started · updated
Italy records historic low of 355,000 births in 2025
In 2025 Italy registered only 355,000 births, the fewest since the post‑World War II period, and a total fertility rate of 1.14 children per woman. The same year saw 652,000 deaths, creating a natural population decline of 297,000 people.
A new report by the Foundation for Birth, in collaboration with ISTAT and INPS, found that 62.2 % of Italians of child‑bearing age who will not have more children say they gave up because of economic, labour or social obstacles, while only 5.5 % say parenthood is not part of their life plan. If fertility intentions were realized, about 760,000 children would have been born in 2025.
Over 2.8 million respondents identified economic and labour difficulties as the main obstacle to having children. Nearly half of women (49.9 %) fear negative career consequences from motherhood, compared with 24 % of men. More than 3 million women are inactive for family reasons, and 763,000 people forgo children to care for elderly relatives. The demographic ageing and shrinking population pose challenges for Italy’s pension, health‑care and welfare systems.
Entities
Fondazione per la Natalità · Francesco Maria Chelli · Germany · Gigi De Palo · INPS · Istat · Italy · Valeria Vittimberga
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 13 SOURCES] Italy recorded 355,000 births in 2025, the lowest number since the post‑World‑War II era. www.salutedomani.com · www.adnkronos.com · www.radiostudio90italia.it · ladiscussione.com · www.finanznachrichten.de · +8 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] The total fertility rate in Italy in 2025 was 1.14 children per woman. www.salutedomani.com · www.adnkronos.com · www.radiostudio90italia.it · ladiscussione.com · www.finanznachrichten.de · +8 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] 62.2 % of Italians of child‑bearing age who will not have more children say they gave up because of economic, labour or social obstacles. www.salutedomani.com · www.adnkronos.com · www.radiostudio90italia.it · ladiscussione.com · www.finanznachrichten.de · +8 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] If fertility intentions were realized, about 760,000 children would have been born in Italy in 2025. www.salutedomani.com · www.adnkronos.com · www.radiostudio90italia.it · ladiscussione.com · www.finanznachrichten.de · +8 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] 49.9 % of Italian women fear negative career consequences from motherhood, compared with 24 % of men. www.salutedomani.com · www.adnkronos.com · www.radiostudio90italia.it · ladiscussione.com · www.finanznachrichten.de · +8 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] 2.8 million Italians identified economic and labour difficulties as the main obstacle to having children. www.salutedomani.com · www.adnkronos.com · www.radiostudio90italia.it · ladiscussione.com · www.finanznachrichten.de · +8 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] In 2025 Italy recorded 652,000 deaths and a natural population decline of 297,000 people. www.salutedomani.com · www.adnkronos.com · www.radiostudio90italia.it · ladiscussione.com · 444.hu · +8 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] Only 5.5 % of Italians of child‑bearing age say parenthood is not part of their life plan. www.salutedomani.com · www.adnkronos.com · www.radiostudio90italia.it · ladiscussione.com · www.finanznachrichten.de · +8 more