Italian Information: Census 2002

27 million: Italians in 1870
56 million: Italians 2001
26% live in North
24.5% South
19% Central Italy
for every 1,000 Italians = 17 resident foreigners

Initial results for Italy's 14th census are almost two months late -- and arrived amid claims that entire towns either never received or never returned the 11-page poll.

The results show a steady, if shrinking population at about 56.8 million people.

Families also decreased to 2.6 members -- down slightly from 2.8 in the 1991 census -- but almost half the size of postwar families composed of 4.2 members.

The number of families is increasing (from around 19 to 21 million since 1991) as more one-person families or single-parent families are created. As a result there are also considerably more houses, more telephones and television sets.

While the immigrant population is growing (tripled since the last census), Italy still has one of the lowest ratio of nationals to foreigners: 2% compared to Germany's 9%.

National statistics agency ISTAT plans to release final figures in 2003.

Censimenti 2000 - 2001 (In Italian)  www.censimenti.it

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