Italians Abroad. Where Do They Choose to Live?

Over the last twenty years approximately 1,4 million Italians, on average over 71 thousand each year, most of them young people, he left Italy choosing to go and live abroad.

In most cases, 28%, these are young people who, out of necessity or choice, move to a foreign country in search of better job opportunities and a better quality of life.

Which foreign countries do Italians move to?

The 75 % of those who leave Italy remains in Europe anyway choosing as a destination the UK , Germany, where 17% of Italian expatriates went.

Following are the Switzerland , France 10%, he United States and Spain with 5%. These six countries are the destination of the 65% of Italians expatriate. 

According to the latest available data, the percentage of Italians emigrating to Europe has risen to 83 percent.

24% of those who emigrated from our country went to the United Kingdom, 15% to Germany, 12% to France, 9% to Switzerland, 6% to Spain and 4% to the United States. 

What types of Italians move abroad?

As previously mentioned, it is mainly young people who leave Italy.

Istat classifies migrations into four age groups: people under 17, those between 18 and 39, those between 40 and 64 and those over 65.

Over the last twenty years, 52 percent of Italian expatriates have been between the ages of 18 and 39, 24 percent between 40 and 64, 18 percent are under 17, while 6 percent are over 65.

According to Istat, men have a greater tendency to emigrate than women. 56 percent of Italian emigrants in the last twenty years have been men, although there has recently been a slight increase in women.

How many Italian expatriates return to Italy?

Over the last twenty years the Italians who returned to live permanently in our country have been  810 thousand, an average of over 40 thousand each year.

Among those returning to Italy the 21% has on average less than 17 anni, the 38% has between 18 and 39 years, 29% between 40 and 64 years old and 12% has more than 65 years. 

As for destinations, the 45% goes to regions of North part, 18% in regions of the Centro and 36% since Noon.

The number of people who return to Italy and go to live in South and Islands is decreasing going from 46 to 32%.