The total number of foreign citizens, including migrants, in Italy continues to rise. In 2023, their population reached 4.3 million, a significant increase from 3.4 million in 2014.
This figure is comparable to the population of a major city like Rome.
Among foreigners residing in Italy, the largest groups come from Romania, followed by Albania, Morocco, China and Ukraine. Most of them are concentrated in the central and northern regions of the country, with significantly fewer in the south.
According to INPS, 87.2% of registered foreigners are employed, 7.3% receive pensions and 5.6% benefit from unemployment or disability support. This means that more than eight out of ten foreign nationals work and pay taxes, while only one in ten relies on social assistance.
Most foreign workers are employed in the private sector, with 3.3 million individuals (57.5% male) earning an average annual income of approximately €16,000.
Five countries of origin of foreign residents in Italy:
Romania: 706,000 people (16.1%)
Albania: 428,000 (9.8%)
Morocco: 342,000 (7.8%)
China: 223,000 (5.1%)
Ukraine: 217,000 (5%).
Gender balance among foreign workers:
Men dominate among citizens from Pakistan (94.6%), Bangladesh (93.7%), and Egypt (92%). Women are the majority among those from Ukraine (79.2%), Moldova (66.7%), and Peru (59.3%), often employed in caregiving and domestic roles.
On average, there are 7.4 foreigners for every 100 residents in Italy.
