Italy's birth rate in 2024 hit a historic low with just 369,944 births, marking a 2.6% decline from the previous year and the lowest since records began in 1861, continuing a 16-year downward trend.

The fertility rate has fallen to 1.18 children per woman, well below the replacement level of 2.1, signaling an impending population decline.

This decline is partly due to a shrinking number of potential parents, as reproductive-aged generations decrease, contributing to Italy’s ongoing demographic winter.

Births to at least one foreign parent remained stable at 21.8% of total births in 2024, with Romanian, Moroccan, and Albanian parents being the most common.

Projections for 2025 suggest a continued decline, with a 6.3% decrease in births from early 2024, totaling around 197,956 in the first half of the year.

The average age of women giving birth increased to 32.6 years in 2024 from 28.1 years in 1995, indicating delayed motherhood.

Italy's population continues to age, with the average age rising to 46.8 years and nearly a quarter (24.7%) over 65, highlighting demographic challenges.

The proportion of Italians over 65 grew to 24.7% in early 2025, with over 2.4 million people over 85, emphasizing an aging society.

Regional disparities are evident, with northern regions like South Tyrol experiencing higher fertility rates (1.51 in 2024, rising to 1.55 in early 2025), while southern regions such as Abruzzo and Sardinia face declines of over 8-10%.

Economic disparities influence birth rates, with wealthier northern Italy seeing less severe declines compared to poorer southern areas, affected by stagnant incomes and limited family support.

The fertility decline is linked to smaller generations born since the mid-1970s, with increased employment insecurity and temporary contracts reducing potential parents.

Despite efforts by political leaders, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, no effective measures have reversed the long-term decline, posing serious economic and social challenges.