Demographic Indicators - Year 2025

Stable population thanks to migration. The decline in fertility continues, and life expectancy is rising

Births are decreasing, deaths are stable: in 2025, 355 thousand births, 652 thousand deaths.

The decline in fertility, which is common to many European countries, continues in Italy: in 2025 it drops to 1.14 children per woman.

Within Europe, Italy is one of the countries with the highest life expectancy: in 2025 81.7 years for men, 85.7 years for women.

Immigrations from foreign countries are 440 thousand, emigrations to foreign countries are 144 thousand.

International mobility in decline but the net migration remains largely positive: in 2025 it stands at +296 thousand units.

As of January 1, 2026, the foreign resident population stands at 5 million 560 thousand units, increased of 188 thousand individuals, whilst Italian resident population amounts to 53 million 383 thousand units, down by 189 thousand individuals.

Couples with children account for 28.4% of households, those without children account for 20.2%.

The population is on the rise in the North and declining in the Mezzogiorno

As of January 1, 2026, the resident population stands at 58 million 943 thousand individuals (provisional data), remaining stable compared with the same date of the previous years (-636 units). The growth rate, which is close to zero, is an increase compared to the rates recorded in the previous two years
(-0.5 per thousand in 2024 and -0.4 per thousand in 2023), but demographic trends are in line with those observed in recent years: Italy remains a country where only very positive net migration can offset a largely negative natural change and where the population continues to age.

There are geographical differences: in the North the population is growing by 2.2 per thousand, in the Centre it remains stable (0.0 per thousand), whilst the Mezzogiorno continues to record a decline
(-3.1 per thousand).

The population is growing most notably in Trentino-Alto Adige (+4.2 per thousand), in Emilia-Romagna (+3.4 per thousand), and in Lombardia (+3,2 per thousand). The regions experiencing the greatest demographic decline are Basilicata (-9.0 per thousand), Molise (-6.5 per thousand), and Sardegna (-5.1 per thousand).

In 2025 births are 355 thousand, a decrease of 3.9% over 2024. Deaths are 652 thousand, down by 0.2%. The natural balance (i.e. the difference between births and deaths) is largely negative (around -296 thousand units), worsening compared to 2024 when it stood at -283 thousand.

Immigrations from foreign countries, 440 thousand, despite falling by 12 thousand units compared with 2024 (-2.6%) remain sustained, confirming the country’s considerable attractiveness. Emigration to foreign countries, 144 thousand, down by 45 thousand over the previous year (-23.7%). In this framework, the net international migration remains not only positive (+296 thousand) and sufficient to almost entirely offset the deficit caused by natural population change – but has also increased by 33 thousand units over 2024.

Finally, changes of residence between Municipalities have risen by 5.1%, involving a total of one million 455 thousand citizens.

Almost 190 thousand more foreign residents and just as many fewer Italians

As of January 1, 2026, the resident population of foreign nationality is equal to 5 million 560 thousand units, an increase of 188 thousand individuals (+3.5%) compared with the previous years, accounting for 9.4% of the total population. The growth in the foreign population is driven primarily by a strong net international migration with other countries (+348 thousand), accompanied by a smaller but nonetheless positive natural increase (+36 thousand). The only item showing a decrease for resident foreigners (though purely from a definitional point of view, as it refers to individuals who continue to reside in the country) is that relating to acquisitions of Italian citizenship, which stood at 196 thousand.

The foreign population is concentrated mainly in the North, where 3 million 230 thousand individuals reside (accounting for 58.1% of foreign residents in Italy), representing 11.7% of the total resident population. In the Centre, there are 344 thousand foreign residents (24.2% of the total) accounting for 11.5%. The foreign resident population in the Mezzogiorno is lower, 986 thousand units (17.7%), representing just 5.0% f the resident population in this geographical area.

The population of Italian citizens stands at 53 million 383 thousand units, down by189 thousand individuals compared with 1 January 2025 (-3.5 per thousand). The net decrease in the number of Italian residents is mainly due to a significantly negative natural balance (-333 thousand), combined with a net international migration which, considering both inflows and outflows, stands at -53 thousand. The decline in the number of Italian residents, observed across all geographical areas, is most pronounced in the Mezzogiorno, with 118 thousand fewer Italians (-6.3 per thousand).

