Birth Rate
The Birth rate in Italy is amongst the lowest in Europe.
The birth rate currently stands at 1.31 - 1.38 children per woman (cf the UK 1.66 - 1.82; the USA 2.05; world average 2.55).
A replacement population must have a birth rate of 2.1 and some estimates suggest that the population could sink by as much as one-third by 2050.
Families with 6 or more members dropped from 3.4% in 1971 to 2.8% in 1991.
The issue of a declining birth rate in Italy is of increasing importance as the population ages and there are less workers to help support retirees and the state as a whole.
The table below shows the way in which deaths have outstripped births over the past few years.
| Year | Deaths > Births |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 6,900 |
| 2008 | 8,500 |
| 2009 | 22,800 |
| 2010 | 30,200 |
Methods
Mussolini taxed single men in an effort to boost marrige and by consequence, the birth rate.
In 2005 there was a government proposal to pay women not to abort. The government offers 500 euro to the family of newborn children of Italian parents; however there have been appeals against this saying that the bonus should also be given to families who are not Italian.
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