Italy Population Pyramid (2026)
Italy has a population of 58,926,167 in 2026, according to the UN World Population Prospects 2024 (projection for 1 July). That is the 25th-largest population in the world and 0.71% of the global total of 8.30 billion. Children under 15 make up 11.4% of the population and people aged 65 and over 25.6%, with 95.9 males for every 100 females.
Italy Demographics
Italy has 58.9 million people in 2026, up 10.4% from 53.4 million in 1970.
Deaths outnumber births by 289,782 (UN projection for 2026).
65+ share 25.6% — the 3rd-highest of 194 countries.
Median age 48.6 — the 4th-highest of 194 countries.
Largest generation: Gen X — 24.6% (14,486,318)
All generations in Italy →
Population pyramid, 1950 to 2026
Watch how Italy's population structure evolved from 1950 to 2026
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Sex Ratio & Gender Distribution
Italy has 95.9 males per 100 females (sex ratio)
Women outnumber men by 1,248,573 (2.1% of the population).
Male Statistics
- Population:28,838,797
- Percentage:48.9%
Female Statistics
- Population:30,087,370
- Percentage:51.1%
- Ratio Format:1:1.043
Sex Ratio Analysis
The sex ratio of Italy indicates more females than males.
Birth Statistics & Natality Data
Estimated births today
Simulated from the UN WPP 2024 projection of 379,621 births in 2026.
Current Birth Metrics (2026)
Temporal Distribution
Averages from the UN annual births, 2026 projection
Historical Birth Rate Trends, 1950 to 2026
Birth Statistics, 2021 to 2026
| Year | Births | Birth Rate (per 1,000) | TFR (children/woman) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 407,050 | 6.8 | 1.25 | estimate |
| 2022 | 399,735 | 6.7 | 1.24 | estimate |
| 2023 | 384,627 | 6.5 | 1.20 | estimate |
| 2024 | 384,703 | 6.5 | 1.21 | projection |
| 2025 | 382,523 | 6.5 | 1.21 | projection |
| 2026 | 379,621 | 6.4 | 1.22 | projection |
Historical Analysis
Global Context (2026)
Source: UN WPP 2024: births, birth rate and fertility for 2024 and later are medium-variant projections; 1950–2023 are estimates. The live counter is a uniform simulation of the 2026 projection (379,621 births), not a real-time feed.
Median Age Analysis
Italy's median age is 48.6 years
Half the population is younger than 48.6 years, half is older — indicating an aging society
Complete Age Distribution & Youth Demographics
| Age Group | Population | % | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 1,969,516 | 3.3% | Youth |
| 5-9 | 2,211,385 | 3.8% | Youth |
| 10-14 | 2,557,212 | 4.3% | Youth |
| 15-19 | 2,889,096 | 4.9% | Young Adult |
| 20-24 | 3,089,249 | 5.2% | Young Adult |
| 25-29 | 3,097,310 | 5.3% | Working Age |
| 30-34 | 3,159,694 | 5.4% | Working Age |
| 35-39 | 3,340,730 | 5.7% | Working Age |
| 40-44 | 3,494,977 | 5.9% | Working Age |
| 45-49 | 3,994,681 | 6.8% | Working Age |
| 50-54 | 4,644,380 | 7.9% | Working Age |
| 55-59 | 4,777,553 | 8.1% | Working Age |
| 60-64 | 4,615,774 | 7.8% | Working Age |
| 65-69 | 3,916,102 | 6.6% | Senior |
| 70-74 | 3,348,269 | 5.7% | Senior |
| 75-79 | 3,075,270 | 5.2% | Senior |
| 80-84 | 2,199,912 | 3.7% | Senior |
| 85-89 | 1,607,438 | 2.7% | Senior |
| 90-94 | 718,375 | 1.2% | Senior |
| 95-99 | 194,938 | 0.3% | Senior |
| 100+ | 24,308 | 0.0% | Senior |
Demographic Transition Model (DTM) Stage
Stage 5 (natural decrease): deaths outnumber births — 6.4 births and 11.4 deaths per 1,000 people in 2026. Read more about Stage 5 of the Demographic Transition Model.
Fertility Rate & Birth Statistics
Italy Total Fertility Rate: 1.22 children per woman
Below the replacement level of 2.1
Fertility Rate Trends
Historical data (solid line) and future projections (dashed line)
Historical Fertility Trends
| Year | Total Fertility Rate | Birth Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1.25 | 6.8 | |
| 2022 | 1.24 | 6.7 | ↓0.01 |
| 2023 | 1.20 | 6.5 | ↓0.04 |
| 2024 | 1.21 | 6.5 | ↑0.01 |
| 2025 | 1.21 | 6.5 | 0.00 |
| 2026 | 1.22 | 6.4 | ↑0.01 |
Global Context
- • World Average: 2.23 children per woman
- • Comparison: Below global average
- • UN projection for 2030: 1.25
Italy's total fertility rate is 1.22 children per woman in 2026 (very low (lowest-low) fertility), below the replacement level of 2.1. Italy ranks 183 of 194 for fertility rate (1 = highest), in the lowest third of countries. The fertility rate has changed by −51.6% since 1950.
