The number of foreigners in Italy -- whether immigrants or otherwise -- is steadily rising. In 2023, their total reached 4.3 million, a significant increase from 3,409,388 in 2014. This figure is comparable to the population of a major city like Rome.

Over 87 percent of them have a job, with the largest number from Romania, followed by Albania, Morocco, China, and Ukraine.

Few are in the southern part of the country, with most either in the central or northern parts of Italy, according to data released on November 28 by the observatory on foreigners in Italy, a division of Italy' National Institute for Social Security (INPS).

At a trade union confederation assembly on November 27, Italian President Sergio Mattarella highlighted the contributions of immigrant craftsmen, stating: "The increase in craftsmen among immigrants is a positive sign. It helps to enrich and keep alive skills and trades that can reactivate circuits at risk of being interrupted. It develops talents, innovates products and markets."

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Most Are Private Sector Employees

According to INPS, foreigners in Italy—both EU and non-EU nationals—registered in their database totaled 4,384,044 in 2023. Of these, 3,820,718 (87.2 percent) were employed, 319,456 (7.3 percent) were retired, and 243,870 (5.6 percent) received income support for unemployment or disability. This means that more than eight in ten are working and paying taxes, while just over one in ten receives pensions or income support.

Foreigners in Italy are predominantly employed in the private sector, with 3.3 million (57.5 percent male) earning an average annual income of about 16,000 euros.

• Non-agricultural sectors: 2.6 million workers (64.5 percent male) earned an average of 18,000 euros annually.
• Agriculture: 293,000 workers (74 percent male) earned approximately 9,500 euros annually.
• Domestic work: 492,000 workers earned about 9,300 euros annually.

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Countries of Origin and Gender Distribution

The top five countries of origin for foreigners in Italy are:

1. Romania (706,000; 16.1 percent)
2. Albania (428,000; 9.8 percent)
3. Morocco (342,000; 7.8 percent)
4. China (223,000; 5.1 percent)
5. Ukraine (217,000; 5 percent).

Men make up 56.7 percent of foreign workers overall, but gender representation varies significantly by country. For instance, the majority of workers from Pakistan (94.6 percent), Bangladesh (93.7 percent), and Egypt (92 percent) are male, while women dominate among workers from Ukraine (79.2 percent), Moldova (66.7 percent), and Peru (59.3 percent). Women are often employed in caregiving and domestic roles.

Age and Regional Distribution

Foreigners from outside the EU tend to be younger, with nearly half (45.6 percent) under the age of 39, compared to 31.3 percent for those from EU countries.

• Ages 40–59: 43.3 percent (non-EU) vs. 52.2 percent (EU)
• Over 60: 11.1 percent (non-EU) vs. 16.2 percent (EU)

Regional distribution highlights a concentration in northern Italy, where 61.8 percent of foreigners lived or worked in 2023, compared to 23.3 percent in central Italy and just 14.9 percent in southern Italy and its islands. Foreigners accounted for 9.9 percent of the population in northern Italy, 8.7 percent in central regions, and 3.3 percent in the south. At the national level, there were 7.4 foreign nationals out of every 100 total residents.

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