Italian Emigration: A Growing Phenomenon

In recent years, Italy has seen a significant decline in its resident population, with 652,000 fewer citizens since 2020. At the same time, the community of Italians abroad is constantly growing, with an increase of 11.8% in the same period. Today, over 6 million Italians reside outside the national borders, demonstrating that the only Italy that is expanding is the one that has chosen to live abroad. These data emerge from the 19th Report Italians in the World, produced by the Migrantes Foundation.

Regional Impacts and Dynamics

The report highlights how emigration is having a differentiated impact on territories, already affected by depopulation and economic crises. It is essential to address these issues with policies that promote the re-attractiveness of the affected territories. Sicily confirmed itself in 2024 as the region with the highest number of Italian citizens registered abroad, counting 826,000 people, followed by Lombardy (641,000) and Veneto (563,000).

The composition of the Italian community abroad is changing: 45.8% of those registered with AIRE are of southern origin, but there is also an increase in departures from Central and Northern Italy. There is a greater complexity in the territorial affiliations of emigrants, generated by migratory processes that involve different Italian regions and variable motivations: from education to work to family reunification.

Citizenship and the Future of Mobility

The citizenship debate in Italy remains unresolved. According to the report, policies are needed to ensure an active citizenship and inclusive both for Italians living abroad and for those who have lived in the country for years. Another worrying trend concerns the age of migrants: in 2024, the percentage of those moving from abroad continues to grow among those over 40. Instead, the youngest (20-30 years old) show a significant decline in mobility.

This change could be attributed to the reduction of tax breaks that make it less advantageous for young people to move to Italy. The country is therefore facing crucial challenges related to the low birth rate and the demographic winter, making a deep reflection on future migration policies urgent. In conclusion, the phenomenon of Italian emigration not only reflects the current socio-economic dynamics of the country but also raises crucial questions about Italy’s ability to attract and retain its citizens in an increasingly globalized context.