The number of Italians emigrating
from their homeland has increased sharply during the economic
crisis, Istat said Wednesday.
The national statistics agency said 68,000 people moved
abroad in 2012, the highest level in a decade and 36% up on
2011.
Facing high levels of unemployment and job insecurity,
many young Italians are attracted to the option of emigration.
In 2012, 26,000 Italians aged between 15 and 34 left their
homeland, up by 10,000 on 2008.
Over the last five years 94,000 under-35s have emigrated.
The agency added that legal immigration into Italy is
decreasing due to the economic crisis, with 321,000 new arrivals
reported in 2012, down 27.7% from 2007.
The number of foreigners who are choosing to leave the
country has gone up 17.9%, Istat said in its annual report.
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