From 2019 to today, the resident population between 18 and 35 years old in the Southern regions has decreased by 7.6%, while in Northern Italy it has grown by 4.8%. This is what emerges from an analysis by Il Sole 24 Ore on Istat data, which highlights one of the most relevant phenomena of recent years: the continuous migration of young people from the South towards the most economically dynamic areas of the country.
According to data reported by the economic newspaper, in the South, residents between 18 and 35 years old went from over 4.1 million in 2019 to around 3.8 million in 2026, with a loss of more than 313 thousand people. In the same period, the North gained almost 240 thousand young people, going from 4.95 to 5.19 million residents in the same age group, while Central Italy remained essentially stable.
Crotone and Reggio Calabria are among the provinces with the greatest drops
The territorial distribution of the phenomenon highlights a strong polarization between North and South. Among the provinces that have recorded the most significant growth in the youth population are Gorizia (+10.9%), Genoa (+8.4%), Bologna (+8.1%), Pavia (+7.2%) and Reggio Emilia (+6.6%), followed by Modena, Monza and Brianza, Milan and Bergamo.
At the other extreme there are almost exclusively territories in the South. Among the provinces that have suffered the most marked contractions are South Sardinia (-13%), Isernia (-12.2%), Oristano (-12.1%), Crotone (-12.1%), Potenza (-12%) and Reggio Calabria (-11.9%), both of which are among the Italian areas most affected by the decrease in the youth population.
The emigration of the most qualified profiles
According to the analysis, the socio-economic gap between North and South continues to fuel internal migration, making the northern areas increasingly attractive thanks to dynamic labor markets, a strong manufacturing and university presence and greater employment opportunities.
The phenomenon does not only concern the numerical decrease of young residents. Even the most qualified profiles are increasingly leaving the South, with consequences that affect the economic and social development prospects of the territories concerned.