Spatial Heterogeneity in Migration Patterns of Nationals and Non-Nationals in Southern Italy: Reassessing the (Apparent) Centre-Inner Area Dichotomy

Federico Benassi, Department of Political Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Alessio Buonomo , University of Naples Federico II
Frank Heins, 3National Research Council. Institute for Research on Population and Social Policies
Francesca Licari, Italian National Institute of Statistics

Where populations shrink and age, territories become increasingly fragile and marginal, heightening their exposure to external shocks. Conversely, growing urban areas face density-related pressures such as residential segregation, social marginalisation, and environmental pollution. These dynamics reflect polarised territorial systems, of which Italy is a prominent case. About one-third of Italian municipalities have been losing population for decades, with marked contrasts between the dynamic Centre-North and the stagnant or declining Mezzogiorno (South and Islands). In this context, grasping the territorial redistribution of population is crucial for understanding demographic change and mitigating depopulation, as migration remains a key mechanism of spatial adjustment of population processes. This study examines how internal migration, particularly intra-regional movements, contributes to the spatial redistribution of residents in selected Southern Italian regions during 2011–2015 and 2018–2022, distinguishing between Italians, EU and non-EU foreign citizens. The analysis focuses on Inner Areas, as defined by the National Strategy for Inner Areas (SNAI) with the aim of reducing socio-economic and infrastructural disadvantages that hinder demographic and economic vitality. Results indicate that migration does not necessarily discourage movements toward marginal contexts; such patterns are especially common when the areas of origin already belong to non-central municipalities. The heterogeneity of mobility patterns is reflected both in the intensity of flows and in the direction of preferences. Overall, findings highlight diverse spatial behaviours and persistent centre–periphery trajectories, underscoring the key role of internal migration in shaping territorial dynamics and population redistribution within the fragile contexts of Southern Italy.

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 Presented in Session 100. Heterogeneity of Internal Migration Patterns