The latest demographic data from Istat shows that Italians are living longer, with a decrease in overall mortality rates compared to previous years. The report indicates that there were 661,000 deaths in 2023, a decrease of 54,000 from the previous year. The majority of this decrease is attributed to individuals over the age of 80, a demographic that was particularly impacted during the pandemic years, experiencing higher mortality rates. The early mortality rate observed in the years 2020-22, with record numbers of deaths, has now returned to pre-pandemic levels, with a general mortality rate of 11.2 per thousand in 2023.
This decrease in mortality rates has led to a significant increase in life expectancy at birth, which now stands at 83.1 years in 2023, gaining six months from the previous year. Men have a life expectancy of 81.1 years, while women have a life expectancy of 85.2 years, showing a slight gender gap in life expectancy gains. In the Northern regions, life expectancy is higher, with men reaching 81.7 years and women 85.7 years. The Trentino-Alto Adige region has the highest life expectancy in the country, with men reaching 82.2 years and women 86.5 years. Regions like Valle d’Aosta/Vallée d’Aoste have also shown significant gains in life expectancy from the previous year.
In the Central regions, life expectancy is slightly lower than in the North, with men at 81.6 years and women at 85.6 years. Tuscany has the highest life expectancy for men (81.9 years), while Marche and Umbria have the highest for women (85.9 years). In the Southern regions, life expectancy is lower, with men at 80 years and women at 84.3 years. There is a range in life expectancy within the Southern regions, with Campania having the lowest life expectancy for men (79.4 years) and Abruzzo the highest (80.6 years). For women, Campania also has the lowest life expectancy (83.6 years), while Abruzzo has the highest (85.5 years).
Overall, there is a significant gap in life expectancy between regions, with Trentino-Alto Adige having the highest life expectancy and Campania the lowest. This gap has been growing over the years, with a difference of 2.9 years between the two regions in 2023. This disparity has been increasing gradually over the years, highlighting the need for regional disparities to be addressed in terms of healthcare and social policies. Despite the overall increase in life expectancy in Italy, these regional differences remain a significant challenge for policymakers and healthcare providers.
