Istalia

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General National Census 5650: Istalia exceeds 166 million inhabitants

A young, growing and hopeful population: the National Institute of Statistics photographs a country in full social and economic development and transformation

President of INSTAT Domenico Gargiulo presents the census data to the press

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December 5650

ROMULA - The General Census of the year 5650, conducted as per ten-year practice by the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), has returned a detailed and complex image of today's Istalia society. With a census population of 166,298,812 residents, Istalia has recorded a demographic increase of over five million compared to the data of 5640, a sign of a consolidated growth trend supported by both a stable birth rate and favorable socio-economic conditions.

A young and dynamic population
The average age of the population stands at 33.1 years, confirming Istalia as one of the youngest nations of the Majatran continent. The distribution by age group shows a strong presence of young people and very young people:

0–12 years (children): 18.2%

13–19 years (adolescents): 11.5%

20–34 years (young adults): 28.6%

35–64 years (adults): 30.1%

65–79 years (elderly): 9.1%

80+ years (very old): 2.5%

About life expectancy, for the first time since the days of the Peninsular War, it has surpassed the 80-year threshold for both men and women, a milestone largely credited to the country's efficient public health system and the constant improvement of living conditions. Today it stands at an average of 80.4 years for men and 82.7 for women, thus with a slow but continuous approach to pre-war levels.

Family, birth rate and confidence in the future
Istalia continues to stand out on the international scene for its high birth rate, although the 5650 Census recorded a slight but clear contraction compared to the 5640 data. The average number of children per woman now stands at 3.84, down compared to the record values of the previous three decades but still significantly higher than the average of advanced economies. This marks the gradual overcoming of the post-war demographic boom, in a trend consistent with statistical forecasts and with the natural evolution of a population that is stabilizing.

Despite this slight decline, Istalian society continues to offer an environment favorable to parenthood. Families are formed at a young age: women marry on average at 25.7 years, men at 29.9, while the first child arrives at 24.8 years for mothers and 28.1 for fathers.
This precociousness is made possible by promising forecasts for the future, job opportunities, subsidized housing policies, incentives for births and a solid family welfare. The impression is that of a country where the choice to bring children into the world is not experienced as a sacrifice, but as a sustainable decision, compatible with professional life and accompanied by concrete tools of social support.

In short, the birth rate is normalizing, but it does so at very high levels, confirming the vitality of a young, confident and forward-looking population.

Education and training
On the side of eduction, Istalia rates of schooling skyrocketed since the end of the Great Patriotic War of Liberation, with almost all young people today completing the compulsory cycle. 93% of primary and lower secondary school students attend public institutions, but in the last two years there has been a significant growth in private schools, which have increased by two percentage points. These institutions, which adopt alternative teaching models but are certified as compliant with state standards, are attracting a growing number of families.

In high school, a 2% increase of students opting for private schools have been registreted, estimated to have happened just in the last two years. An interesting figure, that indeed particularly caratherizes the istalian schooling system since the restauration, a significant 9% of students opt for the Military Highschool Institutes, structures partly funded by the Ministry of Defense and linked to military schools and academies, which offer specific training courses in the technical and strategic fields. A significant portion of the Armed Forces personnel come from these institutions, which constitute a preferential channel towards a military career.

Those who choose traditional high schools (classical, scientific, linguistic) often continue their studies at university: almost 48% do so under the partnership of the Defense, carrying out the three years of voluntary service while attending academic courses, within both the education courses of the defense and of universities, then completing the specialization as civilians. The other university students opting for the Civil Service, often are obliged to reconcile it with part-time jobs: a combination that represents a criticality for the balance between study and sustenance.

About technical and industrial institutes, they have seen a great boost in recent decades, responding to the strong demand of the job market. Artisan shops, technical workshops and manufacturing facilities are full of young newly graduates, starting their apprenticeships, then it comes adulthood and the choise to serve, or not. Upon reaching adulthood, most technical school graduates opt for Civil Service, but efforts to reconcile work activities with civil commitments represent a concrete challenge. For many families in the lower-middle classes, the economic contribution of working children, still living in the family unit, is an essential resource and for this reason, compared to the 5640 census, there has been an increase in those who do not follow the voluntary service, a delicate issue, especially for Defense for obvious reasons.