In 2025, the number of acquisitions of Italian citizenship (196 thousand, as mentioned) is lower than in the previous years (214 thousand in 2023 and 217 thousand in 2024). This decline is mainly attributable to changes in the regulatory framework introduced by Decree Law 36/2025 (converted into Law No. 74/2025), which imposes restrictions on the acquisition of Italian citizenship iure sanguinis. Nevertheless, the country maintains a high level of integration of resident foreign citizens, enabling tens of thousands of individuals to become Italian citizens every year. This factor, in quantitative terms, mitigates the gradual decline in the Italian population.

In 2025 Albanian and Moroccan citizens remained the leading groups in terms of the number of naturalizations (26 thousand and 23 thousand cases, respectively), followed by Romanians (16 thousand) who retained third place. These three countries of origin account for around one-third of all naturalizations.

A year-on-year comparison of Italian citizenship acquisition shows negative trends among the historically most significant communities: there have been sharp declines compared to 2024 among Albanians and Argentinians (-6 thousand), Moroccans (-4 thousand), Brazilians (-3 thousand), Indians (-3 thousand) and Moldovans (-2 thousand). In contrast, acquisitions by Pakistani citizens (+2 thousand), Filipinos (+1500) and Romanians (+1000) show a countertrend.

The average number of children per woman drops to 1.14

According to provisional data, births in the resident population in Italy are 355 thousand in 2025, 6.0 per thousand inhabitants (6.3 in 2024, 9.5 per thousand in 2005). Compared with 2024 the number of births declined by 15 thousand units (-3.9%). One on eight births have foreign nationality, a total of 48 thousand, down by 5.6% over 2024.

The average number of children per woman is estimated at 1.14, down from 1.18 in 2024. The decline has been so uniform across the country that the differences between geographical areas remain unchanged. The Centre has the lowest fertility rate (1.07 children per woman; 1.11 in 2024), followed by the North with 1.15 (from 1.19), and the Mezzogiorno with 1.16 (from 1.20). The trend of postponing births continues. The average age at childbirth has risen from 32.6 to 32.7 years, with a uniform increase of 0.1 years across all geographical areas. The Centre remains the area where women have children later: 33.1 years, whilst in the North and the Mezzogiorno the average age at childbirth is 32.8 and 32.4 years, respectively.

The region with the lowest fertility rate remains Sardegna, which, for the sixth consecutive year, has a fertility rate below one, standing at 0.85 and down over 2024 (0.91). Molise and Lazio follow, with an average number of children per woman of 1.02 and 1.05, respectively. Trentino-Alto Adige once again holds the record as the region with the highest fertility rate, with an average number of children per woman of 1.40. Sicilia (1.23) and Campania (1.22) follow, at lower levels.

The decline in fertility is a common trend across many European countries, although there are still significant differences. Across the European Union as a whole (Eu27), the average number of children per woman fell from 1.57 in 2010 to 1.34 in 2024. In Germany, following a brief period of growth, the fertility rate began to fall again, reaching 1.36 children per woman in 2024. In Spain, it fell from 1.37 to 1.10, and in France and Sweden – countries traditionally characterised by high fertility rates – the average number of children per woman also fell, from 2.03 to 1.61 and from 1.98 to 1.43, respectively.

Unlike countries such as France and Sweden, however, Italy – precisely because of a long-standing decline in fertility – now has an age structure within the reproductive age group that has a significant impact on the number of births. The fall in births, in fact, is not only driven by the current decline in fertility but is also caused by the gradual reduction in the number of potential parents. To illustrate this phenomenon, if Italy had recorded a total fertility rate per woman equal to that of France in 2024 (1.61), the number of births would have reached 494 thousand; a level significantly higher than that officially recorded in Italy in the same year (370 thousand births, with a fertility rate of 1.18) but much lower than the 664,000 recorded in France, due to a much more favourable age structure of the French population, characterized by larger generations of reproductive age.

According to 2025 provisional data, marriages (no longer a preliminary step to having children), are 165 thousand, 8 thousand less over 2024. The number has fallen most significantly for those celebrated with a religious rite (-11.7%) and, to a lesser extent, for those celebrated with a civil rite (-0.2%). The marriage rate stands at 2.8 per thousand (2.9 in 2024), with the highest rate in the Mezzogiorno (2.9 per thousand). In the North and the Centre, the rates are 2.8 and 2.7 per thousand respectively.

