Argentina has the largest Italian population outside of Italy, with around 1.1 million Italians residing in the South American country as of 2022. This community represented almost one fifth of all citizens residing outside the Republic, 6.7 million. Germany hosted the second-largest community, with about 880,000 Italians, while in Brazil lived around 730,000 people with Italian citizenship. In total, 2.9 million Italians resided in the Americas, whereas 3.4 million in other European countries. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Argentina was one of the main destinations for Italian emigrants, in particular in the early 1900s. Increasing tendency to emigrate   Between 2006 and 2020, the number of Italians living abroad constantly increased. As of 2020, over five million Italians lived outside their homeland. Data related to the educational level of the emigrated population show that one third of the academics decided to leave the country. In 2017, 32.5 percent of Italians holding a university degree did not reside in Italy. Better jobs and lower taxes   When asked about the reasons why leaving their country, the opportunity to pay lower taxes and have better jobs played an important role. Indeed, about 43 percent of Italians declared to be ready to leave Italy for a place where taxes were lower. In addition, roughly 37 percent could leave Italy for better working chances.

As of January 2021, about 2.3 million Italians lived in the American continent. The largest part of them had been living there for more than ten years (1.4 million individuals). Furthermore, over 400 thousand people were recorded living in America for five to ten years.

Argentina was the main destination country of Italian migrants. This South American state also hosted the largest population of Italian residents abroad.

As of 2023, more than 6.1 million Italians lived abroad. In particular, the largest community of migrants was in Argentina, as this country was hosting around 953,000 Italian citizens. Two European states followed in the ranking, Germany and Switzerland, while Brazil had the fourth-largest Italian emigrated population. In total, about 3.32 million emigrants lived in other European countries, while 2.5 million resided in the Americas.

Argentina is the country with the second largest Italian population in the world. As of January 2019, around 842.6 thousand Italian citizens who were residents abroad were living in Argentina. This represents almost 16 percent of all Italians living abroad worldwide, according to the Registry of Italian Residents Abroad. Brazil was the second favorite Latin American destination for Italians who lived abroad, with over 447 thousand Italian citizens registered there.

As of January 2024, 59 million people lived in Italy. About 28.9 million individuals were males and 30.1 million people were females. The most populated area of the country was the north-west, where 15.9 million people lived. Furthermore, the southern regions counted 13.4 million inhabitants, representing the second most populous area of the country. Regional census The northern region of Lombardy is the most populous region of Italy. One-sixth of all the Italian population is concentrated in this area. Lazio and Campania follow with approximately 5.7 million and 5.6 million individuals, respectively. On the other hand, Aosta Valley, a northern region bordering to France and Switzerland, counted 123,000 inhabitants, representing the smallest region of Italy in terms of residents as well as area. More and more Italians are moving abroad Between 2006 and 2022, the number of Italians reported living abroad increased. In 2022, 5.8 million people lived outside Italy, almost three million more than in 2006. The country hosting the largest Italian population is Argentina. In 2019, beyond one million Italian citizens lived in the South American nation. Other large Italian communities resided in Germany, Switzerland, and Brazil.

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.

As of January 2021, 30 percent of all Italians who moved abroad in the last year moved to the United Kingdom. Germany was the second most common destination, whereas France and Switzerland followed as third and fourth most popular emigration countries, respectively.

Italians living in Argentina make up the largest group of Italian people living abroad. Data from the Registry of Italians Resident Abroad show that 15.6 percent of all Italians abroad in 2021 lived in this South American state.

As of 2020, 131 thousand Italians were living in London. From 2015 to 2017, the number of Italian citizens who lived in the English Capital increased steadily. However, the Italian population living in London fell between 2018 and 2019. Nonetheless, the United Kingdom is the most popular destination country among Italian emigrants. During 2019, about 19 percent of all Italians who moved abroad notably chose the United Kingdom.

Student migration

The United Kingdom is a very common destination among young Italians in particular. In addition, a large percentage of emigrants who moved to the United Kingdom achieved a higher education. Specifically, 31 percent of Italians who live in the United Kingdom hold a university degree. However, the countries with most Italian emigrants holding a university degree are Brazil, Ireland, and the United States.

Historical migration of Italians

Currently, Argentina has the largest Italian population living abroad. Historically, Argentina was one of the most important destinations of Italian emigrants, especially during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Currently, Argentina ranks only tenth among the main destination countries of Italians. The most common destinations are, together with the United Kingdom, Germany and France.

In January 2024, 15.9 million people lived in the Italian north-western regions, the most populated area of the Republic. Moreover, the south of Italy had 13.4 million inhabitants, ranking second in the country. The islands had 6.4 million inhabitants, representing the lowest population among the different macro-areas. Data about the age of the citizens show that central Italy has the oldest population, while the youngest Italians live in southern regions.

People aged between 45 and 54 years made up the largest age group among the Italian population in 2024, counting around 9.14 million individuals, closely followed by those aged 55 to 64 years, who were 9.13 million people. Infants aged up to two years were 1.19 million, the less numerous age category. As these data show, Italy suffers from a deep demographic and natality crisis. The country's population is one of the oldest in the world. In recent years, the share of Italians aged 65 years and over constantly grew, whereas the percentage of younger people declined.

