PIEMONTE - Population
A low birth rate and an ageing population
The population density in Piemonte is lower than the national average. In 2001 it was equal to 169 inhabitants per km2, compared to a national figure of 192. It rises however to 324 inhabitants per km2 when just the province of Torino is considered, whereas Verbano-Cusio-Ossola is the less densely populated province (71 inhabitants per km2).
The population of Piemonte followed a downward trend throughout the 1980s. This drop is the result of the natural negative balance (of some 3 to 4 % per year), while the migratory balance since 1986 has again become positive because of an excess of new immigration over a stable figure for emigration.
The population as a whole has remained stable in the 1990's, although this is the result of a negative natural balance and a positive net migration.
In 2001, the birth rate was equal to 8.1 per thousand, compared to a national figure of 9.3 per thousand. The death rate for the same year was equal to 10.9 per thousand, above the national average of 9.9. This is due to the demographic structure in Piemonte, with an ageing population. In the year 2001, the young people below 25 amounted to 21.7% of the population, compared to a national average of 25.6%, whereas the people over 65 amounted to 20.7%, compared to a national average of 18.2%. The infant mortality rate in 1999 was under the national average with 4.5 deaths per 1000 births.
The net migration, as mentioned above, has been positive throughout the decade, and has compensated the negative natural balance.
In 2001, 107 500 persons of foreign nationality were registered in the region.
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