The single-person household is the most common

In the two-year period 2024–2025, the number of households in Italy is 26 million 600 thousand, over 4 million more than at the beginning of the 2000s. This growth is due to the progressive simplification of family structures, driven primarily by the rise in single-person households, which are currently the most common household type.

Today, more than a third of households are formed by a single person (37.1%), whereas twenty years ago this typology accounted for just a quarter of all households (25.9%). Households consisting of at least one family nucleus – that is, where there is at least one couple or parent-child relationship – account for 60.4%. These households are mainly couples with children (28.4%), which for many years was the predominant household typology, but which has also seen the sharpest decline.

Childless couples remain stable over time and account for one-fifth of the total (just over 20%). Over the years, the number of single-parent household has increased, and they now account for one in ten families. These are mainly single mothers (8.6%), but there are also a significant number of single fathers (2.2%). Households consisting of two or more family nuclei and those without a nucleus (excluding single people, for example two siblings living together) remain a residual typology (3.5%)

The result of these changes is a steady decline in the average household size, which has fallen from 2.6 members 20 years ago to the current 2.2 (average for 2024-2025).

Demographic and social changes, as well as shifts in family structures, are reflected in the distribution of family roles within the population. In the two-year period 2024-25, people living alone account for 16.9% of the population, and their numbers are rising across all age groups, particularly among middle-aged people. Couples account for 25.8% of the population and have recorded the sharpest decline. Single parents with children have seen a slight increase over the years (now accounting for 4.9% of the population), as have people living with a partner without children (now 18.8%). Meanwhile, the number of children living with both parents is falling and now stands at 21.1%; conversely, the number of children in single-parent households is rising (6.8%).

Although these trends have affected the whole country, geographical differences remain. One-person households have increased across the country and are now the most common household typology everywhere (39.1% in the Centre, 38.2% in the North, and 34.3% in the Mezzogiorno). The North has a higher concentration of childless couples (21.7% compared to 19.3% in the Centre, and 18.7% in the Mezzogiorno), whilst the Mezzogiorno still has a higher proportion of couples with children (31.4% compared to 27.1% and 26.7%, respectively, in the North and the Centre).

Family size has decreased across the whole country and is now more uniform nationwide: in the Mezzogiorno, where families have traditionally been larger, the average number of members has fallen from 2.8 to 2.3 over the past twenty years; in the Centre and the North, it has fallen from 2.5 and 2.4 respectively to 2.1.

Changes of residence between municipalities on the rise, favoured the North

In 2025 changes of residence between Municipalities amount to 1 million 455 thousand, up by 5.1% compared with 2024. This growth is driven primarily by the movement of foreign citizens (284 thousand movements, +14.8%), whilst the movement of the Italians (1 million 171 thousand) record a more modest increase (+3.0%).

Migration flows between geographical areas continue to show a positive migration net for the Centre-North, equal to 45 thousand units (+1.2 per thousand). The region benefiting most is the North-West (+20 thousand, +1.3 per thousand), followed by North-east (+19 thousand, +1.6 per thousand). The Centre shows a more modest internal migration net (+6 thousand, +0.5 per thousand). At regional level, the most substantial positive net migration in absolute terms is recorded in Lombardia and Emilia-Romagna (+10 thousand), followed by Piemonte (+7 thousand) and Veneto (+5 thousand). Positive net migration is also observed in Toscana and Liguria (both +3 thousand). In relative terms, the most attractive regions are Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste (+2,4 per thousand) and Emilia-Romagna (+2.1 per thousand), followed by Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Liguria (+1,8 per thousand), and Piemonte (+1,7 per thousand).

By contrast, Mezzogiorno continues to experience internal migration losses, with a negative net migration of 45 thousand (-2.3 per thousand). The decline is particularly marked in the South (-34 thousand, -2.6 per thousand) and more moderate in the Islands (-11 thousand, -1.8 per thousand). At regional level, the largest losses in absolute terms are recorded in Campania (-17 thousand), Sicilia (-11 thousand), Calabria and Puglia (both -7 thousand). In relative terms, the most negative migration rates are observed in Basilicata (-5.5 per thousand), Calabria (-3.8 per thousand), Molise (-3.3 per thousand) and Campania (-3.0 per thousand), whilst Sicilia (-2.4 per thousand) and Puglia (-1.7 per thousand) show more moderate values.

