In 2024, Italy hosted almost 313,000 refugees. Since 1998, the number of refugees in Italy has constantly increased, plummeting in 2020 only due to the pandemic. Following the escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the number of refugees dramatically rose, reaching 296,200 in 2022. These figures only refer to the total number of people whose refugee status has been recognized. In 2022, the number of asylum applications amounted to 84,000. However, the majority of asylum applications submitted in Italy are rejected. Migration to Italy in the 1990s In the early 1990s, refugees from the Balkans and from North Africa were the largest immigrant groups to Italy. After the fall of Communism in Albania in 1990, migration flows from the country to Italy grew significantly. Indeed, nowadays, the Albanian residents in Italy are the second-largest foreign community in the country. Similarly, Moroccans are the third-largest foreign population in Italy. Migration to Italy in the last decade Nowadays, South Asian and African countries are among the regions of origin of most people receiving refugee status in Italy. More specifically, Afghans and Nigerians were the two main nationalities of refugees in Italy in 2024.

Italy IT: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Origin data was reported at 47.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 51.000 Person for 2016. Italy IT: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Origin data is updated yearly, averaging 66.500 Person from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2017, with 26 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 224.000 Person in 2002 and a record low of 1.000 Person in 1992. Italy IT: Refugee Population: by Country or Territory of Origin 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. Refugees are people who are recognized as refugees under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa, people recognized as refugees in accordance with the UNHCR statute, people granted refugee-like humanitarian status, and people provided temporary protection. Asylum seekers--people who have applied for asylum or refugee status and who have not yet received a decision or who are registered as asylum seekers--are excluded. Palestinian refugees are people (and their descendants) whose residence was Palestine between June 1946 and May 1948 and who lost their homes and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. Country of origin generally refers to the nationality or country of citizenship of a claimant.; ; United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Statistics Database, Statistical Yearbook and data files, complemented by statistics on Palestinian refugees under the mandate of the UNRWA as published on its website. Data from UNHCR are available online at: www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html.; Sum;

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.

Between January and July 2025, the number of asylum applicants peaked in March at ****** requests. In 2024, around 66,300 migrants arrived by sea in Italy.

Historical dataset showing Italy refugee statistics by year from 1960 to 2023.

Graph and download economic data for Refugee Population by Country or Territory of Asylum for Italy (SMPOPREFGITA) from 1960 to 2023 about refugee, Italy, World, and population.

In 2020, 354 refugees were resettled in Italy. Between 2015 and 2020, the largest number was registered in 2017, with 914 individuals resettled in Italy.

In 2018, Italy hosted 189.2 thousand refugees. Since 1998, the number of refugees in Italy experienced a constant increase.

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.

Abstract

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many school-age Ukrainian refugees arrived in Europe, including in Italy, raising the need to protect their human capital and integrate them into new educational systems. Focusing on Italy, this survey aims to investigate how Ukrainian refugee children between 11 and 19 years old are adjusting to a foreign country, exploring the prevalence of factors that can hinder or facilitate their integration.

The World Bank, in collaboration with the Centro Studi di Politica Internazionale - CeSPI ETS (CeSPI), has collected survey data on Ukrainian refugees’ children and their caregivers between December 2023 and July 2024. The objective of the survey is to provide a detailed picture of the learning gaps and needs of forcibly displaced Ukrainian children in Italy.

The survey uses two main survey instruments: a caregiver questionnaire and a child questionnaire. The former is aimed to a person that can be identified as the adult (either formally or informally) responsible of the Ukrainian student in Italy, while the latter is administered to the each Ukrainian student individually.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

• Individual

Universe

The survey covered all 20 Italian regions

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Due to the impossibility to adopt a probabilistic sampling, survey respondents were primarily recruited by requesting contact information of caregivers of Ukrainian refugee students enrolled in Italian schools, as identified by student enrollment data provided by the Italian Ministry of Education.

Moreover, further contacts have been recruited through a series of organizations (327) that had previously assisted Ukrainian refugee children aged 11-19 years and by posting links and QR codes to access the questionnaires for children and caregivers on the UNHCR Italy's Telegram channel.

Mode of data collection

Other [oth]

Research instrument

The World Bank Survey on Ukrainian refugees in Italy consists of two questionnaires for each category of respondent (the student and the related caregiver). The Student Questionnaire was administered to each Ukrainian student interviewed. The Caregiver Questionnaire was administered to eligible adult responsible (formally or informally) of the Ukrainian student(s) participating in the survey (the same caregiver is interviewed in case is identified as the responsible adult of more than one student participating in the survey).

The World Bank Survey on Ukrainian refugees in Italy Caregiver Questionnaire includes the following modules: Socio-demographic information; Employment in Italy; Displacement history; Dwelling; Access to information; Mobility; Brief Parental Self Efficacy Scale; Believes on child’s achievement and well-being; Financial services; Contact info; Social integration; Personal well-being; and Assistance.

The World Bank Survey on Ukrainian refugees in Italy Child Questionnaire includes the following modules: Socio-demographic information; Schooling history; Education aspirations; Schooling environment; Youth empowerment; Bullying; Growth mindset; Language skill; Social network; Personal well-being; and Assistance.

