COVID-19 Drives Italy to Record Lowest Birth Rate since Unification

Italy is expected to record its lowest birth rate due to the fierce economic crisis caused by COVID-19, The Guardian reported

The state's birth rate may fall to 408,000 new births comparing to 420,000 births in 2019 which is the lowest rate since the country’s unification in 1861.

On the other hand, the state's death rates may hit 700.000 deaths comparing to 647,000 deaths last year.

Regarding the reasons for the drop in the birth rates, Gian Carlo Blangiardo, the president of Istat expressed that the uncertain future of the COVID-19, its economic effects, and fears of climate change effects are the main reasons for this drop in the number of new births.

Concerning the tragic rise of the number of deaths, Blangiardo explained: “This is a worrying level because the last time something like this happened was in 1944 when we were in the second World War.”

It is worthy to mention that Italy was first European country hit by the pandemic and it suffered a dramatic first and second wave, with more than 67,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths since late February.