Title: Unprecedented Rise in the Number of Centenarians in Italy

Italy's National Institute of Statistics reported today that the number of residents aged 100 or older reached an unprecedented high last year, with the average lifespan increasing at a faster rate than in other European Union countries. The institute's annual report stated that the proportion of citizens over the age of 100 has doubled since the beginning of the century, totaling 22,000 as of January, with the majority being women. Additionally, it noted that the average age in Italy has risen to 46.4 years, up from 45.7 years between early 2020 and 2023. Figures also revealed that the birth rate fell to a historic low of 393,000 in 2022, marking the lowest level since Italy's unification 150 years ago.