Slight decline in immigration and sharp fall of Italians leaving the Country

Immigrations from foreign countries are around 440 thousand in 2025, a slight decrease compared with the precious years (-2.6%). The decline affects both foreign citizens (383 thousand inflows, -2.5%) and Italians returning from foreign countries (56 thousand repatriations, -3.4%). Inflows decrease above all for foreign citizens coming from Central and Eastern Europe (60 thousand, -15.4%), particularly from Ukraine (-33.9%), and from European Union countries (38 thousand, -8.4%). There was also a decline in arrivals from Central and South America (55 thousand, -15.7%) and, to a lesser extent, from Africa (110 thousand, -2.9%) partly because immigration from Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia remained substantial (overall 76 thousand inflows). In contrast, inflows from Asia are 116 thousand, recording a significant increase (+18.6%), driven mainly by inflows from Bangladesh (37 thousand, +22.0%), India (17 thousand, +22.7%) and Pakistan (26 thousand, +20.0%). Italians returning to the Country came mainly (more than half of the total) from the European Union (31 thousand, +2.3%).

In 2025 emigration to foreign countries sharply decrease, amounting to 144 thousand units (-23.7% over 2024), the minimum value of the last decade. This decline affects both Italians leaving the Country (109 thousand expatriations, -22.7%) and emigrations of foreign citizens (35 thousand, -26.5%). One reason for the slowdown in emigration in 2025 is that 2024 saw an exceptionally high number of registrations with the AIRE, following the introduction of stricter regulations in this field. In part, therefore, the regulatory impact caused a shock, the effects of which are reflected in the change from 2024 to 2025.

The decline in the number of Italian citizens moving to foreign countries affects almost all the main destinations. The European Union remains, however, the main destination with 68 thousand expatriations (-27.7%). Looking at the main destination countries in detail, there has been a particular decline in emigration to Germany (13 thousand, -37.1%) and United Kingdom (11 thousand, -38.4%). Outside Europe, the number of Italians moving to the United States (-6.5%) and Australia (-9.3%) is falling.

The overall international net migration, amounting to approximately +296 thousand units, is the result of two opposing dynamics: on the one hand, the increase due to the immigration of foreign citizens (+348 thousand), on the other, the outflow of Italian citizens (-53 thousand) (Figure 5). In relative terms, the net migration rate stands at +5.0 per thousand inhabitants, higher in the North and Centre, at 5.8 and 5,2 per thousand respectively, and lower in the Mezzogiorno where it stands at 3.7 per thousand.

The mobility of national citizens is a widespread phenomenon across Europe, to the extent that in many countries the net migration of their own citizens is negative. According to the latest Eurostat data, in 2024 Italy has a net migration rate for its own citizens of -1.5 per thousand, a figure in line with that observed in several Western European countries, such as Belgium (-1.4) and Switzerland (-1.2), and less negative than that of a major country such as Sweden (-2.1). Negative migration rates for nationals are also observed in other major European countries, albeit at lower levels than in Italy, such as in Germany (-1.1), France (-0.9) and Austria (-0.8), whilst Spain is an exception, with a positive rate but close to zero (0.2).

The gender gap in life expectancy has narrowed to 4 years

Within Europe, Italy is widely recognised as one of the countries with the highest life expectancy. According to Eurostat data for 2024 – the most recent data available for comparison – Italian men rank second with a life expectancy of 81.5 years, surpassed only by Swedish men at 82.6 years, compared to an Eu27 average of 79.2 years. Italian women, in turn, rank third with 85.6 years, surpassed only by French women (85.9) and Swedish women (86.5), compared to an Eu27 average of 84.4 years.

These significant achievements are naturally driven by the trend in deaths, which, following the pandemic, have returned to their natural historical trend. In 2025, there were 652 thousand deaths, in line with the figure of 2024 when 653 thousand were recorded. In relation to the number of residents, there were 11,1 deaths per thousand inhabitants, as in the previous year.

