Immigration Halts Italy’s Population Decline as Birth Rate Hits Record Low
Italy’s population has stabilized after more than a decade of decline, largely due to immigration offsetting a sharp drop in births, according to new data from ISTAT.
Preliminary figures show the country’s population stood at 58.94 million on January 1, nearly unchanged from a year earlier. The data highlights how migration has become the key factor preventing further population loss.
Despite this stability, officials warn that the underlying trend remains concerning. Italy continues to experience a significant natural decline, with deaths far exceeding births, while the population keeps aging.
Without steady immigration, the population would resume shrinking, increasing pressure on the labor market and public finances, the statistics agency said.
The rise in immigration has come under the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has taken a strict stance on undocumented migration while expanding legal work visas for non-European Union citizens.
Birth rates continue to fall sharply. In 2025, births dropped to 355,000, down 3.9% from the previous year, marking the lowest level since Italy’s unification in 1861. Deaths remained relatively stable at around 652,000, resulting in a natural population decline of nearly 300,000.
Fertility rates also declined, averaging just 1.14 children per woman. This is one of the lowest levels in Europe and well below the replacement rate of 2.1. Experts point to delayed parenthood and a shrinking number of women of childbearing age as key factors.
Net immigration reached 296,000, driven by 440,000 arrivals from abroad, while emigration dropped to 144,000, the lowest level in a decade. As a result, Italy’s foreign resident population grew by 188,000 to 5.56 million.
Life expectancy has also continued to rise following the pandemic years. It now stands at 81.7 years for men and 85.7 for women, placing Italy among the longest-living nations in the European Union.
The data underscores a growing demographic imbalance, with fewer births and an aging population making Italy increasingly reliant on immigration to sustain its workforce and economic stability.
Immigration Halts Italy’s Population Decline as Birth Rate Hits Record Low
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