| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1,096,089 in 2015 (Of those 370,068 are Black Sub-Saharan Africans)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Rome,Milan,Turin,Palermo,Bologna,Brescia,Bergamo,Florence | |
| Languages | |
| Italian,Afro-Asiatic languages,Niger–Congo languages,Nilo-Saharan languages | |
| Religion | |
| PredominantlyRoman Catholicism, alsoOrthodox,Other Christians · Sunni Islam |
African emigrants to Italy includeItalian citizens and residents originally fromAfrica. Immigrants from West, East and North Africa officially residing in Italy in 2015 numbered about 1,000,000 residents.[1]Afro-Italians (Afroitaliani) areItalians born in African countries but raised in Italy, Italian citizens of African descent, or of mixed African and Italian roots.
In 2014, over 170,000 migrants arrived, which represented the biggest influx of people into one country inEuropean Union history at the time.[2] A large percentage of them arrived via Africa.
African migrants specifically use Libyan coasts to travel across theMediterranean Sea in large numbers, hoping to land on Italian shores.[2] Although departing fromLibya, most are fromGhana,Senegal,Nigeria andEritrea.[2] According to data from the UN Refugee Agency, over 66,000 migrants arrived to Italy via sea routes in 2024.[3] The route is dangerous and often unsuccessful; in 2024, 1,172 people died or went missing while crossing the Mediterranean and many of the other boats transporting the migrants fromAfrica toItaly were intercepted by theLibyan coast guard.[3] As this route has gained more and more attention throughout the years, smugglers have started to use alternate routes such as throughEgypt, the Balkan route fromGreece, and a very risky route from mountain passes in Albania.[4]
Job markets and economic opportunities represent a major driver of African immigration to Europe. However, a 2019 study also found issues pertaining to food insecurity, civil rights, and political instability significantly impacted outflow of migrants from African countries.[5] While European legislation concerning immigration flow has focused primarily on economic draws, these socio-political factors have also been shown to have a demonstrated impact.[5]
In 2016, Italy's finance minister pushed for financial compensation from the European Union for his country's financial losses because of mass migration.[4] As of 2016, the European Union had put forth 1.8 billion euros for the entirety of Africa's refugee efforts in Europe.[6]
The largest group of immigrants from Africa are Arabs fromNorth Africa, numbering 641,085 official residents in 2016.[1] By country of origin, most of these recent arrivals are fromMorocco (437,485),Egypt (109,871),Tunisia (95,645) andAlgeria (71,765). Italy also has a number of immigrants fromLibya (1,819), a territory where Italian expatriates had a presence during thecolonial period.
Compared toMaghrebis from North Africa, the percentage of West Africans as a proportion of immigrants to Italy from Africa is 35.7% (370,068 official residents in 2015).[1] Most come fromNigeria (98,176),Senegal (77,264) andGhana (48,637). There are also smaller numbers fromEritrea (9,579), fromEthiopia (8,000) and fromSomalia (7,903).
African immigrants are discriminated against in Italy.[7]
The following is a list of notable people of African birth who later immigrated to Italy and resided there, either wholly or at least part time.
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