ITALY - Population Drops Below 59 Million
A shrinking and ageing population is a major worry for a stagnant economy like Italy as it is linked to falling productivity, less innovation and higher welfare bills among other things.
“As of January 1, 2022 according to first preliminary data, the (resident) population has fallen to 58.983 million,” Istat president Giancarlo Blangiardo said in a parliamentary hearing in Rome.
“Our country’s demographic outlook is characterized by a significant growth in life expectancy and by an equally marked fall of the birth rate, resulting in a much faster ageing of the population compared to the rest of Europe,” he said.
Inverting that trend and supporting families is a stated priority for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s new right-wing government. In its 2023 budget, it proposed cutting sales taxes on baby-care products and raising child benefits.
-www.reuters.com, 5 December 2022
Arno's Commentary
So-called experts during the last century highlighted much of their research with the word “overpopulation.” While there is some truth applicable to South Asian, African, and South American countries, the developed countries—particularly in Europe—are losing their population at an alarming rate. Thus, the need for an increasingly steady stream of immigrants.
We notice that, based on Worldometers.info, the highest life expectancy for major industrialized countries is: 1) Japan, 85.3 years; 2) Switzerland, 84.2; 3) Italy, 84; 4) Spain, 84; 5) Australia 83.9.
Governments of developed countries globally encourage parents to have more children, offering continuously increasing benefits. When it comes to maternity leave, an Italian mother is entitled to 21.7 weeks leave with 80% pay. France grants 16 weeks at 90% pay, and Germany grants 14 weeks at 100% pay. The result? Negative. The richer the countries, the less children are born; subsequently, the population decreases.
What does the Bible say? “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3). Jesus makes this statement in Matthew 19:14: “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
