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Immigration 2024451,5833rd in the EU-27
Net migration 2024+262,680immigration − emigration
First-time asylum claims 2025126,6302nd in the EU-27 · 18.9% UE
New citizenships 2024217,4483rd in the EU-27

Italy ranks 3rd in the EU-27 for regular immigration: in 2024 it registered 451,583 arrivals and 188,903 departures, for a net balance of +262,680. In 2025 first-time asylum applications came to 126,630, 18.9% of the EU total; citizenship acquisitions in 2024 numbered 217,448.

Regular migration

The series includes all citizenships — EU citizens moving between member states and returning nationals included — and counts those moving their usual residence for at least 12 months. Compared with 2019, immigration is up 36%.

Immigration Emigration

Regular migration, Italy, by year · Eurostat
YearImmigrationEmigrationNet
2024451,583188,903+262,680
2023439,658158,438+281,220
2022410,985150,189+260,796
2021318,366158,312+160,054
2020247,526159,884+87,642
2019332,778179,505+153,273
2018332,324156,960+175,364
2017343,440155,110+188,330
2016300,823157,065+143,758
2015280,078146,955+133,123
2014277,631136,328+141,303
2013307,454125,735+181,719
2012350,772106,216+244,556
2011385,79382,461+303,332
2010458,85678,771+380,085
2009442,94080,597+362,343
2008534,71280,947+453,765

Asylum applications

First-time applications for international protection lodged in Italy in 2025 came to 126,630 (the 2nd-highest in the EU). The series peak remains 2024, with 151,120 applications.

First-time asylum applications, Italy, by year · Eurostat
YearFirst-time claims
2025126,630
2024151,120
2023130,570
202277,195
202145,195
202021,340
201935,010
201853,440
2017126,560
2016121,190
201582,790
201463,660
201325,725
201217,185
201140,335
201010,060
200917,390
200830,140

New citizenships

In 2024 citizenship acquisitions came to 217,448, the 3rd-highest in the EU-27. It is a lagging indicator: today's new citizens typically immigrated several years ago. The main previous citizenships of new citizens (2024): Albania (31,643), Morocco (27,638), Romania (14,763), Argentina (13,559), India (12,258).

Citizenship acquisitions, Italy, by year · Eurostat
YearAcquisitions
2024217,448
2023213,567
2022213,716
2021121,457
2020131,803
2019127,001
2018112,523
2017146,605
2016201,591
2015178,035
2014129,887
2013100,712
201265,383
201156,153
201065,938
200959,369
200853,696

Who leaves

In 2024, 141,056 of the country's own citizens moved abroad (the 4th-highest in the EU). The true number is almost certainly higher: emigration is measured through de-registrations, and people who leave do not always deregister.

How to read these numbers. Regular migration follows the UN definition (residence ≥ 12 months) and also includes EU citizens and returning nationals. “First-time applications” exclude repeat claims in the same country. Emigration, based on de-registrations, is generally undercounted. Definitions in the glossary, sources and limits in the methodology.

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