The low number of deaths is leading to an increase in life expectancy at birth compared with 2024. In 2025 this is estimated at 81.7 years for men (an increase of 0.2) and 85.7 years for women (an increase of 0.1). This means that in 2025 the gender gap had narrowed to just 4 years, a level not seen since 1953. At the start of the last century, in fact, the gap between women and men was less than one year. Over the years, this figure gradually increased, reaching a peak of 6.9 years in 1979. From then on, the difference in life expectancy between women and men has gradually narrowed.
Historically, women have lived longer , partly due to a recognised biological advantage, but today men have begun to recover thanks to a combination of social, behavioural and health-related factors. Firstly, changes in men’s lifestyles have played a key role (e.g. a decline in smoking, which has helped reduce premature deaths from cancer and cardiovascular disease). Secondly, improvements in prevention and medicine now allow for earlier diagnosis and better treatment of typically male diseases (e.g. heart attacks). As for women, however, the change in their social role is significant. Women today work more outside the home and are more exposed to stress and risk factors. The biological factors working in their favour still exist but are less significant than in the past, as they have been replaced by the prevailing influence of social and health factors that are narrowing the gender gap.

Turning to the territorial analysis, the country continues to be characterised by significant geographical differences, with the North leading the way thanks to an estimated average life expectancy of 82.3 years for men and 86.2 for women. In the Centre the values are slightly below these levels, standing at 82.1 and 86,0 years respectively. Mezzogiorno is further behind, with an average life expectancy of 80.8 years for men and 84.9 years for women. However, it is positive that in Mezzogiorno the increase in life expectancy compared to 2024 is either greater than that of the North (as in the case of men, 0.3 years versus 1 year) or of equal magnitude (0.1 years for women).

At regional level, Trentino-Alto Adige is the region where people live the longest, with life expectancy standing at 82.8 years for men and 86.8 years for women. Campania continues to rank at the bottom of the list, with 80.1 and 84.1 years respectively; however, this region has seen significant increases, at least among men, compared to 2024 (up by 0.3 years for men and 0.1 years for women).

In relation to proportion of 65 and over, Italy is the oldest country in the Eu27

As of January 1, 2026, the mean age of the resident population is 47.1 years, an increase of six months (+0.5) compared with 1 January 2025. The Centre remain the oldest area (47.7 years, more than 6 decimal points above the national average), followed by North (47.3 years), whilst the Mezzogiorno remains the youngest area (46.4 years).

The population aged up to 14 stands at 6 million 852 thousand individuals (11.6% of the total), down by 168 thousand units compared with 2025. The working-age population (15-64 years) amounts to 37 million 270 thousand (63.2% of the total), a decrease of 73 thousand individuals over the previous years. People aged 65 and over are 14 million 821 thousand (25.1% of the total), 240 thousand more than the previous years. The number of people aged 85 and over is growing, reaching 2 million 511 thousand individuals (+101 thousand) and accounting for 4.3% of the total population. Finally, people aged over 100 amounts to 24 thousand and 700 units, 2 thousand more than the previous years.

The ageing process affects the European Union as a whole. The proportion of young people and those of working age is declining, whilst the proportion of people aged 65 and over is increasing. As of January 1, 2025, in the Eu27, young people aged 0 to 14 accounted for 14.4%, the working-age population for 63.6%, and the old people for 22.0%. The highest proportions of young people are found in Ireland (18.5%), Sweden (16.8%) and France (16.6%). Italy has the lowest proportion of young people (11.9%) and the highest of older people (24.7%). This imbalance is reflected in the median age, which stands at 49.1 years in Italy – more than four years higher than the Eu27 average (44.9 years) and almost 10 years higher than Ireland (39.6), which has the lowest value.

Although widely accepted, the concept of population ageing based solely on counting people who have reached a certain age (e.g. 65) is now a simplification, based on the past. Today’s older people have a different lifestyle and enjoy better health than their peers in the past. The threshold for entering what is commonly referred to as old age is, in fact, shifting later in life, in line with the physical and intellectual capabilities of the human capital, which are also reflected in socioeconomic conditions.

As an alternative measure, but one more relevant to today’s reality, the ageing process can be measured, amongst other possibilities, using dynamic indicators based on remaining life expectancy. For example, if we assume as a fixed parameter the life expectancy at age 65 for men in 1960 (equal to 13.1 years), in 2025 those aged 74 years for men and 77 for women would be considered old. In this scenario, the proportion of old population – that is, those meeting these thresholds – would be just 12.3%, half the 24.7% based on the demographic definition of the proportion of individuals aged 65 and over. This highlights how a dynamic threshold makes it possible to assess ageing process by taking into account actual changes in survival over time, resulting in a significantly lower order of magnitude for the phenomenon and enabling a better assessment of its impact.