Genoa – The decline in births in 2023 in Liguria continues, which highlights a fertility of 1.16 children per woman below the national average of 1.20, placing it in 12th place in the ranking of Italian regions for average number of children per woman.
This is what emerges from the demographic indicators for the year 2023 published today by Istat. There were 8,300 births in 2023 in Liguria, down by -1.7% compared to the previous year, of which 4,600 in Genoa (-0.4%), 1,300 in Savona (-3.6%), 1,200 each in Spezia and Imperia respectively +0.7% and -7%. The regional fertility rate is declining from both 1.20 in 2022 and 1.21 in 2021. The average age of childbirth in Liguria is 32.6 years above the national average of 32.5 years.
Liguria confirms itself as the oldest region in Italy, with a share of over 65 year olds equal to 29% and a share of over eighty year olds of 10.3%, only 6.4% of the population is between 0 and 9 years old. In 2023, life expectancy at birth for residents in Liguria stood at 81.1 years for men (+0.7 compared to 2022) corresponding to the national average and 85.2 years for women (+0.5% compared to to 2022) corresponding to the national average, 11th in the ranking of the Italian regions for both sexes.
National data: 6 newborns per thousand inhabitants. Record of over centenarians
In 2023 there will be six newborns per thousand inhabitants in Italy according to Istat's demographic indicators. From provisional data, it appears that there were 379 thousand births, with a rate of 6.4 per thousand (decreasing compared to 6.7 per thousand the previous year). In one year there are 14 thousand fewer children born. But the decrease is notable if we look at 2008, the last year in which there was an increase in births: 197 thousand fewer newborns (-34.2%). The average number of children per woman drops from 1.24 in 2022 to 1.20 in 2023, getting ever closer to the historic low of 1.19 recorded way back in 1995.
Sardinia remains in the black for fertility, stably below the level of one child per woman for the fourth consecutive year. The rate drops further in 2023 to 0.91 against 0.95 in 2022. Confirmations also at the top of the ranking with Trentino-Alto Adige which remains in first place (even if it goes from 1.51 in 2022 to 1.42) . Sicily and Campania follow, with an average number of 1.32 and 1.29 respectively. Furthermore, in the three regions there are the youngest new mothers on the Peninsula.
Deaths are also decreasing: 661 thousand in 2023, equal to 8% less than in 2022. The drop in mortality translates into a significant leap forward in life expectancy which reaches 83.1 years, extending by six months . And the population tends to age. The average age on January 1st is 46.6 years, up two decimal points (about three months) in a year.
The over 65s make up 24.3% of the total population, compared to 24% the previous year. The number of over-80s is also increasing and there is a record number of over-centenarians who reach the highest historical level, exceeding 22,500. Liguria is the oldest region, with a share of over-65s equal to 29%. The population, according to Istat data, remains almost stable thanks to immigration from abroad. As of January 1, 2024, there were 58 million 990 thousand residents, down by 7 thousand units compared to the same date the previous year (-0.1 per thousand inhabitants). But the country is divided.
In the South the variation is negative (-4.1 per thousand), in the North, however, it increases by 2.7 per thousand and that of the Center is stable (+0.1 per thousand). The demographic decline is more noticeable in the internal areas of Southern Italy where it affected four out of five municipalities. And the data raises concerns. “Serious. In fact, the Italian situation is very serious” claims Adriano Bordignon, president of the National Forum of Family Associations, who adds: “This demographic collapse is condemning us to an unsustainable future where we will not be able to cope with growing health spending because the the active population continues to decline. But the stability of the social security system is also compromised.”
In the same vein, the president of the Birth Foundation Gigi De Palo: “Istat today confirmed the now rapid and inexorable decline to which our country is destined if serious family and economic policies against the demographic winter are not quickly implemented” he states. According to De Palo, “there is no more time to waste: without a concrete objective you navigate by sight and hit a wall” .
#Birth #rate #children #Liguria #born #compared