Italy Faces Population Decline of 4 Million by 2050
By Editor • August 31, 2026 • 1 min read
Italy is projected to experience a significant population decline, shrinking by nearly 4 million residents by 2050, according to the national statistics bureau ISTAT. This reduction, from 58.9 million in 2025 to 55 million in 2050, raises concerns about the sustainability of the country's economy and welfare system.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who assumed office in 2022, has prioritized increasing the birth rate. However, her administration's initiatives have seen little success, with birth rates plummeting to around 355,000 last year—the lowest since Italy's unification in 1861.
ISTAT's projections indicate a troubling trend, with births expected to stabilize until 2030 before dropping further to 335,000 by 2050. Meanwhile, the elderly population is set to rise sharply, with those aged 65 and over projected to increase to 34.5% by 2050, intensifying the challenges for Italy's economic and welfare systems.
Source: www.independent.co.uk
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