Italy’s longevity story continues to advance. Life expectancy at birth reached a record 83.7 years in 2025, up from 83.5 in 2024 and 82.6 in 2014. These gains offer an encouraging foundation for the country’s next challenge: ensuring that longer, healthier lives become an increasingly shared achievement across every region.
The national average, however, conceals substantial geographic differences. Life expectancy stands at 84.2 years in northern Italy, 84.0 in the center, and 82.8 in the Mezzogiorno, which includes the south and islands. The northern advantage amounts to 1.4 years – roughly 17 months – compared with just 0.7 years in 2004.
