Over the past twenty years, the number of Italians living abroad has doubled. In 2006, there were 3,1 million; today, there are more than 6 million.
Since the beginning of this new millennium, the Italian migration phenomenon has grown again, with half of these 6 million living outside the country precisely because they emigrated. The other half is made up, for the most part, of Italian descendants, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Italians who emigrated in the last century and who have the right to recognition of citizenship, regardless of where they live in the world.
The United Kingdom is the preferred destination for current Italian expats, according to the weekly report L'Espresso. The country is now home to almost half a million Italian citizens, many of whom have also obtained British citizenship.
Other popular destinations include Germany, France, Switzerland, Brazil, Spain, the United States and Belgium. In addition to these, the Netherlands, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Portugal and Canada also attract many Italians. These 14 countries accounted for 82% of the 82 expats who left Italy in 2022.
“The decision of many Italians to move abroad represents, at a social and collective level, a loss of human capital,” warns the publication.
Between 2020 and 2023, Italy lost more than 790 residents, a result of both emigration and declining immigration, but mainly due to the low birth rate. fertility rate of the country fell to 1,2 children per woman.
Are Italians abroad happier? Everyone has their own answer, the report says, but moving to another country is never simple. Even when you decide to stay abroad, there is always a necessary effort, big or small, to adapt to cultures, languages and traditions different from those of Italy.
“Nowadays, we no longer call them emigrants, but expatriates,” concludes the report. L'Espresso. “No more cardboard suitcases or uncles from America. Thanks to new technologies and low-cost flights, even those who decide to leave can easily maintain ties with Italy and live the distance more easily. But the concept remains the same: the search for rebuilding a life elsewhere.”
