Europe · Southern Europe
Italy Demographics
Italy combines a nearly stable resident population, very low fertility, high life expectancy, and one of Europe’s oldest age structures.
Primary resident-population values use Istat provisional 2025 demographic indicators. Historical mid-year series use World Bank WDI. Urban values use World Bank / UN urban data. Projection values use Istat population projections, base 1 January 2024.
Last updated: 15 June 2026
Core Demographic Indicators
Detailed Demographic Indicators
| Indicator | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident population | 58,943,000 | 1 Jan 2026 | Istat, provisional resident population |
| Population balance | -636 residents | 2025 | Istat, provisional demographic balance |
| Births | 355,000 | 2025 | Istat |
| Deaths | 652,000 | 2025 | Istat |
| Natural balance | -296,000 | 2025 | Istat |
| Immigration from abroad | 440,000 | 2025 | Istat |
| Emigration to abroad | 144,000 | 2025 | Istat |
| Net international migration | +296,000 | 2025 | Istat |
| Foreign residents | 5,560,000 | 1 Jan 2026 | Istat |
| Foreign resident share | 9.4% | 1 Jan 2026 | Istat |
| Italian citizens | 53,383,000 | 1 Jan 2026 | Istat |
| Median age | 49.1 years | 1 Jan 2025 | Eurostat value quoted by Istat |
| Mean age | 47.1 years | 1 Jan 2026 | Istat |
| Total fertility rate | 1.14 births per woman | 2025 | Istat |
| Birth rate | 6.0 per 1,000 residents | 2025 | Istat |
| Mean age at childbirth | 32.7 years | 2025 | Istat |
| Life expectancy at birth, men | 81.7 years | 2025 | Istat |
| Life expectancy at birth, women | 85.7 years | 2025 | Istat |
| Life expectancy at birth, total | Data not available | Data not available | Data not available in the current dataset |
| Population aged 0-14 | 6,852,000 | 1 Jan 2026 | Istat |
| Population aged 15-64 | 37,270,000 | 1 Jan 2026 | Istat |
| Population aged 65+ | 14,821,000 | 1 Jan 2026 | Istat |
| Population aged 85+ | 2,511,000 | 1 Jan 2026 | Istat |
| Population aged 100+ | 24,700 | 1 Jan 2026 | Istat |
| Urban population share | 72.3% | 2024 | World Bank / UN urban series |
| Urban population | 42,642,176 | 2024 | World Bank / UN urban series |
Table analysis
- The 2025 resident-population balance was almost flat at -636 residents.
- The natural balance was negative: 355,000 births and 652,000 deaths.
- Net international migration was +296,000, almost matching the natural decrease.
- People aged 65+ made up 25.1% of the population on 1 January 2026.
- The fertility rate was 1.14 births per woman in 2025, below the broad 2.1 replacement-level benchmark.
Population Trend
Italy Population Trend
Selected mid-year population estimates from the World Bank WDI series.
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators via FRED. Values are de facto mid-year estimates and are not the same definition as Istat resident-register counts.
Trend analysis
- The WDI mid-year series rose from 50.2 million in 1960 to 60.2 million in 2015.
- After 2015, the selected WDI values decline to 58.95 million in 2024.
- The chart uses a comparable international mid-year series, while the core population card uses Istat resident population on 1 January 2026.
Historical Population Table
| Year | Population | Annual growth rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 50,199,700 | Data not available | World Bank WDI |
| 1970 | 53,821,850 | 0.53% | World Bank WDI |
| 1980 | 56,433,883 | 0.21% | World Bank WDI |
| 1990 | 56,719,240 | 0.08% | World Bank WDI |
| 2000 | 56,942,108 | 0.05% | World Bank WDI |
| 2005 | 58,166,682 | Data not available | World Bank WDI |
| 2010 | 59,819,407 | 0.31% | World Bank WDI |
| 2015 | 60,229,605 | -0.10% | World Bank WDI |
| 2020 | 59,438,851 | -0.49% | World Bank WDI |
| 2021 | 59,133,173 | -0.52% | World Bank WDI |
| 2022 | 59,013,667 | -0.20% | World Bank WDI |
| 2023 | 58,984,216 | -0.03% | World Bank WDI |
| 2024 | 58,952,704 | Data not available | World Bank WDI |
Table analysis
- The table keeps WDI values separate from Istat resident-register values.
