Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Marriages and civil unions in Italy - Statistics & Facts
Italy has one of the lowest marriage rates in the world. In Europe, it has the smallest number of marriages in relation to the population, with around three marriages per 1,000 inhabitants. The reasons why Italians choose to marry less are varied. The most common answer was quite fair: not having met the right person. However, it is not all about romanticism. Other reasons included the lack of belief in marriage itself and lack of finances. In fact, young Italians are known to leave the nest very late. High youth unemployment and high expenses might be some of the reasons why young Italians stay with their parents longer, do not marry, and do not reach financial independence as early as their European peers.
