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17 December 2024

2024 Quality Of Life Rankings Show Stark Regional Differences

Bergamo tops the list as southern provinces like Reggio Calabria struggle at the bottom.

The 2024 Quality of Life Rankings by the Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore reveals significant disparities across the provinces of Italy, with some experiencing improvement, and others sliding down the rankings once again. Notably, this year's survey, which has been conducted since 1990, rates quality of life based on 90 indicators across six thematic categories: Wealth and Consumption, Business and Work, Environment and Services, Demography, Society and Health, Justice and Security, and Culture and Leisure.

For the first time, Bergamo tops the list, followed closely by the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano. The province of Foggia, often regarded as one of the lowest-ranked areas, has surprisingly climbed to 99th place out of 107, gaining eight positions from the previous year. This has been perceived as the province's recovery from being the ‘Cinderella’ of Italy. Despite the overall improvement, certain indicators reveal persistent struggles for Foggia, particularly under the Justice and Security category, where it ranks 104th – the lowest point for this metric.

The top ten rankings demonstrate the dominance of Northern Italian provinces, particularly from the Trentino Alto Adige, Lombardy, and Veneto regions. Monza and Brianza ranks 4th, followed by Cremona at 5th and Udine, which had previously topped the rankings, now sits at the 6th position. Notably, Verona and Vicenza have also cemented their places within the top tier, coming in 7th and 8th respectively. Bologna, the only major city to remain within the top ten, has seen its ranking drop significantly, currently at 9th after previously holding the second position.

On the contrary, the South remains largely at the bottom of the rankings, with Reggio Calabria ranking last. The lower half of the standings features metropolitan areas like Catania (83rd), Messina (91st), Palermo (100th), and Napoli (106th). The persistent struggles of these southern regions are highlighted, with some officials questioning the validity of the ranking criteria used. Regional councilors from the Democratic Party criticized the classification, asserting, "The ranking does not do justice to the changes taking place here and the results achieved. Reggio Calabria has much to offer and deserves recognition for its quality of life."
Bologna, with its five gold medals across 35 editions of the survey, has managed to retain some respectability, but the alarming trends continue as major cities face higher living costs and declining populations. This indicates the growing imbalances between Northern and Southern Italy, where large urban centers are feeling the pressures from rising expenses and stagnated economic growth.

The survey's findings indicate the scenario’s complexity, as average locations nationwide are still facing economic hardship, with notable declines recorded among larger cities. For example, Turin’s ranking plummeted to 58th place after losing 22 spots, reaffirming its status as trailing behind Rome, which now ranks 59th. These shifts demonstrate the effects of economic variations between the regions and how the pandemic recovery might be playing out differently for urban and rural areas.

Focusing on Tuscany, the data offers an intriguing glimpse. Siena emerged as the Tuscan province boasting the highest quality of life, ranking 15th nationally, with substantial growth noted especially concerning healthcare and cultural engagement. Conversely, cities like Florence and Pisa, which used to rank prominently, have fallen markedly, with Florence dropping to 36th and suffering particularly from high living costs and diminishing residents, reported at -0.8% over the previous year.

This fluctuation is echoed across multiple provinces, with Prato remaining stable at 31st, benefiting from youth employment rates, but still needing improvement overall. Other provinces, such as Arezzo and Grosseto, showed movements upward, focusing on employment rates and cultural offerings respectively, though challenges remain for issues like environmental consumption.

The latest results have raised questions on how to address the south’s chronic issues, with local officials highlighting improvements through careful planning and fund allocation over the years. The councilors champion the substantial endeavors made to improve urban functions, infrastructure, and public welfare programs, claiming these positive movements do not get adequately reflected by the Sole 24 Ore classification system. "While very real advancements are happening, they seem to be obscured by outdated measurements. Quality of life is far more than what the numbers show."

With the advent of new metrics focusing on environmental sustainability, economic opportunities, and individual wellbeing, the next editions of such surveys will likely continue to yield illuminating insights. The collective hope, echoed by local leaders across Italy, is for synergy—the ability for struggling regions to capitalize on investments, fostering both economic vitality and improved living conditions for all citizens, irrespective of geographical divides. The focus remains on sustainable development and strategic economic planning moving forward.

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