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 immigration statistics for 2015 was 5,788,875, a 0.02% increase from 2010.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Italy immigration statistics for 2010 was <strong>5,787,893</strong>, a <strong>46.35% increase</strong> from 2005.</li>
<li>Italy immigration statistics for 2005 was <strong>3,954,790</strong>, a <strong>86.4% increase</strong> from 2000.</li>
<li>Italy immigration statistics for 2000 was <strong>2,121,688</strong>, a <strong>19.53% increase</strong> from 1995.</li>
</ul>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.

Between January and November 2021, 59.7 thousand migrants arrived in Italy by sea. August recorded the highest number of arrivals. During 2020, instead, the number of migrants who stepped foot in Italy peaked in July at 7.1 thousand people. The largest number of people migrating to Italy weas registered in the years 2016 and 2017. In October 2016, 27.4 thousand individuals reached the Italian coasts by crossing the Mediterranean Sea, the highest monthly figure recorded in the past four years.

The main ports of arrivals  

In 2018, the main port where migrants arrived was Pozzallo, a city in Sicily, in the South of Italy. Pozzallo is in the province of Ragusa, located directly on the Mediterranean Sea. The number of migrants who set foot in Pozzallo in 2018 amounted to 3.8 thousand people. In that year, the Island of Lampedusa was the second most important harbor for the arrivals. Almost 3.5 thousand migrants arrived on this Sicilian island. Lampedusa is only about 113 kilometers (70 miles) away from Tunisia and represents an important entry port for the whole of Europe.

Asylum applications mostly denied 

In 2020, a total of 27 thousand asylum applications were registered in Italy. However, data on the examined requests show that asylum was denied in most of the cases. As a matter of fact, in 76 percent of the cases examined over 2020, applicants were not given the asylum status. Only 11 percent of migrants received the refugee status during that year, whilst another 11 percent of people were assigned a subsidiary protection.

In 2023, the difference between the total population change and the natural change in Italy equaled to 273,809 individuals.

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 Vital Statistics: Net Migration: Male data was reported at 55,638.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 42,115.000 Person for 2016. Italy Vital Statistics: Net Migration: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 161,518.000 Person from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2017, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 621,061.000 Person in 2013 and a record low of 12,745.000 Person in 2015. Italy Vital Statistics: Net Migration: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.G005: Vital Statistics: By Region and Sex: Annual.

Italy Vital Statistics: Emigration: Center data was reported at 21,918.000 Person in Dec 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 28,597.000 Person for Nov 2017. Italy Vital Statistics: Emigration: Center data is updated monthly, averaging 24,003.500 Person from Jan 2003 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 180 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 115,985.000 Person in Dec 2013 and a record low of 13,247.000 Person in Aug 2003. Italy Vital Statistics: Emigration: Center data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.G005: Vital Statistics: By Region and Sex.

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;

In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the United States was one of the main destinations for Italian emigrants. The largest number of people leaving Italy for the U.S. was registered in **********************************************, particularly in ****, before a sharp decline occurred in 1914 due to the First World War.Nowadays, the U.S. is still one of the main destinations for Italians. More specifically, as of January 2021, *** percent of all Italians moving abroad over the last year went to the United States.

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;

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 Vital Statistics: Immigration: Oth Italian Municipalities (OIM) data was reported at 1,334,425.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,330,388.000 Person for 2016. Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Oth Italian Municipalities (OIM) data is updated yearly, averaging 1,373,541.000 Person from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2017, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,567,143.000 Person in 2012 and a record low of 1,275,339.000 Person in 2002. Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Oth Italian Municipalities (OIM) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.G005: Vital Statistics: By Region and Sex: Annual.

Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Oth Countries data was reported at 343,440.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 300,823.000 Person for 2016. Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Oth Countries data is updated yearly, averaging 347,106.000 Person from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2017, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 558,019.000 Person in 2007 and a record low of 222,801.000 Person in 2002. Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Oth Countries data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.G005: Vital Statistics: By Region and Sex: Annual.

Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Center: Lazio data was reported at 10,681.000 Person in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 13,529.000 Person for May 2018. Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Center: Lazio data is updated monthly, averaging 13,948.000 Person from Jan 2003 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 186 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 352,399.000 Person in Dec 2013 and a record low of 7,804.000 Person in Aug 2006. Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Center: Lazio data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.G004: Vital Statistics: By Region and Sex.

Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Male: Oth Countries data was reported at 199,940.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 169,091.000 Person for 2016. Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Male: Oth Countries data is updated yearly, averaging 178,632.000 Person from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2017, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 256,939.000 Person in 2007 and a record low of 109,722.000 Person in 2002. Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Male: Oth Countries data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.G005: Vital Statistics: By Region and Sex: Annual.

Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Female: OIM data was reported at 667,378.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 667,107.000 Person for 2016. Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Female: OIM data is updated yearly, averaging 686,317.500 Person from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2017, with 16 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 785,421.000 Person in 2012 and a record low of 624,851.000 Person in 2002. Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Female: OIM data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.G005: Vital Statistics: By Region and Sex: Annual.

Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Female: North East data was reported at 15,416.000 Person in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 17,342.000 Person for May 2018. Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Female: North East data is updated monthly, averaging 17,440.000 Person from Jan 2004 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 174 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 51,605.000 Person in Dec 2013 and a record low of 12,818.000 Person in Apr 2015. Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Female: North East data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.G004: Vital Statistics: By Region and Sex.

The net migration rate is the total sum of residents moving in and out of an area. When the figure is positive, more residents have moved into the region than inhabitants moving out. In 2024, the north-east of Italy had the greatest increase in inhabitants nationwide, with a net internal migration rate of 1.9 per 1,000 inhabitants, followed by the north-west. On the contrary, the south recorded a negative net migration rate of -2.9. Hence, this area is loosing inhabitants in favor of the northern regions. Similarly, the islands registered a negative rate of -2.1 per 1,000 residents.

Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Islands: Sardegna data was reported at 2,920.000 Person in Dec 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3,619.000 Person for Nov 2017. Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Islands: Sardegna data is updated monthly, averaging 3,200.500 Person from Jan 2003 (Median) to Dec 2017, with 180 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 24,017.000 Person in Dec 2013 and a record low of 2,177.000 Person in Aug 2003. Italy Vital Statistics: Immigration: Islands: Sardegna data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Institute of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.G005: Vital Statistics: By Region and Sex.