Demographic and Employment Structures
According to the last census (1981), 51.4% of the total population was female and 48.6% male. This surplus of females which was indicated initially by the 1921 census figures (50.3%), has been further consolidated, though in the first 50 years after unification, the population was prevalently male (50.9% in 1861, 50.4% in 1961). It should, however, be noted that the female population is lower than the male in the younger age groups, ie. up to 29 years (1981 census). In the over-sixties age group, the prevalence of females is higher than the national average, and rises sharply to the point where there are almost twice as many women over 75 years than men. This has already been illustrated by the high number of widows (11.2%), compared to widowers (2.4%). At the last census, the active population accounted for 40% of the total, and of this percentage (equal to c. 22.5 million), 11% were unemployed or seeking their first job, while 45% were engaged in the service sector, 33% in industry and 12% in agricultural activities. The employment structure, with its high proportion in the service sector, is an indicator of a conclusive situation that arose in diametrically opposite conditions. At the time of the 1951 census, 44% of the active population were employed in the primary sector and the remainder equally divided between the industrial and service sectors.

This evolution is another indicator of Italy's position as one of the economically advanced European countries.

Recent statistics (1985) have confirmed the latest trend in reduction of agricultural workers (9,9%) and decrease in the industrial sector (29.7%), with the increase of the service industries (49.8%). There remains, however, a high rate of unemployment (10.6%).