Bologna and the metropolitan area continue to grow: the population of the Emilian capital in 2023 reached 1,018,346 residents, of which 494,464 men and 523,882 women. The population increased by 4,222 units compared to 2022 (+0.42%). The average age is 47.1 years.
Numbers that go against the trend of the demographic decline that began in 2015 at a national level. In fact, the Italian population also decreased by 0.01% in the last 12 months. The presence of citizens of foreign origin is also significant: there are 124,561 residents in the metropolitan city of Bologna, equal to 12.2% of the total, of which 58,481 men and 66,080 women.
The problem of the birth rate decline
In 2023 the number of births is equal to 6,513 children of which 3,388 boys and 3,125 girls. Compared to 2022, the number decreased by 4.63%, or -316 fewer new births. 1,230 children born in Bologna have foreign citizenship, equal to 18.9% of the total, of which 639 boys and 591 girls. The number of deaths is instead equal to 11,780 people of which 5,532 men and 6,248 women, equal to -6.84% compared to 2022 or 865 people who died in less than the previous 12 months. The natural dynamics of the population is therefore confirmed as negative, in line with the ongoing long-term trend. During 2023 the natural balance, the difference between births and deaths, is -5,267 units.
The population under 14 years old is equal to 120,894 people, or 11.9% of the total population. The active population, between 15 and 64 years old, is equal to 644,946 residents, therefore 63.3% of the total population, while the older generations aged over sixty-five number 252,506 residents, 24.8% of the population.
Transfers from other parts of Italy or the world
The increase in the population of Bologna and the province is due to those from the rest of Italy or the world who decide to come and live in the Emilian capital. A choice that 9,489 new residents made in 2023, due both to the movement of the Italian and foreign population. In 2023, the number of registered residents, net of official registrations, amounted to 42,561, -1,647 compared to 2022 (-3.7%). Of these, 34,231 come from another Italian territory, a share which therefore represents 80.4% of the total. With respect to citizenship, 13,993 new residents in Bologna or in the province are foreigners, 32.9% of the total. Among them, 6,570 come from an Italian municipality. The number of emigrants, given by the number of registry cancellations, is in fact lower and equal to 33,072, -1,414 compared to 2022 (-4.1%). In this case, the foreign component that moves elsewhere is equal to 7,476 residents (22.6% of the total). Although decreasing compared to the previous year, the incoming migratory flow manages to more than compensate for the outgoing one.
The municipalities that are growing the most
Lizzano in Belvedere is the municipality that recorded the most significant percentage increase in residents compared to the previous year (+2.4%), together with Camugnano (+2.1%) and Loiano (+1.9%); the municipalities with the most significant decrease are Borgo Tossignano and Dozza (both -0.5%) and Castel del Rio (-0.4%).
The data anticipates the Istat report
The city of Bologna is also growing. All the data is available in the study published in recent weeks “Demographic trends in Bologna in 2023”. The report is drawn up by the Strategic Planning Control and Statistics Service of the Metropolitan City of Bologna and is a preview of provisional data on the demographic balance and population by age, published by Istat on 29 March 2024. As communicated by Istat: “The The consolidation process ends approximately 11 months late with the validation of the annual budget data and the alignment with the results of the permanent population census”. The definitive data, for the year 2023, will be published by Istat in December of the current year.
