Italian welfare systems are already struggling to cope with the ageing of the population, and there is no consensus on what to do about it. #EuropeNews

Italian welfare systems are already struggling to cope with the ageing of the population, and there is no consensus on what to do about it.

Italy has long had one of the lowest birth rates in the EU, and the country is ageing at a much faster rate than other member states, and it appears to be getting worse.

According to government statistics, the average number of children per Italian woman has dropped from 1.24 in 2022 to 1.2 in 2023. Experts say that if the country’s population crisis continues, Italy’s population of 59 million could fall by almost 1 million by 2030.

And the effects of the crisis are already being felt, with the ageing of the population causing problems for Italy’s healthcare and pension systems.

  • GranixoEnglish
    25•2 months ago

    And yet they refuse to receive more refugees from Africa and the Middle East.

    • Flying SquidMEnglish
      28•2 months ago

      “Have you tried robots?” – Japan, who is going to learn a very harsh lesson in a decade or so.

      • @aeronmelon@lemmy.worldEnglish
        15•2 months ago

        Japan is accepting more immigrates than ever before.

        And the percentage of non-Japanese living in Japan is the highest in its history.

        I only say that because I assume you mean that Japan is reluctant to accept immigrants. You’re right, many Japanese would rather the country die than open it up to the world. But in practice, immigration has been rising sharply for years.

    • @Miaou@jlai.luEnglish
      17•2 months ago

      Importing wage slaves to feed the capitalist meat grinder is no solution either, but given whom they elected recently it seems the Italian solution to this problem will be inspired from the Handmaid’s tale