The Italian diaspora is vast, stretching across every continent. The most reliable figures come from AIRE, the Registry of Italians Resident Abroad, where registration is compulsory for anyone living outside Italy on a long-term basis.
According to 2025 data, around 6.5 million Italians live outside the country’s borders on a permanent basis. That’s roughly 9.88% of the total population, a sizeable share by any measure.
So, which country hosts the largest number of Italians abroad, and what explains that pattern?
Which country has the most Italians in the world?
If you look at the numbers, the country with the highest number of Italian citizens is Argentina. According to AIRE data, at the end of 2022, more than 920,000 Italian passport holders were living there. The figure has been rising steadily since 2012, partly linked to stricter administrative penalties for those who fail to register with AIRE.
Argentina’s Italian community is vast and deeply rooted. In cities such as Buenos Aires, Italian surnames are part of everyday life, and the cultural imprint runs through food, language and even accent.
Why does Argentina have the largest Italian community abroad?
The explanation is largely historical. Between the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, Argentina was one of the main destinations for Italians leaving home. The Argentine government actively encouraged European immigration to help populate and develop the country, providing land, work opportunities and, at times, subsidised schemes for new arrivals.
At the same time, Italy was going through a harsh period. Poverty was widespread, particularly in rural areas of the South and the North-East. Many families faced land shortages, agricultural crises and limited job prospects. For countless Italians, Argentina represented stability and the chance to build a future that felt out of reach back home.
Over time, millions of Italians left for Argentina, particularly from regions such as Piedmont, Veneto, Lombardy, Liguria, Campania and Calabria.
Many arrived first on their own, later bringing over relatives in successive waves of migration. In cities like Buenos Aires, Rosario and Córdoba, Italian communities took firm root.
More recently, legislation on citizenship by descent has played a significant role in shaping the numbers. Many Argentines with Italian ancestry have been able to apply for and obtain an Italian passport.
According to an ISTAT study, by the end of 2023, only 10% of Italians officially residing in Argentina had actually been born in Italy, roughly 94,000 people out of a total of 958,000.
Where are there more Italians outside of Italy?
if you want a clear snapshot of where Italians are living today, the numbers point to a handful of countries with particularly large communities, both in Europe and across the Atlantic.
At the end of 2022, the main destinations were:
- Argentina – more than 920,000 registered Italian citizens, alongside millions of people of Italian origin.
- Germany – over 820,000 Italians, largely the result of decades of labour migration, especially during the post-war economic boom.
- Switzerland – around 640,000 Italian citizens, including long-term residents and many cross-border commuters, with communities that have been established for generations.
- Brazil – more than 550,000 registered Italians, mainly concentrated in the states of São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina.
- France – over 460,000 Italians, spread between major cities and smaller towns, particularly in areas close to the Italian border.
- United Kingdom – more than 450,000 Italians, with significant growth since the early 2000s, especially in London and key university cities.
- United States – over 300,000 Italian citizens, alongside one of the world’s largest communities of Italian descendants, particularly in the North-East, parts of the Midwest and along the West Coast.
New destinations for Italian emigration
The picture in 2024 shows that Italian emigration is far from static. Some traditional destinations continue to grow, while others are seeing renewed momentum, particularly in parts of Europe and South America.
- According to provisional estimates covering 2024, the largest increase in absolute numbers of Italian citizens abroad was recorded in Brazil, with +53,000 residents.
- This was followed by Spain (+30,000), Argentina (+29,000) and the United Kingdom (+17,000).
When you look at relative growth, Spain comes top, with an increase of +11.9%, highlighting the Iberian country’s strong appeal in the current phase of Italian mobility.
- More broadly, over half of Italians living abroad now reside in Europe, accounting for 54.0%, or 3,448,000 people as of 31 December 2024.
- The Americas represent 40.9%, equal to 2,608,000 residents.
- Communities in Oceania (2.7%, 172,000), Asia (1.3%, 82,000) and Africa (1.1%, 71,000) remain comparatively smaller.
Taken together, these figures show how Europe continues to be the primary destination for Italian citizens moving abroad, even as long-established ties with the Americas remain significant.
Stay in the know on all things in Italy—get our weekly newsletter for the latest travel, legal, and lifestyle news.
