As of 2024, Romanians were Italy's largest foreign population, with over one million Romanians living in Italy during the period considered. Albania and Morocco followed with 416,000 and 412,000 people, respectively. From a regional perspective, the Northern regions had the largest foreign population. Lombardy had some 1.1 million foreign residents, the largest in the country.

In 2025, Italy's foreign population was 5.4 million individuals. Compared to the previous year, it increased by around 169,000 people. While the Italian population is progressively aging and shrinking, the number of immigrants residing in the country has been constantly raising since 2010.

As of December 2024, Lombardy was the region in Italy hosting the largest share of immigrants, followed by Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, and Piedmont. Lombardy is the region with the highest number of inhabitants in the country. The north Italian region has ten million residents, around one sixth of the total national population, and was housing 18,200 immigrants. The Mediterranean route to Europe  In 2020, 955 migrants died or went missing in the Italian Central Mediterranean Sea in the attempt to reach Europe. In 2024, 66,317 people arrived at the Italian shores, 91,300 individuals less compared to 2023. Death and missing cases still represent a serious hazard for the people who want to reach Italy from North Africa. Racism on the rise in Italy Race-related violence is strictly correlated with immigration. According to 2020 data, the cases of racial physical violence increased, in particular between 2016 and 2018. Over these three years, the cases of body violence ranged from 24 to 127 attacks. Similarly, insults, threats, and harassment became more widespread. Between 2017 and 2019, the cases grew from 88 to 206, while only in the first three months of 2020 there were 53 episodes of racist insults, threats, and harassment.

Italy: Migrant population, percent of total population: The latest value from 2015 is 10 percent, unchanged from 10 percent in 2010. In comparison, the world average is 10 percent, based on data from 195 countries. Historically, the average for Italy from 1990 to 2015 is 6 percent. The minimum value, 3 percent, was reached in 1990 while the maximum of 10 percent was recorded in 2010.

Italy - Foreign-born population was 6673604.00 in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Italy - Foreign-born population - last updated from the EUROSTAT on July of 2025. Historically, Italy - Foreign-born population reached a record high of 6673604.00 in December of 2024 and a record low of 5022967.00 in December of 2012.

From January to December 2024, around 66,000 migrants arrived in Italy by sea. Between 2014 and 2024, the number of migrants setting foot in the country peaked in 2016 at 181,000 individuals, whereas in 2019 only 11,400 people were rescued from the sea. In fact, stricter immigration policies were enacted between 2018 and 2019 by the right-wing and populist government supported by the League and the Five-Star Movement. Among the most frequent countries of origin declared upon arrivals in 2024, Bangladesh and Syria ranked in the first places. About 13,800 were Bangladeshi citizens, while around 12,500 immigrants came from Syria. Asylum seekers and minors among the migrants In 2023, the largest number of asylum applicants in Italy were from Bangladesh. In fact, 23,450 requests were recorded as of December 2023, while 18,300 applicants were from Egypt, the second most common nationality among asylum seekers. In recent years, many unaccompanied minors reached the Italian coasts. In 2024, 8,043 children migrated without their parents into the country. Contrasting opinions and distorted perceptions  According to the data published by Ipsos, a part of Italians tend to overestimate the size of the immigrated population. The results of this survey uncovered the presence of distorted perceptions in 2018: people thought that about 28 percent of the Italian population was not born in Italy, whereas the actual percentage was around ten. Furthermore, the public opinion on migration was controversial. In the same year, roughly half of the population perceived migrants as a risk for the Italian economy. On the other hand, 18 percent of Italians believed that migration could be a resource for the country.

Italy IT: International Migrant Stock: Total data was reported at 5,788,875.000 Person in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 5,787,893.000 Person for 2010. Italy IT: International Migrant Stock: Total data is updated yearly, averaging 1,340,516.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2015, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5,788,875.000 Person in 2015 and a record low of 459,553.000 Person in 1960. Italy IT: International Migrant Stock: Total data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. International migrant stock is the number of people born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees. The data used to estimate the international migrant stock at a particular time are obtained mainly from population censuses. The estimates are derived from the data on foreign-born population--people who have residence in one country but were born in another country. When data on the foreign-born population are not available, data on foreign population--that is, people who are citizens of a country other than the country in which they reside--are used as estimates. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 people living in one of the newly independent countries who were born in another were classified as international migrants. Estimates of migrant stock in the newly independent states from 1990 on are based on the 1989 census of the Soviet Union. For countries with information on the international migrant stock for at least two points in time, interpolation or extrapolation was used to estimate the international migrant stock on July 1 of the reference years. For countries with only one observation, estimates for the reference years were derived using rates of change in the migrant stock in the years preceding or following the single observation available. A model was used to estimate migrants for countries that had no data.; ; United Nations Population Division, Trends in Total Migrant Stock: 2012 Revision.; Sum;

