Italy's Fertility Decline Spurs 2030 Manifesto for Birthrate Revitalization

Births in Italy have fallen to historic lows, with around 355,000 newborns in 2023 and about 370,000 in 2024, marking one of the lowest levels ever recorded. The drop reflects not only economic insecurity but also a shrinking pool of women of reproductive age—approximately 2.5 million fewer than two decades ago—and delayed childbearing, with one in 20 infants now conceived through medically assisted reproduction (PMA).

In response, the Associazione Italiana Fertilità (AIFe) presented the "Manifesto Fertilità 2030" to Parliament, calling for a comprehensive public‑health approach to reproductive health. The manifesto urges early education on fertility risks, integration of fertility prevention into school curricula, and policies that make parenthood compatible with work and housing stability. As AIFe president Laura Rienzi said, “We must shift the focus from managing overt infertility to protecting reproductive health early, making fertility a permanent element of public policy.” The proposal seeks to reshape cultural attitudes, improve early detection of reproductive problems, and ensure timely access to assisted‑reproduction services as part of a broader strategy to reverse Italy’s demographic decline.