Economy, jobs and prices in Bologna, Italy: official figures
310,489 residents of the comune of Bologna filed an income tax (IRPEF) return for 2024, declaring an average total income of €33,307, 3rd highest among 42 major Italian cities (national average €25,816).
What is the average salary in Bologna?
59% of Bologna taxpayers declared employment income for 2024, averaging €28,936, while 32% declared a pension averaging €28,353.
Source: Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze, Dipartimento delle Finanze · saved copyHow many rich people live in Bologna?
2.39% of Bologna taxpayers declared more than €120,000 for 2024 and 11.6% more than €55,000 (national shares 0.87% and 5.9%).
Source: Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze, Dipartimento delle Finanze · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Bologna?
The unemployment rate in Bologna was 6.1% in 2023 (6.7% for women, 5.5% for men).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat are the main jobs in Bologna?
165,452 jobs were based in Bologna in 2022; the biggest employers were trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (32% of jobs) and professional, scientific and administrative services (25%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Bologna?
Tourist accommodation in Bologna recorded 5,240,124 nights in 2025, 61% by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Bologna?
There were 539 registered cars per 1,000 residents in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Average declared income in the city of Bologna (€33,307) was higher than across its wider province (€30,686) in 2024. Source: Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze, Dipartimento delle Finanze · saved copy
- Self-employed professionals in Bologna declared an average of €79,332 in self-employment income for 2024. Source: Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze, Dipartimento delle Finanze · saved copy
- 17.5% of income tax returns in Bologna declared €10,000 or less for 2024, 5th lowest share among 42 major Italian cities. Source: Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze, Dipartimento delle Finanze · saved copy
- Declared income in Bologna totalled 10.0 billion euros for 2024, 0.93% of all income declared in Italy. Source: Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze, Dipartimento delle Finanze · saved copy
- 68% of people in Bologna were satisfied with public transport (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- 42% of people in Bologna agreed that it is easy to find a good job in the city (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
How Bologna compares with other cities in Italy
Average declared income per taxpayer (€) (2024)
Bologna ranks 3 of 42, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average declared income per taxpayer (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milano | €41,865 |
| 2 | Bergamo | €35,322 |
| 3 | Bologna | €33,307 |
| 4 | Padova | €32,759 |
| 5 | Roma | €32,501 |
| 6 | Parma | €32,399 |
| 7 | Modena | €32,216 |
Taxpayers declaring €10,000 or less (%) (2024)
Bologna ranks 38 of 42, highest first.
| Rank | City | Taxpayers declaring €10,000 or less (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Piacenza | 18.0% |
| 36 | Ferrara | 18.0% |
| 37 | Ravenna | 17.8% |
| 38 | Bologna | 17.5% |
| 39 | Reggio nell'Emilia | 17.5% |
| 40 | Parma | 16.9% |
| 41 | Novara | 16.8% |
Unemployment rate (2023)
Bologna ranks 26 of 42, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Novara | 6.4% |
| 24 | Perugia | 6.4% |
| 25 | Ferrara | 6.1% |
| 26 | Bologna | 6.1% |
| 27 | Ravenna | 6.0% |
| 28 | Reggio nell'Emilia | 5.9% |
| 29 | Firenze | 5.8% |
Cars per 1,000 residents (2024)
Bologna ranks 40 of 42, highest first.
| Rank | City | Cars per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Livorno | 586 |
| 37 | Milano | 585 |
| 38 | Trieste | 557 |
| 39 | Firenze | 553 |
| 40 | Bologna | 539 |
| 41 | Genova | 472 |
| 42 | Venezia | 444 |
Tourist nights (2025)
Bologna ranks 7 of 42, highest first.
| Rank | City | Tourist nights |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Firenze | 11,515,398 |
| 5 | Rimini | 7,167,669 |
| 6 | Napoli | 6,519,845 |
| 7 | Bologna | 5,240,124 |
| 8 | Torino | 4,750,749 |
| 9 | Verona | 3,300,780 |
| 10 | Ravenna | 3,126,922 |
More on Bologna: overview · health · government budget · government and politics · all cities in Italy
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctour: Urban Audit: culture and tourism (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 235d13e6125c…)
- Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze, Dipartimento delle Finanze: Redditi e principali variabili IRPEF su base comunale, anno d'imposta 2024 (personal income tax returns by municipality), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 75cecc95d72b…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_percep: Quality of life in European cities survey 2023: perception (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81bd3e277f3e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)
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