In recent years, almost 100,000 Italians have chosen to move to the mountainsmarking a turnaround with respect to the historical phenomenon of depopulation of the villages. To confirm this new scenario is the Montagne Italia report 2025 Uncem, which analyzes the flows between 2019 and 2023.
The positive migratory balance – beyond 64,000 new Italian residents In mountain areas – it is a clear signal of demographic awakeningparticularly in Center and northern Italy. This rebirth is driven by several factors: first of all, the quality of life in the mountains – clean air, nature, silence – and the Possibility to work remotely thanks to Ultralarga band. The unsustainable costs of urban life, above all rents in the big cities Like Rome and Milan.
At the top of the ranking of the most attractive mountain territories we find Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Liguria And Piedmontwith growth rates above 25 per thousand. The autonomous provinces of Bolzano And Trentoalthough not guiding the phenomenon as in the past. The new and significant data is that 64% of the new residents are made up of Italian citizenswhile between 2009 and 2013 the increase was almost exclusively due to the arrival of foreigners.
The mountains of the South continue to lose residents
The local policiessupported by PNRR and by the programs for the Green Communitiesare playing a fundamental role. New nursery schools, best transport and incentives for start-up And circular agriculture They are making the mountain more accessible and liveable. Particularly emblematic is the “Crater”Of Central Italy hit by the earthquake, where a shy but significant resumption of birth and of theemployment.
However, the situation is not homogeneous. The Mountains of the South – in particular Calabria, Basilicata And Sicily – continue to lose residents, reporting the persistence of a strong territorial gap. For Uncem, one is needed more coordinated governance Among municipalities, to prevent projects from dispersing in isolated interventions.
In short, the Italian mountain, but is returning to being a real life environment. There is still a lot to do on health and education, but the signal is launched: Returning to the mountains is again possible.
