ABSTRACT
Europe is faced with an ageing process which impacts on its economic and social organization. This chapter contributes to the understanding of this phenomenon by investigating the past, present and future evolution of population structure by age and gender in Italy. Population ageing is mainly due to both the rapid decline of fertility and the increase in longevity. Migration flows only slightly mitigate the ageing process. Population ageing will present major challenges to the health-care system, especially if the increases in life expectancy are not associated with improvements in the health status of the elderly and in their social inclusion.
