Italy's resident population in 2051 could climb to 67 million, compared to 59 million today, with more elderly people and immigrants and fewer children, according to a report by national statistics bureau Istat.
The Istat forecast put the number of people in 2051 over the age of 65 at 22 million and the number of immigrants at 4,5 million.
However, Istat explained that ''caution must be used in interpreting the long-term forecasts because they become less uncertain the more you go ahead in the future''.
In its demographic forecast for 2051 , Istat drew up three population scenarios: low, medium and high.
In the first Italy's population could decline to 55.6 million, in the second it could rise to 61.6 million and in the last it could hit 67.3 million.
In regards to the increase in the number of immigrants and people over 65, Istat said its forecasts were stable and very probable.
