Sardinia faces slowing growth, retail decline and demographic challenges

The 2024 economic report for Sardinia shows a regional Gross Domestic Product of €38.9 billion, a 1.3% increase over 2023, slightly outpacing the national average. Tourism remains the leading sector, with 4 million arrivals and 17 million overnight stays projected for 2025, growing 13% and 12% respectively. The economy is heavily weighted toward the oil‑and‑gas company Saras and its subsidiary Sarlux, while the remaining 140,000 firms are mostly micro‑enterprises with fewer than ten employees.

Demographically, Sardinia’s resident population stands at about 1.54 million and has been shrinking continuously since 2011. The region records Italy’s highest mortality rate (+11.4%) and one of the lowest birth rates, resulting in an aging population that strains public services such as health care. In the retail sector, one in six businesses vanished over the past decade and overall retail sales fell by more than 20%. In historic city centres, neighborhood shops (grocers, clothing, newsagents, hardware) declined by around 13% while bars and restaurants expanded. The rise of e‑commerce and the limited regional budget—only roughly €4 million earmarked for commercial support in 2026—have been cited as insufficient to reverse the trend.