Italy IT: Net Migration data was reported at 264,145.000 Person in 2012. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,006,308.000 Person for 2007. Italy IT: Net Migration data is updated yearly, averaging 164,927.000 Person from Dec 1962 (Median) to 2012, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,624,300.000 Person in 2002 and a record low of -231,781.000 Person in 1967. Italy IT: Net Migration data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the total number of immigrants less the annual number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens. Data are five-year estimates.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum;

Italy IT: International Migrant Stock: % of Population data was reported at 9.681 % in 2015. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9.713 % for 2010. Italy IT: International Migrant Stock: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 5.227 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2015, with 6 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.713 % in 2010 and a record low of 2.505 % in 1990. Italy IT: International Migrant Stock: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. International migrant stock is the number of people born in a country other than that in which they live. It also includes refugees. The data used to estimate the international migrant stock at a particular time are obtained mainly from population censuses. The estimates are derived from the data on foreign-born population--people who have residence in one country but were born in another country. When data on the foreign-born population are not available, data on foreign population--that is, people who are citizens of a country other than the country in which they reside--are used as estimates. After the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 people living in one of the newly independent countries who were born in another were classified as international migrants. Estimates of migrant stock in the newly independent states from 1990 on are based on the 1989 census of the Soviet Union. For countries with information on the international migrant stock for at least two points in time, interpolation or extrapolation was used to estimate the international migrant stock on July 1 of the reference years. For countries with only one observation, estimates for the reference years were derived using rates of change in the migrant stock in the years preceding or following the single observation available. A model was used to estimate migrants for countries that had no data.; ; United Nations Population Division, Trends in Total Migrant Stock: 2008 Revision.; Weighted average;

In 2023, the difference between the total population change and the natural change in Italy equaled to ******* individuals.

BackgroundMost studies on immigrant health focus on immigrant groups coming from extra-European and/or low-income countries. Little attention is given to self-rated health (SRH) in the context EU/EEA migration. To know more about health among European immigrants can provide new insights related to social determinants of health in the migration context. Using the case of Italian immigrants in Norway, the aim of this study was to (i) examine the levels of SRH among Italian immigrants in Norway as compared with the Norwegian and the Italian population, (ii) examine the extent to which the Italian immigrant perceived that moving to Norway had a positive or negative impact on their SRH; and (iii) identify the most important factors predicting SRH among Italian immigrants in Norway.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among adult Italian immigrants in Norway (n = 321). To enhance the sample's representativeness, the original dataset was oversampled to match the proportion of key sociodemographic characteristics of the reference population using the ADASYN method (oversampled n = 531). A one-sample Chi-squared was performed to compare the Italian immigrants' SRH with figures on the Norwegian and Italian populations according to Eurostat statistics. A machine-learning approach was used to identify the most important predictors of SRH among Italian immigrants.ResultsMost of the respondents (69%) rated their SRH as “good” or “very good”. This figure was not significantly different with the Norwegian population, nor to the Italians living in Italy. A slight majority (55%) perceived that their health would have been the same if they continued living in Italy, while 23% perceived a negative impact. The machine-learning model selected 17 variables as relevant in predicting SRH. Among these, Age, Food habits, and Years of permanence in Norway were the variables with the highest level of importance, followed by Trust in people, Educational level, and Health literacy.ConclusionsItalian immigrants in Norway can be considered as part of a “new mobility” of high educated people. SHR is shaped by several interconnected factors. Although this study relates specifically to Italian immigrants, the findings may be extended to other immigrant populations in similar contexts.

Foreign residents constituted about nine percent of Italy's total population. More specifically, male foreign population held 9.11 percent of the share, whereas female foreigners comprised 8.89 percent of the total population.

IntroductionThe health status and health care needs of immigrant populations must be assessed. The aim of this study was to evaluate barriers to accessing primary care and the appropriateness of health care among resident immigrants in Italy, using indicators regarding maternal health, avoidable hospitalization, and emergency care.MethodsCross-sectional study using some indicators of the National Monitoring System of Health Status and Healthcare of the Immigrant Population (MSHIP), coordinated by the National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty (INMP), calculated on perinatal care, hospital discharge, and emergency department databases for the years 2016–2017 in nine Italian regions (Piedmont, Trento, Bolzano, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Latium, Basilicata, Sicily). The analyses were conducted comparing immigrant and Italian residents.ResultsCompared to Italian women, immigrant women had fewer than five gynecological examinations (8.5 vs. 16.3%), fewer first examinations after the 12th week of gestational age (3.8 vs. 12.5%), and fewer than two ultrasounds (1.0 vs. 3.8%). Compared to Italians, immigrants had higher standardized rates (× 1,000 residents) of avoidable hospitalizations (males: 2.1 vs. 1.4; females: 0.9 vs. 0.7) and of access to emergency departments for non-urgent conditions (males: 62.0 vs. 32.7; females: 52.9 vs. 31.4).ConclusionsIn Italy, there appear to be major issues regarding accessing services and care for the immigrant population. Policies aimed at improving socioeconomic conditions and promoting integration can promote healthy lifestyles and appropriate access to health care, counteracting the emergence of health inequities in the immigrant population.

