Refugees by country of asylum in Italy
Italy: Refugees by country of asylum was 312,849 people in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Refugees by country of asylum in Italy, 1951–2024
Source: UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for refugees by country of asylum in Italy is 312,849 people, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
The figure is up 4.9% on the previous year and up 233.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugees by country of asylum in Italy peaked at 312,849 people in 2024 and was at its lowest, 5,440 people, in 1998.
Italy ranks 24th of 183 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugees by country of asylum in Italy, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 26,500 people | — |
| 1952 | 25,500 people | -3.8% |
| 1953 | 24,500 people | -3.9% |
| 1954 | 21,500 people | -12.2% |
| 1955 | 18,500 people | -14.0% |
| 1956 | 21,500 people | +16.2% |
| 1957 | 21,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1958 | 21,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1959 | 18,500 people | -11.9% |
| 1960 | 15,500 people | -16.2% |
| 1961 | 14,500 people | -6.5% |
| 1962 | 14,300 people | -1.4% |
| 1963 | 14,600 people | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 14,000 people | -4.1% |
| 1965 | 15,000 people | +7.1% |
| 1966 | 14,000 people | -6.7% |
| 1967 | 13,000 people | -7.1% |
| 1968 | 13,000 people | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 14,000 people | +7.7% |
| 1970 | 13,000 people | -7.1% |
| 1971 | 12,700 people | -2.3% |
| 1972 | 12,600 people | -0.8% |
| 1973 | 12,600 people | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 13,000 people | +3.2% |
| 1975 | 11,900 people | -8.5% |
| 1976 | 11,900 people | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 11,700 people | -1.7% |
| 1978 | 11,700 people | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 14,100 people | +20.5% |
| 1980 | 21,531 people | +52.7% |
| 1981 | 22,601 people | +5.0% |
| 1982 | 22,865 people | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 22,062 people | -3.5% |
| 1984 | 21,482 people | -2.6% |
| 1985 | 22,386 people | +4.2% |
| 1986 | 21,505 people | -3.9% |
| 1987 | 20,413 people | -5.1% |
| 1988 | 19,260 people | -5.6% |
| 1989 | 13,893 people | -27.9% |
| 1990 | 10,816 people | -22.1% |
| 1991 | 9,796 people | -9.4% |
| 1992 | 9,242 people | -5.7% |
| 1993 | 50,266 people | +443.9% |
| 1994 | 73,058 people | +45.3% |
| 1995 | 74,298 people | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 64,712 people | -12.9% |
| 1997 | 66,601 people | +2.9% |
| 1998 | 5,440 people | -91.8% |
| 1999 | 6,004 people | +10.4% |
| 2000 | 6,813 people | +13.5% |
| 2001 | 8,541 people | +25.4% |
| 2002 | 10,031 people | +17.4% |
| 2003 | 12,812 people | +27.7% |
| 2004 | 15,668 people | +22.3% |
| 2005 | 20,674 people | +32.0% |
| 2006 | 26,870 people | +30.0% |
| 2007 | 38,061 people | +41.6% |
| 2008 | 47,059 people | +23.6% |
| 2009 | 54,962 people | +16.8% |
| 2010 | 56,402 people | +2.6% |
| 2011 | 58,066 people | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 64,782 people | +11.6% |
| 2013 | 76,248 people | +17.7% |
| 2014 | 93,712 people | +22.9% |
| 2015 | 118,036 people | +26.0% |
| 2016 | 147,362 people | +24.8% |
| 2017 | 167,330 people | +13.6% |
| 2018 | 189,227 people | +13.1% |
| 2019 | 207,602 people | +9.7% |
| 2020 | 128,033 people | -38.3% |
| 2021 | 144,862 people | +13.1% |
| 2022 | 296,181 people | +104.5% |
| 2023 | 298,296 people | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 312,849 people | +4.9% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 312,849 people is above the median for high income countries, which is 10,077 people, 31.0× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Italy's 312,849 people is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 68,603 people, 4.6× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugees by country of asylum in Italy changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | +443.9% | 9,242 people | 50,266 people |
| 2022 | +104.5% | 144,862 people | 296,181 people |
| 1998 | -91.8% | 66,601 people | 5,440 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 22,056 people | 18,500 people | 26,500 people | 9 |
| 1960s | 14,190 people | 13,000 people | 15,500 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 12,520 people | 11,700 people | 14,100 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 20,800 people | 13,893 people | 22,865 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 37,023 people | 5,440 people | 74,298 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 24,149 people | 6,813 people | 54,962 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 117,877 people | 56,402 people | 207,602 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 236,044 people | 128,033 people | 312,849 people | 5 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More reference data data for Italy
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 2.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.927 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 8.94 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 8.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 5.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 41.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.05 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugees by country of asylum in Italy?
- Refugees by country of asylum in Italy was 312,849 people in 2024, according to UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 312,849 people in 2024.
- What is the lowest refugees by country of asylum recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,440 people in 1998.
- How does Italy rank for refugees by country of asylum?
- Italy ranks 24th out of 183 countries with data for 2024.
- Is refugees by country of asylum rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 233.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Italy data come from?
- The figures come from UNHCR (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Refugees by country of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 74 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
People who fled their country of origin and are in need of international protection. Refugees are those who have already been granted asylum status in the country they moved to. This includes all refugees who live in this country, not just those who arrived that year.