Economy, jobs and prices in Palermo, Italy: official figures
369,913 residents of the comune of Palermo filed an income tax (IRPEF) return for 2024, declaring an average total income of €24,846, 9th lowest among 42 major Italian cities (national average €25,816).
What is the average salary in Palermo?
55% of Palermo taxpayers declared employment income for 2024, averaging €21,677, while 32% declared a pension averaging €25,568.
Source: Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze, Dipartimento delle Finanze · saved copyHow many rich people live in Palermo?
1.13% of Palermo taxpayers declared more than €120,000 for 2024 and 7.1% 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 Palermo?
The unemployment rate in Palermo was 14.9% in 2023 (15.9% for women, 14.2% for men).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat are the main jobs in Palermo?
142,201 jobs were based in Palermo in 2022; the biggest employers were trade, transport, hotels and restaurants (39% of jobs) and professional, scientific and administrative services (21%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Palermo?
Tourist accommodation in Palermo recorded 3,112,683 nights in 2025, 68% by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Palermo?
There were 630 registered cars per 1,000 residents in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- Average declared income in the city of Palermo (€24,846) was higher than across its wider province (€21,994) in 2024. Source: Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze, Dipartimento delle Finanze · saved copy
- Self-employed professionals in Palermo declared an average of €61,508 in self-employment income for 2024. Source: Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze, Dipartimento delle Finanze · saved copy
- 27.1% of income tax returns in Palermo declared €10,000 or less for 2024, 4th highest share among 42 major Italian cities. Source: Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze, Dipartimento delle Finanze · saved copy
- Declared income in Palermo totalled 8.9 billion euros for 2024, 0.82% of all income declared in Italy. Source: Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze, Dipartimento delle Finanze · saved copy
- 20% of people in Palermo were satisfied with public transport (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
- 4% of people in Palermo 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 Palermo compares with other cities in Italy
Average declared income per taxpayer (€) (2024)
Palermo ranks 34 of 42, highest first.
| Rank | City | Average declared income per taxpayer (€) |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Terni | €25,200 |
| 32 | Sassari | €25,191 |
| 33 | Latina | €25,122 |
| 34 | Palermo | €24,846 |
| 35 | Prato | €24,611 |
| 36 | Rimini | €24,560 |
| 37 | Messina | €24,492 |
Taxpayers declaring €10,000 or less (%) (2024)
Palermo ranks 4 of 42, highest first.
| Rank | City | Taxpayers declaring €10,000 or less (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napoli | 29.4% |
| 2 | Catania | 29.1% |
| 3 | Foggia | 29.0% |
| 4 | Palermo | 27.1% |
| 5 | Siracusa | 27.0% |
| 6 | Messina | 26.1% |
| 7 | Taranto | 26.0% |
Unemployment rate (2023)
Palermo ranks 3 of 42, highest first.
| Rank | City | Unemployment rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catania | 16.7% |
| 2 | Siracusa | 15.3% |
| 3 | Palermo | 14.9% |
| 4 | Reggio di Calabria | 14.3% |
| 5 | Napoli | 13.4% |
| 6 | Messina | 13.3% |
| 7 | Taranto | 13.1% |
Cars per 1,000 residents (2024)
Palermo ranks 30 of 42, highest first.
| Rank | City | Cars per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | Bergamo | 635 |
| 28 | Salerno | 635 |
| 29 | Novara | 634 |
| 30 | Palermo | 630 |
| 31 | Brescia | 629 |
| 32 | Padova | 622 |
| 33 | Prato | 617 |
Tourist nights (2025)
Palermo ranks 11 of 42, highest first.
| Rank | City | Tourist nights |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Torino | 4,750,749 |
| 9 | Verona | 3,300,780 |
| 10 | Ravenna | 3,126,922 |
| 11 | Palermo | 3,112,683 |
| 12 | Genova | 2,285,375 |
| 13 | Bari | 2,211,660 |
| 14 | Catania | 1,789,930 |
More on Palermo: 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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