Southern Italy Loses 150,000 Young Graduates in Six Years

The Mezzogiorno region in southern Italy is facing a significant brain drain, with an estimated 150,000 young Italian graduates aged 25-34 expected to leave between 2019 and 2025. This exodus is driven primarily by internal migration towards the more prosperous Center-North regions, accounting for 122,000 individuals, and a further 28,000 leaving the country.

These figures, detailed in an Istat report on internal and international migration, paint a stark picture of demographic and economic challenges. While the national balance for young Italian graduates aged 25-34 shows a net loss of 78,000 individuals between 2019 and 2024, this is counteracted by a substantial inflow of 88,000 foreign graduates. This results in a modest net gain of approximately 10,000 young graduates at the national level, a figure entirely attributable to foreign talent.

The trend of young Italians emigrating has been steadily increasing, with 247,000 Italians aged 25-34 leaving the country between 2019 and 2024, while only 86,000 returned. This represents a net loss of 161,000 young Italians. However, a significant influx of 454,000 foreign nationals in the same age group has led to an overall net gain of 293,000 young people in Italy.

The report underscores the critical role of qualified human capital. Among the young graduates migrating, 12.4% come from EU countries, 15.2% from other European nations, over a third from Asia, and 17.8% from South America. In contrast, Italian graduates seeking opportunities abroad predominantly choose European destinations, with the UK and Germany collectively hosting nearly a third of emigrating Italian graduates.