The situation is different for those who choose Military Service: in this case, graduates from technical institutes are often directed towards logistical and technological tasks, thus being able to perfect their skills in structured and professionalizing environments. A difference that, according to several observers, is then reflected in the job market, where the latter are often more attractive at the end of the service. An advantage, however, that does not fail to arouse criticism: many civil volunteers complain about a perceived imbalance, while those who have undertaken the military path underline the strong psychological and physical commitment required by the three years of service.

Ethnic and linguistic composition: towards greater homogeneity
From an ethnic point of view, the population is confirmed to be largely of Istalian origin, with the Istalian Majatrans representing 14.3% in constant decline, a trend that accelerated during the Patriotic War and in the early years of the Imperial State. The other ethnic minorities, which add up to about 5% of the population, include Solentian, Zardic, non-Istalian Majatrans, Aldurians, Siphinans and Manoush communities, the latter partly still dedicated to traditional nomadism.

On the immigration front, the last decade has seen a constant increase in the inflow of highly specialized workers, mostly from developed economies with which Istalia has re-established solid diplomatic and commercial relations. However, these flows are limited in absolute terms.

This is because, since the early years of the Third Restoration, the country has adopted one of the most restrictive migratory policies on the continent: for low-skilled economic migrants, who constitute the majority of global flows, the chances of obtaining a visa remain extremely low, if at all. In this context, the use of irregular immigration has increased, growing significantly compared to the previous decade. A trend that ultimately reflects the same reason that attracts more and more professionals and capital: Istalia has returned to being a rich, dynamic, stable and safe nation, factors that make it today, according to the main international indicators, the most attractive country on the entire Majatran continent.

Many analysts believe that in the coming years it will be necessary to prepare for even more significant flows, not only from the continental area, but also from several South-Selaian countries such as Alduria or Rildanor, from which more and more migrants choose the route to the opposite coast of the Sea of the Lost Souls.

Another very interesting fact, for the first time since the Union of Quanzar and Alaria, the census shows a significant reduction in the daily use of Istalian languages in favor of standard Istalian, now dominant in every area of public and private life, although this trend was already recorded since the time of the Seventh Republic but never with a such rate.

Housing emergency in the process of being resolved
Among the problems still present, housing remains one of the most sensitive. The INSTAT tells us about a situation that is still "critical but improving": over 9 million citizens are still waiting for assignment to public or social housing. However, the National Plan for Accessible and Sustainable Housing, launched in 5648 and articulated over twelve years, has already begun to produce tangible results, with the opening of new residential complexes and an increase in the rate of home ownership, especially among the younger age groups and in recently urbanized areas. 

Economic growth and reduction of inequalities
The economic profile of the country appears solid and progressively maturing. Well-being has generally improved and the distribution of wealth is now more equitable than in the two previous censuses, despite an increase in the number of large estates and a part of the workfore still vulnerable. Per capita income has continued to grow steadily, with an average increase of approximately 27% compared to 5630, favored by an expansive economic scenario, institutional stability, productive dynamism, expansion of internal and external markets and a social security system among the most developed in the region.

Crime and Security
The census shows a general decline in violent crime in the country, a positive sign of a safer society and a constant and widespread presence of law enforcement. However, the return of criminal organizations, whose activity has intensified over the last decade, is a growing concern. The authorities report an increase in extortion practices, especially bullet money, and a more marked infiltration of the legal economy by groups dedicated to laundering money from illicit trafficking, especially narcotics, but also high-value goods such as jewelry, precious metals and rare raw materials.

The sophisticated commercial network built by Istalia, highly regulated and subject to strict controls for the list of strategic materials, represents an attractive terrain for those seeking to circumvent the rules for profit. Customs and tax authorities, together with specialized units of the security forces, remain on maximum alert, but the phenomenon appears to be expanding, requiring increasingly coordinated and structured responses to protect the legality and economic transparency of the country.

A look to the future
The projections of the National Institute of Statistics for the next census, scheduled for 5660, indicate, in the absence of major impacting events, a probable continuation of current trends: growing population, widespread well-being, progressive urbanization and further linguistic cohesion. However, many experts anticipate a further decline in the birth rate and a shift in age percentages towards the adult and elderly age groups, marking the beginning of a gradual demographic maturation, a physiological phenomenon for advanced economies.

If confirmed, these data would pose new challenges and opportunities for the government, which will have to accompany the social evolution of the country with careful and far-sighted policies.