Italy without Italians and the world slowing down

Abstract

Italy can boast two very positive statistical data: one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world and one of the highest life expectancy, although it has reduced after the pandemic. The bad news is that, nevertheless, from a demographic point of view we are falling towards an Italy without Italians. While in Italy and Europe we are witnessing a demographic decline, the world population will reach 8 billion people in 2021 and will increase until the end of the century, when it will reach 10.5 billion and then stabilize. Over the last century, life extension has been spectacular. It is largely due to the collapse in infant mortality, which was very high until the end of the nineteenth century. In general, genetic makeup, environment and lifestyle are of approximately equal importance for longevity, factors which are analyzed here.