On 19 December, the National Council for Economy and Labor (CNEL) hosted the presentation of the Foreign Citizens in Italy report, a comprehensive statistical and demographic study conducted by the National Coordination Body for Integration Policies (ONC) in collaboration with the ISMU Foundation. This report provides critical insights into the evolving role of foreign residents in Italy’s demographic landscape.

As of 1 January 2024 there are officially 5 307 598 foreign residents in Italy, accounting for 9% of the total population. Over 70% of these individuals are non-EU citizens. The report highlights the transformative impact of migration on Italy’s population dynamics, particularly over the last 2 decades. Between 2001 and 2011, the number of foreign residents grew by nearly 3 million, surpassing 4 million in total. During the same period, Italy’s overall population increased by roughly the same number, underscoring how migration was the primary driver of this growth.

However, in the decade from 2012 to 2022 the influence of migration diminished, with foreign residents contributing only around 700 000 to population growth. This decline coincided with an overall population decrease in Italy, illustrating the critical role migration plays in sustaining demographic stability. The report underscores the potential for migration to continue positively shaping Italy’s population in the coming decades, provided migration flows are effectively managed.

The analysis also sheds light on second-generation foreigners: individuals born in Italy to foreign parents. Following a peak of over 79 000 births in 2012, this number has steadily declined, reaching approximately 51 000 in 2023. This figure is comparable to the 2005 level, despite a significantly larger foreign resident population today. The fertility rate among foreign residents has thus decreased markedly, from 21.8 births per 1 000 residents in 2005 to 9.8 in 2023.

Additionally, mixed-nationality families play a significant role in Italy’s demographic composition, with 29 000 children born to mixed couples in 2023. The Romanian, Moroccan, and Albanian communities make the largest contributions to foreign birth rates, accounting for 37.8% of births where at least one parent is foreign. Specifically, Romanian nationals reported 11 450 births, Moroccans 9 943, and Albanians 9 218 in 2023.