https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Italy in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The populations of certain countries in Europe are expected to grow by 2100, but there will be a big drop on average across Europe, new predictions reveal. So which countries will see a population growth? https://www.thelocal.it/20260425/revealed-the-countries-in-europe-that-will-buck-the-trend-and-grow-in-population Sat, 25 Apr 2026 11:32:03 +0200 revealed-the-countries-in-europe-that-will-buck-the-trend-and-grow-in-population If you're thinking of applying for Italian citizenship, you're far from alone. Here's what the latest data tells us about new citizens and where they come from. https://www.thelocal.it/20260123/revealed-how-many-people-get-italian-citizenship-every-year Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:59:27 +0100 revealed-how-many-people-get-italian-citizenship-every-year The number of people acquiring the citizenship of a European country has increased massively compared to a decade ago. Experts say that the trend has accelerated in recent years due various factors. https://www.thelocal.it/20260403/why-more-and-more-people-are-acquiring-citizenship-in-european-countries Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:09:12 +0200 why-more-and-more-people-are-acquiring-citizenship-in-european-countries Italy's fertility rate fell to a new low of 1.14 children per woman in 2025, one of the lowest levels in the world, official data released on Tuesday showed. https://www.thelocal.it/20260331/italys-fertility-rate-fell-to-new-low-in-2025 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:33:25 +0200 italys-fertility-rate-fell-to-new-low-in-2025 In 2025, people born outside the European Union made up about 10 percent of the EU’s 450 million population. But which countries have the largest share of foreign-born residents? https://www.thelocal.it/20260324/which-countries-in-europe-have-the-biggest-share-of-foreign-residents Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:20:44 +0100 which-countries-in-europe-have-the-biggest-share-of-foreign-residents It’s no secret that Italy is among the most popular destinations globally for second-home owners – but where do most of them come from, and whereabouts are they buying? https://www.thelocal.it/20260225/explained-who-owns-all-the-second-homes-in-italy Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:21:01 +0100 explained-who-owns-all-the-second-homes-in-italy After a record number of Italians turned 100 in 2025, we look at what the data tells us about their stories - from the number of ‘supercentenarians’ to the age of Italy's oldest barista. https://www.thelocal.it/20251111/in-numbers-what-to-know-about-italys-centenarians Tue, 11 Nov 2025 12:58:11 +0100 in-numbers-what-to-know-about-italys-centenarians The population of the European Union has grown by over a million in the last year thanks to immigration. Here's a breakdown of how the population has grown or shrunk in different European countries. https://www.thelocal.it/20250727/in-numbers-how-the-populations-of-european-countries-have-changed Sun, 27 Jul 2025 13:36:44 +0200 in-numbers-how-the-populations-of-european-countries-have-changed Europe's population is getting older and its set to shrink in many countries. One of the keys to sustaining societies and economies will be the integration of immigrants into the workforce, the author of a new study tells Claudia Delpero. https://www.thelocal.it/20250427/integrate-immigrants-how-europe-can-deal-with-its-population-challenge Sun, 27 Apr 2025 15:48:54 +0200 integrate-immigrants-how-europe-can-deal-with-its-population-challenge EU countries granted citizenship to more than a million residents in 12 months, so which countries are naturalising the most foreigners? https://www.thelocal.it/20250308/which-countries-in-europe-grant-more-citizenships Sat, 08 Mar 2025 15:42:25 +0100 which-countries-in-europe-grant-more-citizenships The number of babies born in the EU was down 5.4 percent to 3.67 million in 2023, the largest drop in decades, official data showed Friday, underscoring the bloc's demographic issues. https://www.thelocal.it/20250308/eu-sees-record-drop-in-births-data-shows Sat, 08 Mar 2025 10:36:35 +0100 eu-sees-record-drop-in-births-data-shows With many countries in Europe imposing new or tougher language requirements for residency or citizenship, experts say it's no surprise given the rise of nationalist parties and the importance of language to national identity. https://www.thelocal.it/20250306/social-glue-why-its-no-surprise-european-states-are-toughening-language-requirements Thu, 06 Mar 2025 14:47:31 +0100 social-glue-why-its-no-surprise-european-states-are-toughening-language-requirements Following reports of yet another deadly workplace accident in Italy, does the country really perform worse than its European neighbours when it comes to worker safety? https://www.thelocal.it/20240508/are-italys-workplaces-more-dangerous-than-elsewhere-in-europe Wed, 08 May 2024 12:48:27 +0200 are-italys-workplaces-more-dangerous-than-elsewhere-in-europe If you’re thinking of becoming a legal resident of Italy, or are mid-way through the process, you may wonder how many others do the same each year and where they come from. https://www.thelocal.it/20240207/how-many-people-get-italian-residency-every-year Wed, 07 Feb 2024 15:13:26 +0100 how-many-people-get-italian-residency-every-year Many Non-EU nationals, including Britons since Brexit, need to make sure they don't go over the 90-day rule in the EU/Schengen area. But how many people are turned away at European borders because they overstayed? https://www.thelocal.it/20230521/how-many-travellers-are-turned-away-at-european-borders-because-of-90-day-limit Sun, 21 May 2023 14:19:07 +0200 how-many-travellers-are-turned-away-at-european-borders-because-of-90-day-limit Italy's ranking for press freedom has shown a marked improvement in 2023, despite continued concerns about the silencing effect of 'defamation' lawsuits and the threat of organised crime in the country. https://www.thelocal.it/20230504/italy-overtakes-us-in-world-press-freedom-ranking Thu, 04 May 2023 11:47:52 +0200 italy-overtakes-us-in-world-press-freedom-ranking The population of Europe has been steadily increasing in recent years but it is soon set to peak and then go into decline. We explain why and also the countries in Europe where you are most likely to live to a hundred years old. https://www.thelocal.it/20230416/why-is-the-population-of-europe-set-to-shrink Sun, 16 Apr 2023 15:53:29 +0200 why-is-the-population-of-europe-set-to-shrink The populations of countries across Europe are changing, with some increasing whilst others are falling. Populations are also ageing meaning the EU is having to react to changing demographics. https://www.thelocal.it/20220726/how-europes-population-is-changing-and-what-the-eu-is-doing-about-it Tue, 26 Jul 2022 17:29:56 +0200 how-europes-population-is-changing-and-what-the-eu-is-doing-about-it Pope Francis risked the ire of the world's childless dog and cat owners Wednesday, suggesting people who substitute pets for kids exhibit "a certain selfishness". https://www.thelocal.it/20220105/pope-calls-couples-who-choose-pets-over-having-children-selfish Wed, 05 Jan 2022 13:52:21 +0100 pope-calls-couples-who-choose-pets-over-having-children-selfish Italy, which has for years recorded one of Europe's lowest birth rates, is on track to lose a fifth of its population in 50 years, official data suggests. https://www.thelocal.it/20211127/italys-population-in-crisis-as-nation-is-set-to-shrink-by-a-fifth Sat, 27 Nov 2021 11:47:12 +0100 italys-population-in-crisis-as-nation-is-set-to-shrink-by-a-fifth