In one year, more than 15,000 births less. Children of foreign couples also fall

In 2017, 458,151 children were registered in birth registries, more than 15,000 fewer than in 2016. Over a period of 3 years (from 2014 to 2017), the number of births decreased by 39, about 45,000, while nearly 120,000 were less and less. Istat, in the latest report on "The birth and fertility of the resident population" referring to 2017. According to the Statistical Institute, the phase of decline in the birth rate triggered by the crisis that began in 2008, seems to be supposed structural features.

According to preliminary data for the period from January to June 2018, births – says ISTAT – are already 8,400 less than the same half of 2017. Compared to 2008, the decrease in births is mainly attributable to births of couples including the Italian parents, who fall to 358,940 in 2017 (more than 121,000 less in the last nine years). This reduction is partly due to "structural" effects induced by significant changes in the female population of reproductive age, traditionally set between 15 and 49 years of age. In particular, Italian women are becoming less numerous: on the one hand, so-called baby boomers (ie women born between the second half of the sixties and the first half of the sixties -dix) leave the procreation phase (or begin to finish it); on the other hand, younger generations are less and less consistent. In fact, they affect the effect of the drastic decline in fertility between 1976 and 1995, which led to a historic low of 1.19 children per woman in 1995. The positive contribution of immigration, which, with the entry of young people, has partially controlled the effects of the recession of early childhood, is gradually losing its effectiveness as the foreign resident population ages.

Low birth rate, especially among first children, -25% compared to 2008

The decline in the birth rate is mainly reflected in the first children (214,267 in 2017), down 25% from 2008. In the same period, children after the first dropped by 17%, according to the report. ISTAT in its report "Natalicity and fertility of the resident population".

Decrease of births in married couples but out of wedlock

Compared with 2008, the number of married couples fell sharply: in 2017, it was 316,543 (-147,000 in just 9 years). This sharp decline is partly due to the performance of marriages, which reached the minimum in 2014, when only 189,765 marriages were celebrated (-57,000 compared to 2008), then increased slightly to more than 200,000 marriages. 2016. celebrations. In 2017, there is a new decrease (191,287 marriages). This is apparent from the Istat report "Natalicity and fertility of the resident population" in which, however, it is emphasized that, in a context of declining births, the number of births outside marriage increases by nearly 29,000 units per year. 2008, to reach 141,608. Their relative weight continues to grow, to 30.9% in 2017.

Birth rate even in foreign couples

The birth rate comes from foreign parents. For the first time, the number of births is less than 70,000 in 2016 and further decreased in 2017 (67,933). According to the Istat report "Natalicity and fertility of the resident population". From 2012 to 2017, people born to at least one foreign parent (-8,000) decrease that, with a thousand units less last year, they fall below 100,000 ( 99.211, 21.7% of the total number of births) for C is the first time since 2008. The number of foreign born people registered in the register is confirmed by Romanian children (14 693 born in 2017 ), followed by Moroccans (9,261), Albanians (7,273) and Chinese (3,869). These four communities account for 51.8% of all births abroad.

The number of women without children increases

"The share of women without children has increased markedly: it was 11.1% in the 1950 cohort, in the 19th generation by 19% and in 1977 it is expected to reach (at the end of the reproductive life cycle) . ) 22% ». This is what the Istat report says "Natalicity and fertility of the resident population.