Gli immigrati a Napoli nel nuovo millennio

Immigration in Naples has a history of at least 50 years, but the number of foreigners significantly increased only in the last two decades. While in the early years of the new Millennium Naples was the 13th municipality in terms of number of foreigners (less than 9,000 residents), at the most recent date it has become the fifth with over 57,000 residents equal to 6% of the population. The study of immigration in Naples’ municipality highlights a migratory pattern significantly different from that of the other provinces of Campania. It is distinguished by a strong Asian prevalence (Sri Lankans, Chinese, Filipinos and, more recently Pakistani and Bangladeshi citizens rank among the ten most numerous nationalities), a large number of Eastern European immigrants (mainly Ukrainians, Romanians and Poles), an emerging Nigerian immigration and a consolidated Dominican presence. Each nationality has specific demographic, social and migratory characteristics, spatial patterns of settlement and have distinct living and working conditions. The heterogeneous Neapolitan immigration patterns is underlined also by the persistent gender imbalances in many of the largest nationalities. Eastern European communities have a clear female prevalence (the extreme cases are those of Ukrainians and Poles), conversely Pakistani and citizens of Bangladesh have a marked male connotation. These imbalances indirectly indicate the presence of people at different stages of the migration and inclusion process (from first single migrants to families), in a context in which second generation and new Italians grow, but more slowly than in the center-north of the country.