Rome: Italy’s resident population, which currently stands at about 59 million, is expected to decline to 54.7 million by 2050, according to Istat projections released on Monday. The national statistics agency highlighted a significant shift in the demographic structure of the country, predicting substantial changes in age distribution and household composition over the coming decades.
According to Ansa News Agency, the number of people of working age, between 15 and 64, is projected to drop by 7.7 million, from 37.4 million now to 29.7 million in 2050. This change will result in the share of the population in this age group decreasing to 54.3% from the current 63.5%. Concurrently, the proportion of elderly individuals aged 65 and older is expected to rise to 34.6% from 24.3%, while the share of children aged up to 14 years will experience a slight drop to 11.2%.
The agency noted that factors such as increased survival rates, low birth rates, and family transformations are contributing to an ongoing change i
n the population structure, leading to a self-reinforcing aging process. Despite the positive contribution of foreign migration, these demographic shifts are anticipated to continue.
Istat also projected changes in household composition by 2050. It is expected that one in five households will be composed of a couple with children, compared to three in ten today. Meanwhile, the proportion of households consisting of lone individuals is expected to rise to 41.1% from the current 36.8%.