Historical Demographic Changes
Between 1950 and 2026, Italy's population has increased by 27.0%.
The median age has increased from 27.5 in 1950 to 48.6 in 2026, indicating population aging.
Understanding Italy's Demographics
Italy has a constrictive population pyramid — a base narrower than the middle, so younger cohorts are smaller than the ones above them.
Children under 15 make up 11.4% of the population and people aged 65 and over 25.6%.
The largest five-year age band is 55–59, at 8.1% of the population, compared with 3.3% in the 0–4 band.
Demographic Analysis: Italy's Population Structure
Demographic Dividend Window
Italy's working-age share peaked in 1992 at 69.1% and is 63.0% in 2026.
Fertility Transition Stage
Italy is in a period of very low (lowest-low) fertility, with a total fertility rate of 1.22 children per woman (2026, UN WPP 2024).
Population Aging Speed
Italy's median age changed by +3.8 years from 2016 to 2026, faster than the world average (+2.6 years).
Key Demographics
| Total Population | 58,926,167 |
| Male Population | 28,838,797(48.9%) |
| Female Population | 30,087,370(51.1%) |
| Median Age | 48.6 years |
| Sex Ratio | 95.9 males per 100 females |
| Youth (0-14) | 6,738,113(11.4%) |
| Working Age (15-64) | 37,103,442(63.0%) |
| Elderly (65+) | 15,084,612(25.6%) |
| Total Dependency Ratio | 58.8 |
| Youth Dependency Ratio | 18.2 |
| Old Age Dependency Ratio | 40.7 |
| Pyramid Type | Constrictive |
Dependency Ratios: Number of dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
Demographic Data Visualizations
Total population, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Median age, 1950–2026 (UN WPP 2024; 2024 onward are projections).
Youth, working-age and elderly shares, 1950 vs 2026 (UN WPP 2024).
Age distribution in 2026: youth, working-age and elderly shares (UN WPP 2024; projection).
Life Expectancy in Italy
How long the average person in Italy is expected to live · sourced from UN WPP 2024
Historical Trend, 1950 → 2026 (plus UN projection to 2100)
Solid: actual · Dashed: medium-variant projectionFuture Demographic Trends
Italy is projected to shrink to 51.9 million people by 2050 (−11.9% from 2026).
The median age rises from 48.6 in 2026 to 52.9 by 2050.
Italy's Demographic Evolution by Decade
The population increased by 5.7%, growing from 53.4 million in 1970 to 56.4 million by 1980
The median age increased by 1.1 years, indicating population aging during this period
The youth population share contracted by 2.4 percentage points
Meanwhile, the elderly population proportion grew by 2.2 percentage points.
Key Demographic Highlights
- • Population changed from 53.4M to 56.4M
- • Growth rate of 5.7% over the decade
- • Median age shifted from 31.9 to 33.0 years (+1.1y)
- • 65+ share changed by +2.2 points; under-15 share by −2.4 points
How Does Italy Compare to Its Neighbors?
Italy has an older population than France, Spain, Germany, Austria. Italy has a smaller population than France, Germany.
Frequently Asked Questions About Italy
How does Italy rank globally by population?
Italy ranks 25th in the world by population with 58.9 million people as of 2026, representing 0.71% of the global total of 8.30 billion.
What does Italy's age structure reveal about its development?
Italy's age structure — 11.4% under 15, 63.0% working-age (15–64) and 25.6% aged 65+ — is that of a country in Stage 5 of the demographic transition, with a constrictive population pyramid. The median age is 48.6 years.
What is the dependency ratio in Italy?
Italy has 58.8 people under 15 or aged 65+ per 100 people aged 15–64 in 2026.
Is Italy experiencing a demographic dividend?
Italy has moved past its demographic-dividend window. Italy's working-age share peaked in 1992 at 69.1% and is 63.0% in 2026. The demographic dividend occurs when falling fertility creates a bulge in the working-age population while dependency ratios stay manageable.
What are the gender dynamics in Italy's population?
Italy has more females than males, with 95.9 males per 100 females.
Compare with Other Countries
Data Sources & Methodology
All population data is sourced from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. The data represents UN medium-variant projections.
Cite this page: Population Pyramids. (2026). Italy Population Pyramid and Demographic Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.populationpyramids.org/italy
View UN World Population Prospects Data →