Italians abroad more than double in 20 years, report says

The 2026 report of the Rapporto Italiani nel Mondo shows that the population of Italians abroad more than doubled in 20 years, with growth concentrated in a few large communities and renewed attention to public policies aimed at expatriates.

Key findings of the Rapporto Italiani nel Mondo 2026

The Rapporto Italiani nel Mondo 2026 records 6,630,284 Italian citizens registered with AIRE (Anagrafe degli Italiani Residenti all’Estero) as of January 1, 2026, an increase of 217,000 people (3.4%) from 2025 and a growth of 113.4% over the last 20 years, according to the report. Argentina maintains the largest Italian community abroad, while Brazil has more than 760,000 registered with AIRE, the study notes.

The report’s data are presented in a demographic panorama that also notes variations by age group and recent migratory flows, information that, according to the publication, are fundamental for guiding consular policies and ties with the diaspora.

Position and criticisms by Deputy Fábio Porta

Deputy Fábio Porta stated that Italians abroad are a strategic resource, not a problem, and criticized the recent restrictions on citizenship recognition by descent approved in 2025. According to Porta, the legislative changes could create inequalities among citizens based on their place of residence and weaken historic ties between Italy and its communities abroad, especially in South America.

Porta referred specifically to measures contained in the so-called Decreto Tajani (DL 36/2025, converted into Law 74/2025), which restricted administrative and consular routes for recognition of citizenship by descent, and which, critics cited by the deputy, have retroactive effects on origin rights, as covered by the press. In a note cited by the report, Porta called for policies that protect the relationship between the Italian state and its citizens abroad, with particular attention to Brazil.

Decreto Tajani — DL 36/2025 (converted into Law 74/2025): measures that restricted administrative and consular routes for recognition of citizenship by descent.

(Information on the deputy’s criticisms and the reference to the Decreto Tajani were reported by Italianismo, as noted in the report.)

Concerns about youth migration and internal mobility

The Report notes that in 2025, 91,220 Italians were registered with AIRE due to expatriation — a drop of 26.1% from 2024 — and that 47.5% of these expatriates were between 18 and 34 years old. These figures fuel concerns about the outflow of young people and the demographic and socio-economic impact on places of origin.

Porta also highlighted internal migration from the south to the central-north of Italy as a phenomenon that calls for territorial cohesion policies, advocating measures to make the southern territories more attractive for the return of young people and qualified professionals. Internal and international mobility appears in the report as a key element to understand labor market challenges and Italian communities abroad.

Demands and priorities cited for overseas communities

Based on the report data, the deputy listed priorities that, in his view, should guide the parliamentary and administrative agenda for expatriates:

• improvement of consular services and reduction of delays in appointments;
• recognition of degrees obtained abroad;
• protection of social security and mechanisms to ensure contributory rights;
• maintenance and strengthening of citizenship ties, especially in light of the recent legislative restrictions.

Porta also criticized changes to electoral legislation that, in his assessment, hinder the relationship between overseas voters and their elected representatives, and he stated that he will continue to act in Parliament to translate the report’s data into concrete policies, with particular attention to the Brazilian community. These statements and priorities are recorded in the Rapporto’s text and cited by Italianismo.

About the report

The Rapporto Italiani nel Mondo 2026 is the 21st edition, coordinated by Delfina Licata, and gives special attention to the relationship between work and migration under the theme "Lavorare lontano, costruirsi altrove" (Working far away, building a life elsewhere). The study combines AIRE statistics with qualitative analyses of professional trajectories, stays, and identity, providing a basis for public policies both in Italy and among overseas communities.

For readers interested in related topics, the report reinforces the relevance of data for debates on Cidadania Italiana, living and working conditions of emigrants returning or migrating internally, and everyday issues of Italian communities, topics frequently covered in our News from Italy section and in our coverage of Life in Italy.

Conclusion The 2026 Report confirms significant growth in the population registered with AIRE over the past two decades and reopens discussions about citizenship, consular services, and diaspora-focused policies. Lawmakers like Fábio Porta call for turning these data into concrete actions to protect rights, reduce inequalities, and strengthen the ties between Italy and its communities abroad, with special attention to Brazil.

Source: Italianismo