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In 2024, the highest regional Gross Domestic Product in Italy was registered in the northern region of Lombardy, roughly 505 billion euros, followed by Lazio, about 246 billion euros, and Veneto, 201 billion euros. The lowest GDP was recorded in Aosta Valley, in the north, and in Molise, in the south of Italy.

A deep economic gap

Among the top-10 Italian regions with the highest GDP, five are located in the north of the country: Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Piedmont, and Liguria. Campania, the most populous region in the south, ranked only seventh nationally. These results highlight the deep economic disparities between the north and the south of Italy. The GDP of the northwestern regions reached 734 billion euros in 2024, while the south recorded less than half of the northern regions’ figures. Thus, Lombardy, Piedmont, Liguria, and Aosta Valley constitute Italy's economic driving force. In particular, Lombardy is the region with the highest salaries nationwide, 33,635 euros gross per year, 4,300 euros more than in Campania. Actions by policymakers aimed at closing the economic and wage gap are essential for the full development of southern Italian regions. 

The demographic divide

Despite weaker economic indicators compared to the north, southern regions record better demographic figures. Italy’s population is progressively aging, and the number of residents has declined recently. The median age of Italians is expected to reach 52.9 years by 2050. However, the south of the country contributes to mitigating the demographic decline. In fact, birth rates are the highest in the southern regions, in Sicily, and in Sardinia, with 6.6 births per 1,000 inhabitants, well above the 6.2 births per 1,000 residents recorded in the northwest. Additionally, the southern population is on average two years younger than those living in the northern regions.