Italy faces sharp loss of young residents in central regions

A CGIA study released in July shows that central Italian areas are experiencing a pronounced decline in the 15‑34 age group. In the province of Frosinone, the number of youths fell from 110,886 in 2015 to 91,000, a loss of about 20,000 people, making the province the tenth‑worst in Italy for youth contraction. The Umbria region lost roughly 11,000 residents in the same age bracket between 2015 and 2025, a 6.1% drop, while its provinces of Perugia and Terni each saw declines of 7,700 and 3,050 young people respectively. Across Italy, the under‑35 population fell by 547,000 over the past decade and projections suggest a shortfall of about 2 million young individuals by 2045. Between 2025 and 2029, about 3.04 million workers are expected to retire, with only a limited pool of younger workers to replace them. The report warns that this demographic imbalance will strain the labour market, pension system, health care and overall economic sustainability. Immigration is seen as a possible short‑term measure, but not a structural solution.

The analysis also recalls a 1970 remark by former Communist Party leader Enrico Berlinguer: “I do not want the young to change the country, I want the young to change the country.”