Soil consumption is one of the most pressing environmental issues in Italy. Every year, approximately 70 kmĀ² of natural land is paved over ā the equivalent of 10,000 football pitches. ISPRA data, processed by DatiItalia, allows comparison of the situation municipality by municipality.
National Overview
The national average of consumed soil is about 7.1%. But this figure masks enormous disparities: it ranges from over 90% in some municipalities in the Neapolitan hinterland to less than 1% in virtually untouched mountain villages.
The Most Built-Up Municipalities
The municipalities with the highest percentage of consumed soil are almost all located in the metropolitan areas of Naples and Milan. The uncontrolled urbanization of the 1960s-80s left a heavy legacy.
The 15 Municipalities with the Most Soil Consumption
Percentage of territory consumed ā Top 15
The Most Virtuous Municipalities
On the opposite end, hundreds of municipalities ā primarily in mountain, hill, and island areas ā maintain less than 2% consumed soil. These are Italy's "green" municipalities, where nature still prevails.
The 15 Municipalities with the Least Soil Consumption
Percentage of territory consumed ā the most virtuous
Soil Consumption Map
Each municipality colored by percentage of consumed soil ā the most built-up areas in red
Concrete and Decline: Where Soil Vanishes and People Too
The 3D map shows a paradox: height represents soil consumption (more concrete = taller), color represents birth rate (green = births, red = demographic desert). Tall green municipalities are those where concrete serves a purpose ā growing cities building for newcomers. Tall red ones are the disaster: they paved over land but people are leaving anyway.
Concrete and Decline
Height = soil consumption, color = birth rate ā green where children are born, red where they vanish
Why Soil Consumption Is a Problem
Soil is a non-renewable resource: it takes centuries to form a single centimeter of fertile ground. Paving it over causes:
- Increased hydrogeological risk (sealed soil cannot absorb rain)
- Loss of biodiversity and natural habitats
- Urban heat island effect (temperatures up to 5Ā°C higher)
- Reduced CO2 absorption capacity
Policies for "net zero soil consumption" have been debated for years but never passed at the national level. Some virtuous municipalities have independently adopted zero-consumption urban plans.
All ISPRA data on soil consumption is available in the Environment section of DatiItalia.