Italy's Economy
An Ageing Italy
How Italy's very low birth rate and long life expectancy make it one of the oldest countries, straining pensions, and why young Italians emigrate.
Italy is one of the world’s oldest countries.
Low births
Italy’s fertility rate is about 1.2 children per woman, far below replacement.
Long lives
Italians have high life expectancy.
Pensions
Italy spends one of the highest shares of GDP on pensions in Europe.
Emigration
Many young Italians emigrate for better jobs.
Villages
Some depopulating towns sell homes for €1 to attract new residents.
Immigration
Immigrants fill jobs in care and farming, though immigration is politically contested.
A small Sicilian town sells abandoned houses for one euro on condition buyers renovate them.
It strains pensions and labour supply.
- Italy's fertility is about 1.2.
- Pension spending is very high.
- Young people emigrate.
- Some towns sell homes for €1.
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