Territorial differences in Italian longevity: a persistent North–South divide

• From 2004 to 2019, life expectancy in Italy rose steadily, increasing from 80.7 to 83.2 years, with the North-East consistently leading and the Mezzogiorno lagging behind. • The year 2020 marked a sharp decline to 82.1 years due to the pandemic, with heavier losses in the North, but recovery began as early as 2021. • In 2023, life expectancy returned to high levels (83.1 years), yet the territorial gap remained: over 83.5 years in the North compared with just over 82 in the Mezzogiorno.