Last year, 152 Italian citizens moved to member countries of the OECD, a group that brings together developed nations from Europe, America, Asia, and Oceania.
Most chose Spain as their new home, followed by Germany and Switzerland. The data comes from the report. International Migration Outlook 2025, released by the OECD, according to a publication in Il Messaggero.
The exodus of Italians from the country remained stable in 2023. Among those who left Italy, 32% went to Spain, 15% to Germany, and 13% to Switzerland.
Italy vs. Spain: the numbers behind the choice.
Italians in Spain
1999: 24 thousand
2024: more than 325 thousand (INE)
Growth of over 1.250% in 25 years.
Reasons given by emigrants
Higher wages
Better quality of life
Efficient public transport
Work schedule respected
A more open environment regarding civil rights.
Average annual salary
Spain: +15% in 10 years
Italy: -5% in 10 years
Youth unemployment (2024)
Spain: 23% (a drop of 17 points in 10 years)
Italy: above 25%, no significant decline.
Migration relationship
For every Spaniard who goes to Italy, 8 Italians move to Spain.
Foreign arrivals in Italy fell by 16%.
Conversely, the arrival of permanent migrants in Italy fell by 16%. In 2024, 169 new residents were registered, mainly from Ukraine, Albania, and Romania.
The OECD highlights that 61% of immigrants entered for family reasons. Professionals represented 10% of the total. Also in 2024, the country issued 20 permits for higher education students and 17.300 authorizations for temporary and seasonal workers.
Occupational migration has decreased, but humanitarian migration has increased.
In OECD countries, occupational migration decreased by 21%, while humanitarian migration increased by 23%. Temporary work permits totaled 2,3 million, a 26% increase compared to 2019.
Even with the economic slowdown, labor markets remain pressured by a lack of skilled workers, according to Stefano Scarpetta, director of the OECD. He emphasizes that migration does not solve the aging population problem, but it can mitigate its effects on the market.
Essential sectors rely on foreign labor.
Scarpetta also highlighted the essential role of migrants in areas such as health, agriculture, construction, hospitality, and information technology. The report shows that, between 2020 and 2021, more than 830 foreign doctors and 1,75 million foreign nurses were working in OECD countries. The majority are from Asia.
In Italy, the employment rate among migrants reached 64,7% last year.
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