Trexenta's fragility isn't measured solely by emptying homes and losing residents in towns. It's also evident in the lack of job opportunities, lower education levels than the regional average, incomes that don't match those of the rest of Sardinia, and the difficulty of guaranteeing prospects for those living in smaller towns. These factors paint a picture of a region exposed to structural challenges. This is confirmed by the Trexenta Focus in the annual report on migration flows produced by ACLI: six out of thirteen municipalities achieve the highest score on the Composite Municipal Fragility Index, on a scale of 1 to 10. Only Ortacesus and Senorbì score at an average level. And even they have little to celebrate. The index combines twelve indicators, divided into four areas: territory, environment, society and demography, economy and business. It considers risks related to the territory and distance from services, as well as land use, waste, population characteristics, employment, and the economic system. Half of the indicators concern people and employment. This is the most significant aspect of the picture: the fragility of Trexenta is not only environmental or geographical, but above all social and economic.
Employment and education data help explain why. The employment rate among the working-age population stands at 59 percent, compared to 62.2 percent in Sardinia. People with high levels of education represent 36.1 percent, while the regional average is 46.8 percent. No municipality in Trexenta reaches the Sardinian average income. These are different indicators, but they reveal a common challenge: creating economic and professional conditions capable of supporting families and offering prospects to the new generations. It is within this context that the demographic data fits. As of January 1, 2026, Trexenta has 20,601 inhabitants, 1.33 percent of the Sardinian population. The negative balance is 150 residents: new arrivals are not enough to compensate for the missing births. Depopulation, therefore, is one of the most obvious manifestations of a fragility that affects multiple areas. And the aging of the population is both a consequence and a further factor in its difficulty. In Gesico, there are now four people over 65 for every child under 14; twenty years ago, the ratio was 1.4 to one. In Mandas and Ortacesus, there are more than three elderly people for every young person. This changes the composition of the communities and increases the need for healthcare, assistance, and adequate connections, even as the population capable of supporting them is dwindling.
Further food for thought comes from data from the Customs and Monopolies Agency on legal gambling. In one year, just under €11 million was spent on scratch cards, lotteries, sports betting, slots, and online gaming in Trexenta's authorized circuits. Senorbì leads the way with approximately €4.3 million, followed by Mandas with just over €1.5 million, Guasila with €1.275 million, and Ortacesus with approximately €1 million. Gesico brings up the rear with €468,000. Gambling volumes alone are not a measure of social fragility or the risk of addiction: they are also influenced by the number of residents and the spread of authorized outlets. The possible connection with Trexenta's socioeconomic situation, however, remains a hypothesis that needs further exploration. Employment, education, services, mobility, and support for smaller communities are intertwined and require a shared vision.