Italy: immigration

How many people move to Italy each year?

440,000 people moved to Italy from abroad in 2025 and 144,000 left, giving net migration of +296,000, according to Istat's demographic indicators for 2025. Immigration fell 2.6% and emigration 23.7% from 2024.

Net migration almost offset the natural decrease of about 296,000, the gap between deaths and births, so the population stayed at about 58.94 million. The figures are based on changes of registered residence and are provisional.

Official sources: Istat: demographic indicators 2025 (PDF)

How many Italians are leaving Italy?

109,000 people moved abroad from Italy in 2025, 22.7% fewer than the peak of 141,000 in 2024, according to Istat's report on internal and international migration of 3 August 2026. Net migration of Italian citizens was −53,000, against −83,000 in 2024.

About a third of those leaving, 37,000, were Italian citizens born abroad. Between 2019 and 2025 the South lost 150,000 young Italian graduates aged 25 to 34, mostly to central and northern Italy.

Official sources: Istat: internal and international migration 2024–2025 (Italian, PDF)

How many foreigners live in Italy?

5.56 million foreign citizens were resident in Italy on 1 January 2026, 188,000 more than a year earlier, according to Istat's demographic indicators for 2025. The Italian-citizen population fell by 189,000 to 53.38 million.

The figures count foreign nationals registered as residents, so they exclude people without a residence permit and do not count people who have become Italian citizens. Immigration of foreign citizens was 383,000 in 2025, according to Istat's migration report.

Official sources: Istat: demographic indicators 2025 (PDF)

How many people apply for asylum in Italy?

133,736 asylum applications were lodged in Italy in 2025, of which 126,621 were new applications and 7,115 repeat applications, according to UNHCR's asylum applications data.

UNHCR compiles these figures from national authorities; in Italy asylum claims are examined by territorial commissions under the Ministry of the Interior. A person can be counted more than once if they apply again. Applications in a year do not equal decisions, which may cover earlier claims.

Official sources: UNHCR: asylum applications in Italy, 2025

How many refugees live in Italy?

Italy hosted 192,914 refugees and 234,144 asylum seekers at the end of 2025, according to UNHCR's population statistics. UNHCR also recorded about 3,000 stateless people.

Refugees here are people granted international protection or in a refugee-like situation; asylum seekers are those whose claims are still pending. The figures are UNHCR estimates based on government data. For comparison, 133,736 asylum applications were lodged in Italy during 2025, according to UNHCR's applications data.

Official sources: UNHCR: refugee population in Italy, 2025

What share of Italy's population are immigrants?

According to the UN Population Division, the share of people born abroad in Italy was 11.0% in 2024. That compares with 9.1% in 2015. It is 28th highest of 52 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 11.7%. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 57th highest.

What is net migration in Italy?

The UN Population Division puts net migration in Italy at 75,448 in 2025. The peak was 495,092 in 2007 and the low 39,389 in 2015. Europe & Central Asia median: 158; Italy is 6th highest of 52. Worldwide: 19th of 193.

How many refugees live in Italy?

UNHCR puts the number of refugees in the country in Italy at 192,914 in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 20,674 (2005) to 312,849 (2024). It is 12th highest of 50 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 62,365. Worldwide: 35th of 169.

How many refugees have fled Italy?

266: that is the number of refugees from the country living abroad in Italy for 2025, according to UNHCR. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 28th highest of 49 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 533. World rank, highest first: 130th of 189.

How much money do migrants send home to Italy?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2025, is 0.5% of GDP. Its high point since 2005 was 2015, at 0.5% of GDP; its low point was 2007, at 0.2% of GDP. Europe & Central Asia median: 1.4% of GDP; Italy is 34th highest of 47. Of 127 countries with 2025 data, 95th highest.