- The selected series reaches its highest listed value in 2015 at 60,229,605.
- The 2024 WDI value is 58,952,704, close to the Istat resident population of 58,943,000 on 1 January 2026, but the definitions differ.
Broad Age Structure
Italy Broad Age Structure
Population share by broad age group on 1 January 2026.
Source: Istat provisional demographic indicators. This is a broad age-structure chart, not a detailed population pyramid.
Age-sex analysis
- The 65+ group accounts for 25.1% of Italy’s resident population.
- The 0-14 group accounts for 11.6%, smaller than the older-age group.
- Detailed 5-year male/female age groups are not included in the current dataset, so no full population pyramid is shown.
Age Structure Table
| Age group | Population | Share | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-14 | 6,852,000 | 11.6% | 1 Jan 2026 | Istat |
| 15-64 | 37,270,000 | 63.2% | 1 Jan 2026 | Istat |
| 65+ | 14,821,000 | 25.1% | 1 Jan 2026 | Istat |
| 85+ | 2,511,000 | 4.3% | 1 Jan 2026 | Istat |
| 100+ | 24,700 | Data not available | 1 Jan 2026 | Istat |
Table analysis
- The working-age group, 15-64, remains the largest broad age group at 37.270 million.
- The 65+ group is more than twice the size of the 0-14 group by share: 25.1% versus 11.6%.
- The 85+ subset is 2.511 million, equal to 4.3% of the resident population.
Age Shares Over Time
Selected WDI age-share values show the shift from youth share to older-age share.
Source: World Bank WDI age-share series, based on UN Population Division estimates.
Trend analysis
- The 0-14 share falls from 25.01% in 1960 to 11.89% in 2024 in the WDI series.
- The 65+ share rises from 9.50% in 1960 to 24.62% in 2024.
- The working-age share is listed at 63.48% in 2024, down from the 1990 value of 68.57%.
Age Share History Table
| Year | Ages 0-14 | Ages 15-64 | Ages 65+ | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 25.01% | 65.48% | 9.50% | World Bank WDI |
| 1970 | 24.69% | 64.26% | 11.05% | World Bank WDI |
| 1980 | 22.26% | 64.52% | 13.21% | World Bank WDI |
| 1990 | 16.46% | 68.57% | 14.96% | World Bank WDI |
| 2000 | 14.27% | 67.51% | 18.22% | World Bank WDI |
| 2010 | 14.04% | 65.50% | 20.46% | World Bank WDI |
| 2020 | 12.83% | 63.79% | 23.38% | World Bank WDI |
| 2024 | 11.89% | 63.48% | 24.62% | World Bank WDI |
Table analysis
- The WDI age-share table uses percentage shares, not age-group headcounts.
- The 65+ share first exceeds 20% in the selected rows by 2010.
- The 0-14 share drops below 12% by 2024.
Fertility, Life Expectancy, Migration and Urbanization
Fertility Rate Compared With Replacement Level
Italy’s 2025 total fertility rate against the broad 2.1 replacement-level benchmark.
Source: Istat for Italy 2025. Replacement level is a broad demographic benchmark and is not a country-specific target.
Chart analysis
- Italy’s 2025 fertility rate is 1.14 births per woman.
- The gap from the 2.1 replacement-level benchmark is 0.96 births per woman.
- The 2025 value is lower than Italy’s 2024 value of 1.18.
