stated priority of Prime Minister Georgia Meloni’s new government. In the 2023 budget, she proposed lowering sales taxes on childcare products and increasing child allowances.
