The city of Rome, a traditional gateway for immigrants to Italy, has seen its resident foreign population almost double in the last two decades. According to a new report from the Lazio Migration Observatory, released by the IDOS Center for Studies, the number has increased from approximately 180 in 2001 to almost 355 in 2025. Even so, the Italian capital faces challenges in retaining this population permanently.
Currently, Rome has the largest foreign population among Italian cities, with representation from 187 nationalities. The largest groups are Romanians (74), followed by Filipinos (38), Bangladeshis (33), Chinese (17), and Ukrainians (14). The Latin American, Asian, and African presence is also significant, with Peruvians, Indians, Nigerians, and Moroccans being particularly prominent.
Profile in transformation
Female presence still predominates (51,4%), especially among immigrants from Central and Southern Europe and the Americas. However, there is a growing gender balance, with an increasing male presence, especially among young people.
The foreign population has also been aging. The 40- to 49-year-old age group has become the most common. The average age of foreigners in the country is 36,8 years, with women reaching around 40. The number of minors has fallen, indicating a stabilization of migration flows.
Where do foreigners live in Rome?
The capital city accounts for 68% of Lazio's foreigners, while the rest are spread out across neighboring cities such as Guidonia, Fiumicino, Pomezia, Anzio, and Tivoli. The peripheral and semi-urban areas of Rome are the most popular among immigrants, while the central areas are losing residents due to the high cost of living and the expansion of tourism.
Fewer children, more citizenship
Despite the migration boom, Rome is facing a declining birth rate. The rate fell to 6,9 per thousand in 2024—a 46% reduction in ten years. The average number of children per woman, among both foreign and Italian women, is below the population replacement rate.
Currently, 15% of births in Rome are to foreign parents. Students of foreign origin account for 11% of the total. The decline in births is attributed to the aging population, decreasing inflows, and economic instability.
The acquisition of Italian citizenship is progressing slowly in Rome. In the country, about 18 out of every 100 foreigners residing in the capital were naturalized in 2021. The number rises to 31 in northern Italy, where there is greater stability among immigrants. Women represent the majority of new citizens.
Why do many foreigners leave Rome?
Despite remaining a gateway for migrants, Rome doesn't always offer favorable conditions for long-term residence. Many foreigners leave the capital in search of greater economic stability, easier access to housing, and better job opportunities in other regions of Italy or Europe.
The rising cost of living, precarious employment relationships, and the transformation of residential properties into tourist facilities, such as B&Bs, make permanent settlement difficult.
This scenario explains the paradox of Rome being, at the same time, the city with the largest inflow and outflow of foreigners in the country.
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