Fertility Table
| Measure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total fertility rate | 1.14 births per woman | 2025 | Istat |
| Total fertility rate | 1.18 births per woman | 2024 | Istat |
| Births | 355,000 | 2025 | Istat |
| Birth rate | 6.0 per 1,000 residents | 2025 | Istat |
| Mean age at childbirth | 32.7 years | 2025 | Istat |
| North fertility rate | 1.15 births per woman | 2025 | Istat |
| Centre fertility rate | 1.07 births per woman | 2025 | Istat |
| Mezzogiorno fertility rate | 1.16 births per woman | 2025 | Istat |
Table analysis
- The national fertility rate declined from 1.18 in 2024 to 1.14 in 2025.
- The Centre has the lowest listed macro-area value at 1.07.
- The North and Mezzogiorno values are close: 1.15 and 1.16.
Life Expectancy by Sex
Life expectancy at birth in 2025 for men and women.
Source: Istat provisional demographic indicators, 2025.
Chart analysis
- Women’s life expectancy at birth is 85.7 years.
- Men’s life expectancy at birth is 81.7 years.
- The listed female-male gap is 4.0 years.
Life Expectancy Table
| Year | Total | Men | Women | Gap | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Data not available | 81.7 years | 85.7 years | 4.0 years | Istat |
Table analysis
- The current page uses sex-specific life expectancy because the 2025 total value is not available in the current dataset.
- The female value is 4.0 years higher than the male value.
Natural Change and Migration Balance
2025 births, deaths, natural balance, immigration, emigration and net international migration.
Source: Istat provisional demographic indicators, 2025. Natural balance and net migration are rounded values.
Chart analysis
- Deaths exceeded births by about 296,000 in 2025.
- Net international migration was also about +296,000.
- The near-zero total resident-population balance reflects these two opposite movements.
Vital Events and Migration Table
| Year | Births | Deaths | Natural balance | Immigration | Emigration | Net migration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 355,000 | 652,000 | -296,000 | 440,000 | 144,000 | +296,000 | Istat |
Table analysis
- The table separates natural change from international migration.
- Immigration from abroad is listed at 440,000, while emigration is listed at 144,000.
- The net migration value is rounded and should not be added to unrounded components as an exact arithmetic identity.
Urban Population Share
Urban population as a share of total population in 2024.
Source: World Bank / UN urban series, 2024. Urban definitions follow the source dataset and may differ from national administrative categories.
Chart analysis
- The urban share is listed at 72.3% for 2024.
- The corresponding urban population value used here is 42,642,176.
- Urban share and urban count use an international urban-series definition, not the Istat resident-register age table.
Population Projection Scenario
Italy Population Projection
Istat median-scenario projection values, base 1 January 2024.
Source: Istat population and household projections, base 1 January 2024. Projection values are scenario-based estimates, not guaranteed predictions.
Projection analysis
- Istat’s median scenario moves from about 59.0 million in the base period to 58.5 million by 2030.
- The same scenario lists 54.7 million by 2050 and 45.8 million by 2080.
- The projection section is separate from observed and estimated historical population data.
Projection Table
| Year | Projected population | Scenario | Uncertainty note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | About 59.0 million | Base period | Base value rounded in source text | Istat projections, base 1 Jan 2024 |
| 2030 | 58.5 million | Median scenario | Scenario-based estimate | Istat projections, base 1 Jan 2024 |
| 2050 | 54.7 million | Median scenario | 90% interval: 52.5-56.8 million | Istat projections, base 1 Jan 2024 |
| 2080 | 45.8 million | Median scenario | 90% interval: 39.0-52.8 million | Istat projections, base 1 Jan 2024 |
Projection analysis
- The 2050 median-scenario value is 4.3 million lower than the rounded 2024 base-period value.
- The 2080 median-scenario value is 13.2 million lower than the rounded 2024 base-period value.
- The widening 90% interval after 2050 reflects rising projection uncertainty across the time horizon.
Demographic Overview
The 2025 resident-population balance was nearly unchanged at -636 residents, with positive net international migration offsetting a negative natural balance.
Italy’s 65+ population share is 25.1%, while the 0-14 share is 11.6%, placing older residents above children by share.
