The progressive decline of the Italian population continues, marking a constant reduction since 2014 when it was equal to 60.3 million. As of January 1, 2022, according to the first provisional data released by Istat, the population drops to 58 million 983 thousand units, 250 thousand less than the previous year. Over the course of 8 years, the cumulative loss is therefore equal to 1 million 363 thousand citizens.

The relative variation of the population is equal to -4.3 per thousand, a moderate improvement compared to 2020 (-6.8 per thousand).

The demographic crisis affects the South the most (-6.5 per thousand), and certainly does not spare Sardinia. Of the 38 provinces of the South, 34 show a drop in population above the national average, and in 9 the relative reduction is double-digit, as for example in Oristano which marks a -10.6 per thousand. Among the other cities in "double figures" also Nuoro, and then Isernia, Campobasso, Enna, Potenza, Benevento, Caltanissetta and Crotone.

The island is also behind the country in terms of birth rates: in Sardinia the negative record of births with an average of 0.99 children per woman and against a national average of 1.25. Not only that: the island is also the region with the highest average age of women at the time of childbirth, 33 years against a national average of 32.4.

Life expectancy at birth remains substantially unchanged for Sardinia, with no change compared to 2020 in men (79.8 years against a national average of 80.1) and + 0.4% in women (85 , 4 years against a national average of 84.7).

(Unioneonline / vl)

(Unioneonline / vl)