Desenzano Surpasses 24,000 Residents, Overtaking Lumezzane

Double surpass. The Capital of Garda has indeed exceeded the 24,000 residents threshold and at the end of June, it also overtook, by population, Lumezzane, making Desenzano the second municipality in the province after Brescia.

The increase in residents is solely due to immigration. Let’s look at the data and their historical evolution. At the end of June, registered inhabitants in the municipality amounted to 24,025, rising to 24,094 at the end of July.

At mid-year, however, the residents of Lumezzane, according to data provided by the Valgobbia registry office via phone, were 23,903. Therefore, the surpassing occurred in the last six months, considering that at the end of the year Valgobbia was still ahead.

Historical Evolution of Desenzano’s Population

The residents of Desenzano have exactly doubled over the last fifty years. In fact, in 1951, the population was 12,078. At that time, births substantially exceeded deaths. The natural balance was 52, while the immigration phenomenon, although already significant then, was roughly balanced overall.

That year, 501 residents emigrated from Desenzano, while 500 arrived. Then, during the 1960s, the years of the “economic boom,” the population steadily increased due both to births and to immigration, which from then on took on increasing importance.

By 1960, the population was already 14,257, reaching and surpassing 17,000 by 1970. That year, the registry recorded 297 births and 191 deaths.

A decade later, the population broke the 20,000 barrier. In that year, the natural balance of births minus deaths was negative. This trend persisted, excluding 1981, over the last 20 years, during which the Desenzano population increased to reach 23,790 registered residents at the end of ’99.

The recent leap forward occurred in these last six months, again primarily due to immigration. It’s important to clarify that the migration mainly involves families arriving from Northern Italy, from nearby cities and metropolises.

Population Composition and Migration Motivations

Many are retirees who, at the end of their working lives, choose Garda, preferring a small but well-equipped town in terms of services. A significant component is also related to the favorable and relaxing climate of the lake, which benefits people suffering from particular illnesses.

This explains why the percentage of retirees exceeds the average and is now approaching 30% of the resident population.

In any case, the balance between those leaving Desenzano and those arriving is positive, contributing to an increase of 466 residents in ’91, 436 in ’92, and 436 in ’93.

The average of the following years fluctuates around 300 residents per year, with an increase of 393 last year.

Presence of Foreigners and Economic Activity

An important component is that of foreigners, currently approaching a thousand. The registered foreigners are exactly 960 (including 181 minors).

Of these, 835 are non-EU nationals, representing 56 different countries. The largest community comes from Morocco, followed by Chinese, Colombians, Albanians, and Egyptians.

Obviously, the surpassing over Lumezzane applies only to residents. The Valtriumplino center remains the record-holder for economic and productive activity.