Sardinia graces the pages of the Financial Times with a report by Emma Bird, titled "Long Live Sardinia," which addresses the paradox of an island celebrated worldwide for the longevity of its inhabitants, yet at risk of disappearing.

LONGEVITY PARADOX – The Financial Times notes that Sardinia is home to some of the world's most famous Blue Zones , characterized by an exceptional concentration of centenarians, but also highlights that behind the myth of longevity lies a worrying reality: 1.55 million inhabitants in 2025, down from the peak of 1.66 million in 2010; a median age of 49, compared to the national average of 47; the lowest fertility rate in Italy for the sixth consecutive year; a shortage of general practitioners, with 300,000 residents without access to a family doctor; youth unemployment at 27.8%; and an average annual salary of €17,600, well below the national average.

DEPOPULATION AND YOUTH FLIGHT – "Deaths outnumber births, and every year the island loses the equivalent of a small town's population," the newspaper writes . Added to this is the loss of a fifth of its artisan businesses since 2008 and, in 2024, 32 municipalities reported no new business openings.

LANDSCAPE AND ANCIENT CULTURE – The article, however, goes beyond the critical issues, highlighting the beauty and variety of the Sardinian landscape, with 2,000 kilometers of coastline, forests, and mountains, and the precious nuraghi, testimony to a millennia-old history and culture. It also touches on Eleonora d'Arborea's Carta de Logu, as well as the great names Sardinia has given the world, including Nobel Prize winner Grazia Deledda, philosopher Antonio Gramsci, artists Maria Lai and Costantino Nivola, and trumpeter Paolo Fresu.

QUALITY OF LIFE – And finally, the enviable quality of life: Cagliari, Bird explains, is the third sunniest city in Italy, and its province ranked first in Southern Italy and the islands in the latest quality of life index. Oristano, meanwhile, ranks first in Italy for justice and public safety. And over 73% of Sardinians say they can count on relatives, friends, and neighbors. Then there's the experience of Ollolai, in Barbagia, and the €1 housing program, with over 40,000 people applying. And the policies implemented by President Alessandra Todde to combat depopulation.