Sicily leads Italy in citizens residing abroad

Sicily has become the Italian region with the highest number of citizens registered in the AIRE (Registry of Italians Residing Abroad), according to data from ISTAT. As of January 1, 2025, the region holds 842,107 registrations, representing 13.1% of the national total.

In 2025, approximately 9,000 Sicilians moved abroad, accounting for 8% of all Italian transfers to foreign countries. This places the region third in Italy for outbound transfers, following Lombardy and Veneto. While over 5,600 people returned to Sicily during the same period—ranking second nationally for returns—the overall migratory balance for the region remains negative at -3,300 units.

The most common destinations for Sicilians include Spain, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and France, with growing numbers moving to the United States. The demographic most represented among those leaving is the 25 to 34 age group. Conflavoro Sicilia has called upon regional and national institutions to address this trend, noting that the loss of young people, families, and professional skills is a structural issue rather than a temporary phenomenon.