Migrant arrivals in Italy by sea 2014-2023

From January to December 2023, around 157,000 migrants arrived in Italy by sea. Between 2014 and 2023, the number of migrants setting foot in the country peaked in 2016 at 181,000 individuals, whereas in 2019 only 11,400 people were rescued from the sea. In fact, stricter immigration policies were enacted between 2018 and 2019 by the right-wing and populist government supported by the League and the Five-Star Movement.  Among the most frequent countries of origin declared upon arrivals in 2022, Egypt and Tunisia ranked in the first places. About 20,500 were Egyptian, while around 18,100 immigrants came from Bangladesh. 

Asylum seekers and minors among the migrants

In 2022, the largest number of asylum applicants in Italy were from Bangladesh. In fact, 14,800 requests were recorded as of December 2022, while 11,900 applicants were from Pakistan, the second most common nationality among asylum seekers. Over the last years, many unaccompanied minors reached the Italian coasts. In 2022, 13,400 children migrated without their parents into the country. 

Contrasting opinions and distorted perceptions

 According to the data published by Ipsos, a part of Italians tend to overestimate the size of the immigrated population. The results of this survey uncovered the presence of distorted perceptions in 2018: people thought that about 28 percent of the Italian population was not born in Italy, whereas the actual percentage was around ten. Furthermore, the public opinion on migration was controversial. In the same year, roughly half of the population perceived migrants as a risk for the Italian economy. On the other hand, 18 percent of Italians believed that migration could be a resource for the country.