Between January and August 2021, the immigration numbers in Italy were largely influenced by citizens from Africa. Tunisia represented the most frequent origin country declared upon arrival, while Egypt and Ivory Coast occupied the third and fourth positions in this ranking. During the first eight months of 2021, 11 thousand Tunisians arrived on the Italian shores, while the number of people from Bangladesh amounted to 5.3 thousand.

Nationality of asylum seekers  

In October 2020, 792 asylum applicants in Italy came were from Pakistan. Pakistani represented the most frequent nationality of asylum seekers according to the requests processed in that month. Nigerian was the second most common nationality, with 501 requests made in October 2020. In the same month, 471 examined asylum applications were made by Bangladeshis. Bangladesh is among the most frequent places of origins declared upon arrival in Italy.

Unaccompanied and separated children

In 2019, 659 unaccompanied and separated children arrived in Italy to seek for asylum. Between 2014 and 2019, the number of asylum applications from unaccompanied children peaked in 2017 at 9.8 thousand. The largest percentage of unaccompanied and separated children who arrived in Italy by sea were from Sudan. Separated children are children separated from both their parents, for instance due to conflicts or other disasters. Unaccompanied children are infants separated from both parents or other relatives, which are by law responsible for taking care of them.

This scatter chart displays population (people) against net migration (people) in Italy. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

In 2023, the biggest communities of foreign nationals in Italy were in Milan, Bologna, Florence, Turin, Rome, and Genoa, where more than ten percent of the inhabitants were not of Italian origin. These cities are mostly located in the north of the country. On the contrary, in the southern municipalities of Bari, Catania, and Palermo the incidence of the immigrant population is minimal, well below **** percent. Italian demographics In 2024, beyond **** million foreign residents lived in Italy, compared to the total population of ** million inhabitants. Projections assert that in the upcoming years, the number of Italian citizens will progressively decrease, mostly given to the aging population and low birth rates. In fact, it has been predicted that the median age could reach **** years by 2050, whereas the country experienced a constant decline in the number of births. In 2010, almost ******* babies came into life, but ten years later only ******* births were recorded. The divide between north and south From the distribution of immigrant residents, there is an evident separation between the northern Italian regions and the southern part of the country, making those territories less attractive for foreigners in terms of work opportunities. Analysis on the index of the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in 2005, in 2015 and 2025 reveal that the total wealth produced by the southern region represents only half of the one recorded in the north. Moreover, in 2023 the unemployment rate in northern regions was around **** percent, whereas in the south it reached ** percent.

As of 2024, there were 5.3 million foreigners living in Italy. Lombardy had the largest foreign population, with 1.2 million people, ahead of Lazio and Emilia-Romagna. Lombardy has a population of ten million people and is Italy's largest region.

On 26 September 2013, Istat released the inter-census reconstruction of the main demographic flows for all Italian municipalities. As communicated by Istat, it is based on the evidence provided by the last census, together with the comparative examination with the demographic flows (births, deaths, migrations) that occurred in the same period. It therefore has the objective of improving both the statistics on the population itself - in terms of consistency, structural composition and demographic events - as well as those statistical indicators which cannot do without their use. The dataset shows, for the Municipality of Milan, the reconstructed demographic balances for each time interval included in the period 22 October 2001 - 9 October 2011. The balances include measures of stock, relating to the size of the population at the beginning and each interval, and measures of the demographic movement, ie births, deaths, internal immigration and emigration, immigration and emigration with foreign countries, acquisitions of Italian citizenship.

The data concern immigration to Milan from Italy and abroad, by year of the event. The data can be disaggregated by: year of the event, type of registration provision and main characteristics of the migrant. The year variable refers to the date of the event. The path to use to find the original dataset on sisi.comune.milano.it is: sisi.comune.milano.it - ​​Population and households - Resident population - Demographic movement - Registrations and Cancellations

Between 2014 and 2020, the majority of foreigners living in Italy held a middle school diploma as their highest educational achievement. Over the years, the share of the foreign-born population with an university degree remained quite stable. As of 2020, around **** percent of the foreigners in Italy held an high school diploma, and **** percent of them had a university degree. The corresponding figures for Italian citizens were **** percent and **** percent, highlighting the education gap between the foreign and the native population.