On Wednesday, December 6, at the bishop’s palace hall in Aosta, a meeting was held on the phenomenon of emigration of people from Aosta Valley abroad. The event, sponsored by Fondation Chanoux in collaboration with the Diocese of Aosta and the Migrantes Foundation of Rome, presented the report on emigration of Italians around the world and immigration to Italy in 2023 (edited by the Migrantes Foundation). These documents provide a comprehensive picture of the two phenomena that influence the social composition of Italy and Aosta Valley on a daily basis.

The 2023 Italians in the World Report

The 2023 Italians in the World Report, published by the Migrantes Foundation, reveals a dynamic and ever-changing reality, highlighting a population of 6 million Italians living abroad, 47% of whom are of southern origin.

The Report, created in 2006 with the aim of raising awareness of hospitality, revealed that Italy has historically been a country of emigration. Since then, there has been an impressive 91% increase in the number of Italians abroad, with departures involving all Italian provinces and heading to a wide variety of continents, with a predilection for Europe and America. However, in recent years, a 10% decrease in departures from the South has been observed.

Currently, it is mainly young people between the ages of 18 and 34 who are leaving, with 75% of them settling in Europe. It should be noted that the actual number of departures may be underestimated, as many people do not enroll in AIRE within the 12-month period as required, mainly to avoid losing their registration to the national health care system.

 

Departures and returns

Ideally, there should be a circular migration flow, with an equivalent number of departures and returns. Between 2012 and 2021, there was a 157% increase in returns, facilitated by the tax policies put in place by the Italian state.

The reasons for young workers’ departures have varied over time. Before COVID-19, meritocracy was one of the main motivators, while after the pandemic, the desire for parenthood has become more relevant. However, tax relief does not fully meet the desire to return.

 

Emigration in Aosta Valley

An interesting case is Aosta Valley, which experienced a 125% increase in the number of people living abroad from 2006 to 2023, with 7800 people from Aosta Valley registered with AIRE. However, the number of registered people from Aosta Valley might be lower than reality. Aosta Valley has historically been a region with strong emigration, and throughout the twentieth century, those who returned often had a positive experience abroad. These individuals had invested their earnings in local initiatives, improving their condition or changing their business. Others, however, returned “defeated” by emigration, often during times of crisis, such as during COVID-19.

In a recently published article, based on interviews and collected data, the Chairman of the Scientific Committee of Fondation Chanoux, Alessandro Celi, noted that in the twentieth century, the return to Aosta Valley of second and third generations was strongly influenced by the presence of family property to return to, which maintains a physical and social connection to the place of origin. This dynamic shows how the return of Italians abroad is influenced not only by economic motivations, but also by family and cultural ties, outlining a complex network of emigration and return that characterizes the Italian diaspora around the world.