Response rate

The number of observations in the final sample is of 248 students and 362 caregivers interviewed.

Information about asylum applications lodged in 38 European and 6 non-European countries. Data are broken down by month and origin. Where possible, figures exclude repeat/re-opened asylum applications and applications lodged on appeal or with courts. For some countries, the monthly data are available since 1999 while for others at a later period.

The dataset contains annual data on the flows of international migrants as recorded by Italy. The data presents both inflows and outflows according to the place of birth, citizenship or place of previous / next residence both for foreigners and nationals.

This dataset is part of a compilation of data on international migration flows which is useful for analytical purposes, but also serves to raise awareness about the problems of comparability among available statistics. Countries collecting and publishing data on the flows of international migrants use different definitions to identify migrants and use different concepts to determine their origin and destination.

From the project website: https://datibenecomune.substack.com/

The Ministry of the Interior publishes The Ministry of the Interior publishes in the "some information on "landings and reception of migrants" in the "Daily Statistical Dashboard":" some information on "landings and reception of migrants":

The comparison between the number of migrants landed in the last three years, in the interval that for each year goes from January 1st to the current date. runs from January 1st to the current date.

The number of migrants The number of migrants landed in the days of the last week, in the last two years, broken down by year.

The number of migrants landed from the first day of the current month. to the current date.

The number of migrants The number of migrants landed per month, in the last three years, broken down by year.

The presence of migrants in The presence of migrants in reception reception, by , per region region and by "type" of reception and by "type" of reception

The La nationality declared nationality declared at the time of disembarkation of the current year, up to the date of the report.

The The number of unaccompanied foreign minors landed per year, in the last three years, broken down by year.unaccompanied foreign minors landed per year, in the last three years, broken

Repo: https://github.com/ondata/liberiamoli-tutti/tree/main/sbarchi-migranti/dati

In 2024, Bangladeshi citizens submitted the largest number of asylum applications in Italy. More specifically, they forwarded around 33,400 requests, more than 20 percent of the total requests. Furthermore, about 15,700 applicants were from Peru, the second most common nationality among asylum seekers in 2024. The total number of applications added up to 158,605. The most recent data on arrivals of migrants in Italy show that sub-Saharan Africa as well as North Africa were some of the most common places of origin. In addition, Bangladesh and Syria were the two most frequent nationalities declared upon arrival.

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 2023, Italy accepted 11,300 asylum applications. In total, about 135,800 asylum requests were submitted in Italy in that year. Bangladeshi citizens submitted the largest number of asylum applications in 2023.

This page presents information on resettlement arrivals of refugees, with or without UNHCR assistance. This dataset is based on Government statistics and, in principle, excludes humanitarian admissions.

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;

Abstract

The Integration between challenges and opportunities survey provides a comprehensive overview of the socio-economic conditions and integration challenges faced by beneficiaries of international and temporary protection in Italy. Conducted between October 2023 and February 2024 by Lattanzio KIBS and FIERI, the study collected quantitative data from 1,231 respondents across 16 provinces using a non-probability sampling approach, complemented by qualitative insights from key informant interviews and focus group discussions (not included in this dataset). The questionnaire covered a wide range of topics, including demographics, housing, education, employment, income, social participation, discrimination, and access to services. The dataset supports evidence-based policy and programming aimed at enhancing protection, socio-economic inclusion, and local integration of refugees and other protection beneficiaries in Italy.

Geographic coverage

16 provinces across Italy

Analysis unit

Household

Universe

Beneficiaries of international or temporary protection in surveyed provinces

Sampling procedure

Non-probability sampling using snowball, centre-based, and CSO network approaches

Mode of data collection

Computer Assisted Personal Interview [capi]

Research instrument

Structured questionnaire covering demographics, housing, education, employment, income, social participation, discrimination, and access to services.

This statistic shows the number of migrant landings on the Italian coast from 2008 to 2017. According to the data, the number of landings which occurred in 2017 reached roughly *** thousands.

Abstract During the biennium 2013–2014 Syrian refugees started to reach Italy through Mediterranean seaborne migration routes, from Libya and Egypt. Their presence contributed to partially modifying the configuration of the incoming migration flows to Italy, both in terms of socio-demographic composition and access to the European asylum system. Data shows that most of the Syrian refugees who landed in Italy between 2013 and 2014 decided to pursue their journeys to Northern Europe, by overcoming the restrictions imposed by the Dublin Regulation. The article focuses on the phenomenon of transit, as an interesting standpoint from which to observe certain acts of agency and resistance, put in place by refugees in order to “choose the country where to live” (Denaro, 2016): the refusal to provide fingerprints during identification, the organization of hunger strikes, the secondary mobility per se. Moreover, the article attempts to shed light on the relational and socio-political context in which these practices have taken shape, by focusing on the construction of relationships with activists and volunteers, and the (explicit and tacit) processes of negotiation which refugees conducted with police authorities and other stakeholders.