Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (UNESCO Institute) in Italy
Italy: Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (UNESCO Institute) was 1.2 births per woman in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
1.2 births per woman
Change on year
down 3.2%
World rank
197th
of 215 countries
All-time high
2.4 births per woman
in 1971
All-time low
1.19 births per woman
in 1995
Years of data
54
1970–2023
Fertility rate, total in Italy, 1970–2023
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
In 2023, fertility rate, total in Italy stood at 1.2 births per woman.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.2% on the previous year and down 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate, total in Italy peaked at 2.4 births per woman in 1971 and was at its lowest, 1.19 births per woman, in 1995.
That places Italy 197th out of 215 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 54 years of available data.
Fertility rate, total (births per woman) (UNESCO Institute) in Italy, year by year
| Year | births per woman | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.38 births per woman | — |
| 1971 | 2.4 births per woman | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 2.35 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 1973 | 2.3 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 1974 | 2.28 births per woman | -0.9% |
| 1975 | 2.17 births per woman | -4.8% |
| 1976 | 2.04 births per woman | -6.0% |
| 1977 | 1.93 births per woman | -5.4% |
| 1978 | 1.84 births per woman | -4.7% |
| 1979 | 1.73 births per woman | -6.0% |
| 1980 | 1.64 births per woman | -5.2% |
| 1981 | 1.58 births per woman | -3.7% |
| 1982 | 1.56 births per woman | -1.3% |
| 1983 | 1.51 births per woman | -3.2% |
| 1984 | 1.46 births per woman | -3.3% |
| 1985 | 1.42 births per woman | -2.7% |
| 1986 | 1.35 births per woman | -4.9% |
| 1987 | 1.33 births per woman | -1.5% |
| 1988 | 1.36 births per woman | +2.3% |
| 1989 | 1.33 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 1990 | 1.33 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 1.3 births per woman | -2.3% |
| 1992 | 1.3 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 1.25 births per woman | -3.8% |
| 1994 | 1.21 births per woman | -3.2% |
| 1995 | 1.19 births per woman | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 1.2 births per woman | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 1.22 births per woman | +1.7% |
| 1998 | 1.22 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1.23 births per woman | +0.8% |
| 2000 | 1.26 births per woman | +2.4% |
| 2001 | 1.25 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 1.27 births per woman | +1.6% |
| 2003 | 1.29 births per woman | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 1.34 births per woman | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 1.33 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 1.37 births per woman | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 1.39 births per woman | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 1.44 births per woman | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 1.44 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.44 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1.42 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 1.42 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.39 births per woman | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 1.38 births per woman | -0.7% |
| 2015 | 1.36 births per woman | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 1.36 births per woman | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 1.34 births per woman | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 1.31 births per woman | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 1.27 births per woman | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 1.24 births per woman | -2.4% |
| 2021 | 1.25 births per woman | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 1.24 births per woman | -0.8% |
| 2023 | 1.2 births per woman | -3.2% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 1.2 births per woman is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.49 births per woman, 81% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Italy's 1.2 births per woman is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.49 births per woman, 81% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2.14 births per woman | 1.73 births per woman | 2.4 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.45 births per woman | 1.33 births per woman | 1.64 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.24 births per woman | 1.19 births per woman | 1.33 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.34 births per woman | 1.25 births per woman | 1.44 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.37 births per woman | 1.27 births per woman | 1.44 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.23 births per woman | 1.2 births per woman | 1.25 births per woman | 4 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More population data for Italy
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7397 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5615 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 52,250 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.3544 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3246 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate -0.676 (2100)
- Population density 119.63 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.26 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate, total in Italy?
- Fertility rate, total in Italy was 1.2 births per woman in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest fertility rate, total recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 2.4 births per woman in 1971.
- What is the lowest fertility rate, total recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.19 births per woman in 1995.
- How does Italy rank for fertility rate, total?
- Italy ranks 197th out of 215 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fertility rate, total rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Italy data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Fertility rate, total (births per woman). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
February 2026 Data Release