The reputation of the 'Italian Stallion' is at risk as births in Italy hit an all-time low with 12,000 fewer babies born last year.
Italy, a country with a population of 60 million, has announced that births have reached a record low. Figures released for 2016 reveal that births dropped to 474,000, around 12,000 fewer than in 2015. The lowest level previously on record was in 1861 when only 486,000 births were registered.
The population
report, released by ISTAT, also highlighted an ageing Italian population with almost a quarter of the population over 65 years of age.
With only nine babies born for every 1,000 Italian residents last year, the home of Romeo and Juliet now has the lowest birthrate in the European Union and one of the lowest in the world. A range of factors are thought to be behind the decline, including the country's economic situation and a high unemployment rate amongst its young adults.
Last November, a dozen hotels in the Italian town of Assisi, about 170km north of Rome, decided to boost their country's dropping birth rate by providing free rooms under the 'Fertility Room' project.
The hotels in question promised to refund the price of a one-night stay or give a second stay for free to couples who conceived a child. To receive reimbursement, frisky Italian couples were required to submit a birth certificate to show that the baby was born nine months after their stay in the medieval city. The odd initiative, which was the brainchild of local tourism councillor Eugenio Guarducci, caused some debate in the Italian region and authorities quickly distanced themselves from the idea.
Yesterday's ISTAT report did bring some good news for Italians as life expectancy increased to 80.6 years for men and 85.1 years for women.
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