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Demographics of Naples
 I don't know
if I trust all of these figures since, as they say, 47%
of statistics are made up on the spot. For example, if
there are only 50,000 extracomunitari
(those from outside the European community) immigrants
in Naples, why do I count more than that on any single
street on any single Saturday selling knock-off Rolexes
and Guccis? (I am wearing a fine Gucci timepiece,
even as we speak.) Anyway, I pass these numbers on as I
gleaned them from various sources in an attempt to
provide answers to common questions such as How
many people live here? How many immigrants are there?
How many unemployed are there? Hey, where is my
wallet? etc.
Naples: city and province
First of all, the city of Naples is the capital and
largest city in the province of Naples, part of the
Italian region of Campania. The province of Naples is
one of five in Campania; the other four are Salerno,
Caserta, Benevento, and Avellino. Of the five, Salerno
is the largest in area, while the province of Naples has
the largest population. The province of Naples has a
total population of ca. 3 million, with slightly more
women than men. It is the third
most populous province in Italy after Rome and Milan.
The province of Naples has 92 towns.
The city of Naples, itself, has ca. 1,000,000
inhabitants with slightly more women than men. Naples is
the third largest city in Italy (if you stay strictly
within the city limits) after Milan and Rome (Torino is
fourth). The population density of the city of Naples is
about 8,500 inhabitants per square kilometer. Cubic kilometer?
You don't want to know.
Within the city limits of Naples,
there are 325,000 family units and 350,000 dwellings.
They tell me that there is a housing shortage, so I
can't figure that one out. There are also more cars than
people. The cars with no drivers in them often drive
better than the cars with drivers.
Although there is no official "Greater Naples," that
term may be understood to comprise those towns that
together with Naples form a single, contiguous, pulsing,
blob-like mass of population. These other towns are
Arzano, Casandrino, Casavatore, Casoria, Cercola, Marano
di Napoli, Melito di Napoli, Mugnano di Napoli, Portici,
Pozzuoli, Quarto, San Giorgio a Cremano, San Sebastiano
al Vesuvio. and Volla. "Greater Naples," with a
population of about 2.5 million, is, then, smaller than
the actual province of Naples. That "greater Naples"
area includes the densely populated "Vesuvian
communities" (with almost one million persons). They sit
there in the "red/must evacuate zone," plant tomatoes
and wait for the big one. The demographic profile in the
province is relatively young: 20% are under age 14,
while 12% are over 65, compared to the national average
of 14% and 19%, respectively.
Economics
The economy of the province is relatively weak compared
to Italy as a whole, placing only 94th out of the total
of 103 provinces in Italy in terms of GVA (Gross Value
Added)—that is, wealth produced. Such statistics do not
include wealth generated by the so-called "submerged
economy"—that is, the black market and untaxed
wages—about which statistics are difficult to find—or
even to make up. That's how submerged it is. They will
also "deep-six" you
if you start nosing around too much.
Employment
Official unemployment is astronomical in the city of
Naples; estimates run between 20% and 30%. Again, it is
difficult to calculate the wealth of the unofficial
economy, which is to say that a number of people who are
out of work still make a living somehow. Generally
speaking, there is currently a move away from the
traditional agriculture-based economy in the province to
one based on service industries. In 2001 there were over
138,000 enterprises operating in the province of Naples
that employed about 595,000. In 2002 the companies
registered in the Chamber of Commerce Public Register of
Naples came to 249, 590. More than half of these
are small enterprises with fewer than 20 workers. As
well, 70 companies are medium-sized with more than 200
workers; and 15 have more than 500 workers.
Immigration
(also
see this link)
In Italy, at large, there are ca. 2, 300, 300 legal
immigrants in Italy, amounting to about 4% of the
population. In the city of Naples, there are (as of
December 31, 2003) about 12 thousand legal
immigrants—that is, those with permission to stay; there
are estimated to be about 43 thousand illegal
immigrants—that is, without permission to stay. The
sex ratio among legal immigrants shows a slight
prevalence of women, explained by the relatively large
number of immigrant women who find work in Naples as
domestic helpers. Most extracomunitari male workers tend to
head north where industrial jobs are easier to find.
About
the image (above): indeed, indirectly connected with
demographics. One honest newsstand owner at Piazza del Gesù Nuovo
proudly announces that no one has ever bought a
winning ticket at his place. And that sure includes
me.
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