In 2017 the total internal mobility volume amounted to 1 million 335 thousand transfers and remained substantially stable compared with 2016 (+0.2%). Opposite trends characterized movements between regions (323 thousand; -0.6%) and those within regions (1 million and 12 thousand; + 0.5%).
In the last twenty years, the net loss of population in the South, due to internal mobility, amounted to 1 million 174 thousand units.
In 2017 the most attractive regions were again Emilia-Romagna (+2.9 per 1,000), Trentino Alto-Adige (+2.7 per 1,000), Lombardia and Friuli-Venezia Giulia (both +1.8 per 1,000), whereas the less attractive regions were Calabria (-4.2 per 1,000), Basilicata (-4.0 per 1,000) and Molise (-3.5 per 1,000).
As regards movements between provinces, the highest positive net balances were recorded in Bologna (+4.9 per 1,000), Monza and Brianza (+3.4 per 1,000), Bolzano (+3.2 per 1,000). Net negative balances were recorded in particular in Caltanissetta (-7.1 per 1,000), Crotone (-6.1 per 1,000) and Enna (-5.5 per thousand).
Changes of residence were age-related: in fact, almost half (49.5%) involved people aged 15-39, the youngest moved towards the provinces of large urban centers, while more mature migrants chose small provincial areas.
Foreigners showed twice the propensity for internal mobility than the Italian citizens (4.6%).
In 2017, the immigration flow amounted to over 343 thousand people (301 thousand were foreign citizens; + 14.5%), showing a sharp increase over the previous year (+14%).
The most consistent flows, although declining, were those of Romanian citizens (43 thousand; -3.9%), followed by Nigerians (23 thousand; + 58.4%) and Moroccans (16 thousand: +7.1%). Immigrations both of Chinese (11 thousand) and Indians citizens (8 thousand) decreased (-9% and -22.6% respectively).