In 2023, 358 Italian towns and villages recorded no births, a concerning rise from 328 five years ago, according to ISTAT, Italy’s national statistics agency. The figures highlight a deepening demographic decline in the Mediterranean country, particularly in rural and mountainous areas, where the population is aging, and young families are increasingly rare.
The trend is most pronounced in isolated regions, such as the Apennines and the Alps, where dwindling populations create a domino effect. With fewer residents of childbearing age, schools, clinics, and other essential services close, prompting further migration to urban centers or abroad.
“It’s a self-perpetuating cycle,” explained Alessandro Rosina, a demographics expert at the Catholic University of Milan, told The Telegraph. “As services disappear, so do the people, leaving these areas increasingly deserted.”
Italy’s population decline has been evident for years, but it became irreversible in 2014, according to Rosina. Rural areas, particularly those far from major infrastructure, have been hardest hit. “The challenges of accessing schools and healthcare make these regions less appealing to young families,” he noted.
In some villages, the absence of births has become the norm, with populations reduced to just a few dozen residents. When a baby is born, it is a rare and celebrated event. Such was the case in Morterone, a tiny village in Lombardy, where the birth of a baby girl named Marta in December 2023 increased the population to 33.
The demographic challenge is compounded by the aspirations of Italy’s younger generation. A significant portion of teenagers express a desire to emigrate, with the United States, Spain, and the United Kingdom among the top destinations, according to ISTAT surveys. This outflow of young people further accelerates the decline, leaving fewer potential parents to reverse the trend.
In 2023, the number of births in Italy dropped to 379,000, the lowest on record. Projections suggest that by 2050, the population—currently around 58 million—could shrink by five million. Efforts to address the issue remain limited, and for many rural communities, the path forward is uncertain.
