by Guisela Chiarella
Italy is facing an alarming demographic shift as birth rates continue to plummet, echoing a broader trend seen across the European Union. The Bank of Italy recently flagged the decline as a critical threat to the country’s long-term economic and social stability. At 1.2 children per woman, Italy’s fertility rate remains one of the lowest in the EU, well below the replacement threshold of 2.1.
In an interview with InTrieste, Friuli Venezia Giulia Governor Massimiliano Fedriga underscored the urgency of the issue. “At the European level, we are working on family policies, as our region provides the most resources by far,” he said. “Funding has increased fivefold compared to previous efforts, but it is still not enough to address this complex issue. We face cultural and lifestyle changes, such as delayed parenthood, which risks impoverishing our nations.”
Fedriga’s comments come as new data released by Eurostat show the EU’s birth rate hitting a record low in 2023. The number of births in the EU dropped by nearly 4% compared to the previous year, marking the steepest annual decline since data collection began. Italy, along with Spain and Greece, is at the forefront of this demographic crisis.
Economists and demographers warn that the consequences could be profound: a shrinking workforce, mounting pressure on pension systems, and a potential loss of global competitiveness. In response, regional governments like Friuli Venezia Giulia are ramping up efforts to make parenthood more accessible and affordable.
Still, Fedriga acknowledged that financial incentives alone won’t solve the problem. “There are deeper societal dynamics at play,” he said. “We must create a culture that values family life without forcing choices between careers and children.”
Experts agree that reversing the trend will require a multifaceted strategy — from improving childcare infrastructure to promoting gender equality in the workplace and encouraging work-life balance.
For now, Italy’s declining birth rate remains a quiet emergency — one with long-term implications that leaders across Europe can no longer afford to ignore.
