Italy has the oldest population in Europe and the second oldest in the world, after Japan, national statistics bureau Istat confirmed on Wednesday in its annual report.
When judging how 'old' a population is, demographers compare the numbers of people in the top age group, the over 65s, with those in the bottom one, the under 15s.
In Italy there are now 141 people aged 65 or over for every 100 people aged 15 or less, Istat said, citing 2006 data. In Japan the ratio is 154 to 100.
One of the key reasons for the aging of the Italian population is the low birthrate. In 2006 the average Italian woman had 1.35 children, Istat figures showed.
The 'fertility' rate would have been even lower had it not been for immigrant women who, with an average of 2.45 children each, produce almost twice as many as Italians.
The other main reason for the aging of the population is life expectancy, which in Italy as higher than in almost any other European country. The average for Italian women is now 84 and for men 78.3.
The combination of low birth rate and growing life expectancy has meant the number of Italians over the age of 65 has gone up 50% since 1980, and now stands at about 12 million out of a population of 59 million.
Federanziani, an association which campaigns for the rights of the elderly, says that despite their large numbers Italy's senior citizens are often marginalised - even in a country where family values are traditionally strong.
"Old people are an important part of our society but they feel useless, humiliated and manipulated. There is no longer a family culture or solidarity between generations," said Federanziani Chairman Roberto Messina.
He said Italy was, among other things, the developed country that paid the least attention to helping people cope with pain - a frequent problem in the 'Third Age'.
"We want the Third Age to be put at the centre of the nation's healthcare programme," he said.
