Italy Sees Massive Youth Emigration, With Significant Loss of Graduates

Over one million people emigrated from Italy between 2013 and 2022, with young professionals making up a significant portion of the exodus, according to Istat President Francesco Maria Chelli.

Speaking before a parliamentary commission investigating the economic and social effects of Italy’s demographic transition, Chelli reported that 352,000 emigrants during this period were aged between 25 and 34. Of these, 132,000—or 37.7%—were university graduates.

The data further revealed that only 104,000 individuals from the same age group returned to Italy, including just over 45,000 graduates. This resulted in a net loss of 87,000 young graduates over the decade.

“The difference between repatriations and expatriations of young graduates remains consistently negative,” Chelli stated. “In 2022 alone, the balance was negative by 12,000 individuals.”

That year, the most popular destinations for young Italian graduates were Germany, which received 3,000 emigrants, and the United Kingdom, which attracted 2,600.

Source: ANSA