Number of births in Italy 2010-2023

Between 2010 and 2023, the number of births in Italy decreased constantly. In 2010, 550,000 births were registered in the country, while in 2022 the figure dropped to less than 400,000, with a forecast for 2023 of only around 380,000 new babies. The largest number of births nationwide was registered in the North Italian region of Lombardy, with approximately 58,900 infants born in 2021. Indeed, Lombardy is the most populous region of the country.

Birth rates

Data on birth rates in Italy reveal that Lombardy is only fifth in terms of infants born per 1,000 inhabitants. In 2023, Trentino-South Tyrol recorded the highest birth rate nationwide, with 7.9 newborns per 1,000 inhabitants. Three Southern regions followed in the ranking: Campania, Sicily, and Calabria. In fact, in 2023, the South was the macro-region with the largest birth rate in Italy. 

Aging population

Due to the lower birth rates, the Italian population is aging fast. According to estimates for 2024, the average age in Italy is 46.6 years, 3.2 years older than in 2010. This figure is estimated to increase further in the upcoming years. Projections made in 2019 suggested that the median age will reach 50.8 years in 2030. Afterward, the average age of Italians might reach 53.6 years by 2050.