Italy: Rising cost of living forces couples to forgo children

Rising living costs and stagnant wages are forcing couples in Italy to abandon plans to start families. Personal testimonies highlight a growing trend where even dual-income households struggle to achieve the financial stability required for parenthood.

In one instance, a couple in the province of Turin reported that increasing utility bills and rising condominium fees—which grew from 198 euros to 378 euros over four years—combined with higher food prices, made the prospect of children unattainable. Another couple, despite earning a combined monthly income of approximately 2,900 euros through permanent contracts, described life as a constant struggle to reach the end of the month, noting that even basic luxuries like dining out or vacations are unaffordable.

These accounts reflect a broader sentiment among younger generations who feel that despite working and maintaining stable employment, the escalating costs of housing, energy, and medical procedures, such as assisted reproduction, are creating insurmountable barriers to building a future.