The 2025 fertility rate is 1.14 births per woman, below both the 2024 national value and the broad replacement-level benchmark.
International migration is positive in the 2025 Istat balance, with 440,000 immigrations from abroad and 144,000 emigrations to abroad.
Istat’s median scenario places the population at 54.7 million in 2050 and 45.8 million in 2080, with wider uncertainty at longer horizons.
Istat resident population, World Bank mid-year estimates, urban series and projections use different definitions and should not be merged without source notes.
Data Sources and Methodology
Istat values are used for the current resident-population profile because they refer to Italy’s national population register and 2025 demographic balance. World Bank WDI values are used only for long historical international series. Projection values are shown separately from observed or estimated values. Missing values are not filled with estimates.
| Source | Year or release | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Istat, Demographic Indicators – Year 2025 | Released 31 March 2026 | Resident population, births, deaths, migration, age groups, fertility, life expectancy, foreign residents and methodology notes |
| Eurostat values quoted by Istat | 1 January 2025 | Median age and EU age-structure context |
| World Bank World Development Indicators via FRED | Annual series to 2024 for population and age shares; growth series to 2023 | Historical mid-year population, annual population growth and age-share history |
| World Bank / UN urban series | 2024 | Urban population share and urban population count |
| Istat, Population and Household Projections – Base 1 January 2024 | Released 28 July 2025 | Projection chart, projection table and scenario uncertainty notes |
Method note
- Resident population is not identical to a mid-year de facto estimate.
- Projection values are scenario outputs and are not treated as observed data.
- Some values are rounded because the source release reports them in thousands or millions.
- Age-sex detail by 5-year age group and sex is not included in the current source set; no population pyramid is produced.
Indicator Definitions
| Indicator | Definition used on this page | Unit | Source note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resident population | Population registered as resident in Italy at the reference date. | People | Istat provisional resident-population release |
| Mid-year population | International de facto estimate for the middle of the year. | People | World Bank WDI historical series |
| Total fertility rate | Average number of births per woman under current fertility rates. | Births per woman | Istat |
| Life expectancy at birth | Expected years of life at birth under period mortality conditions. | Years | Istat sex-specific values |
| Natural balance | Births minus deaths during the year. | People | Istat |
| Net international migration | Immigration from abroad minus emigration to abroad. | People | Istat |
| Urban population share | Population classified as urban under the international urban-series definition. | Percent | World Bank / UN urban series |
| Projection | Scenario-based population estimate for a future year. | People | Istat projection scenario |
Method note
- The definition table explains why values from different datasets can differ even when they describe the same country.
- Population totals, rates and projection values should be read with their source definition and reference year.
Methodological Safety Note
Methodological Safety Note: Italy’s demographic values can differ by source because resident population, census count, mid-year estimate, urban-series definition and projection scenario are separate measures. Istat resident values on 1 January are not the same as World Bank mid-year estimates. Projection values are scenario-based and must not be mixed with observed population counts. Fertility is shown as births per woman; the 2.1 comparison is a broad replacement-level benchmark, not a national target. Sex-specific life expectancy is shown where available; total life expectancy and detailed age-sex population counts are marked as unavailable when not present in the current dataset.
FAQ
What is Italy’s population?
Istat lists Italy’s provisional resident population at 58,943,000 on 1 January 2026.
Is Italy’s population growing?
The 2025 resident-population balance was nearly flat at -636 residents. Positive net international migration offset a negative natural balance.
What is Italy’s fertility rate?
Italy’s total fertility rate was 1.14 births per woman in 2025, down from 1.18 in 2024.
How old is Italy’s population?
People aged 65+ account for 25.1% of the resident population on 1 January 2026. The median age value quoted by Istat from Eurostat is 49.1 years for 1 January 2025.
Why do Italy population values differ by source?
Istat resident population, World Bank mid-year estimates and Istat projection scenarios use different reference dates, definitions and methods. They should be compared only with their source notes.