by Guisela Chiarella
Friuli Venezia Giulia is facing one of the sharpest demographic declines in the country, with births falling to historic lows and the population aging rapidly.
Between January and May of 2025, just 2,563 babies were born in the region, according to Italy’s national statistics agency, Istat — about 500 a month. If the pace continues, Friuli Venezia Giulia will register fewer births than in 2024, when 6,885 were recorded, the lowest ever. It would mark the 18th consecutive annual decline since the last peak in 2007.
Deaths continue to outnumber births by more than two to one. In the first five months of this year, there were 6,239 deaths, compared with 2,563 births. The gap has been partially offset by immigration, which added about 3,300 new residents over the same period, limiting the overall population decline to just over 400 people.
The shift is most visible in smaller towns and mountain villages, where some municipalities can go years without a single birth. Older residents already make up 27.5 percent of the regional population, one of the highest shares in Italy.
The consequences extend beyond demography. Fewer children mean shrinking schools and services, while the number of working-age residents has fallen by nearly 60,000 since 2005. At the same time, more than 112,000 people in the region are now over 80, placing increasing strain on health care and pensions.
Migration continues to sustain the population, but experts warn that without a reversal in birthrates, the long-term pressures of an aging society will only grow.