The population of Italy is getting older every year, becoming one of the oldest ones in the world. In 2024, the average age of the Italian population was 46.6 years, 3.2 years more than the average age registered in 2010. However, the age differs significantly depending on the region. According to the most recent data for 2024, the “oldest” citizens of the Italian peninsula live in the region of Liguria (average age 49.5 years), whereas the youngest inhabit Campania (44.2 years on average). Women live longer than men The difference in the average age of the population can be observed not only on a regional basis, but also between genders. In 2021, Italian women were on average roughly three years older than men. When it comes to the life expectancy, studies from 2023 confirm the longevity of Italian women. In fact, females in Italy are expected to live on average about four years longer than men. The Old Continent In 2023, Europe was the continent with the highest share of population older than 65 years. Whereas the worldwide percentage of the population over 65 years was of ten percent, the percentage of elderly people in the Old Continent reached 19 percent.

In 2024, Italy's foreign population was 5.3 million individuals. Compared to the previous year, it increased by around 166,000 people. While the Italian population is progressively aging and shrinking, the number of immigrants residing in the country has been constantly raising since 2010.

In 2024, Italy’s resident population is estimated to be almost 59 million inhabitants. About one-sixth of them lived in Lombardy, the most populous region in the country. Lazio and Campania followed, with roughly 5.7 million and 5.6 million inhabitants, respectively. These figures are mainly driven by Rome and Naples, the administrative capitals of these regions, and two of the largest metropolitan areas in the country. Which region has the oldest population?  The population in Italy has become older and older over the last years. The average age in the country is equal to 46.6 years, but in some regions this figure is even higher. Liguria records an average age of 49.5 years and has one of the lowest birth rates in the country. Demographic trends for the future Liguria’s case, however, is not an outlier. Italy is already the country with the highest share of old people in Europe. At the same time, the very low number of new births means that, despite an always-increasing life expectancy, the Italian population is declining. Indeed, projections estimate that the country will have five million fewer inhabitants by 2050.

As of 2021, 17.7 percent of all Italians who emigrated abroad were originally from the Northern region of Lombardy. People from the Veneto, also in the North, made up 11.3 percent of the total.

Data about the single regions of Italy show that the largest number of Italians living abroad came from Sicily, Lombardy, and Campania.

Data refer to the Italians reported in the Registry of Italians Resident Abroad (A.I.R.E.).

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.

In 2021, 52 percent of Italians living abroad were male, whereas 48 percent were female. Some 16 percent of all Italians abroad lived in Argentina, the most common emigration country among Italian people.

Data refer to the number of Italians reported in the Registry of Italians Resident Abroad (A.I.R.E.).

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 five percent. Italian demographics In 2024, beyond five million foreign residents lived in Italy, compared to the total population of 59 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 53.6 years by 2050, whereas the country experienced a constant decline in the number of births. In 2010, almost 550,000 babies came into life, but ten years later only 400,000 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 four percent, whereas in the south it reached 14 percent.

In 2024, the average age of the population in Italy is estimated to be 46.6 years. This figure constantly rose over the last decade. In 2010, the mean age was 43.4 years, steadily growing in the following years. Recent studies indicate that the median age is projected to increase in the future as well. By 2050, it could reach 53.4 years. Few births over the last years Italy has the highest share of the elderly population in Europe. In 2023, 24 percent of the Italian inhabitants were aged 65 years and over. One of the main reasons for the population aging is the low number of births recorded in the last years. In fact, Italy counted in 2023 about 6.4 births every 100,000 inhabitants, the lowest figure recorded in the past years. Longer lifespan In addition to a low birth rate, Italy is among the countries with the highest life expectancy worldwide. In 2023, life expectancy at birth for Italian women was 85.2 years, whereas Italian men could expect to live up to 81.1 years. A longer life expectancy combined with fewer births explain why the average age of Italian inhabitants has been rising in the last years.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the area of modern-day Italy, at the time a collection of various states and kingdoms, was estimated to have a population of nineteen million, a figure which would grow steadily throughout the century, and by the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, the population would rise to just over 26 million.

Italy’s population would see its first major disruption during the First World War, as Italy would join the Allied Forces in their fight against Austria-Hungary and Germany. In the First World War, Italy’s population would largely stagnate at 36 million, only climbing again following the end of the war in 1920. While Italy would also play a prominent role in the Second World War, as the National Fascist Party-led country would fight alongside Germany against the Allies, Italian fatalities from the war would not represent a significant percentage of Italy’s population compared to other European countries in the conflict. As a result, Italy would exit the Second World War with a population of just over 45 million.

From this point onwards the Italian economy started to recover from the war, and eventually boomed, leading to increased employment and standards of living, which facilitated steady population growth until the mid-1980s, when falling fertility and birth rates would cause growth to largely cease. From this point onward, the Italian population would remain at just over 57 million, until the 2000s when it began growing again due to an influx of migrants, peaking in 2017 at just over 60 million people. In the late 2010s, however, the Italian population began declining again, as immigration slowed and the economy weakened. As a result, in 2020, Italy is estimated to have fallen to a population of 59 million.

Worldwide, the majority of Italians living abroad stayed in Europe. More specifically, 55 percent of Italians who left Italy moved to another country in Europe. America represented the second most common area of emigration, where 40 percent of expats lived.

In total, 5.7 million Italian people were reported living abroad in 2021, of which over three million stayed in Europe.

Data refer to the Italians reported in the Registry of Italians Resident Abroad (A.I.R.E.).