Italy is changing its face. In a country marked by a demographic winter, the acquisition of Italian citizenship The presence of foreign residents has become a key indicator for interpreting the future.
The latest data from Istat offers a clear picture of this transformation.
According to National Institute of Statistics, 23.000 citizens (rounded number) People of Moroccan origin obtained Italian passports in 2025. This fact made the front pages of the main newspapers in the North African country.
Morocco ranks second among nationalities with the most naturalizations.
Albania leads the ranking with 26.000 citizenship acquisitions. In third place are Romanian citizens, with 16.000 registered cases.
Together, these three nationalities account for almost a third of all new citizenships registered during the period.
Drop in total volume
The total number of foreigners who acquired Italian citizenship fell to 196.000 in 2025. This figure is lower than the 217.000 recorded in 2024 and the 214.000 recorded in 2023.
Being at the top during a period of contraction demonstrates the deep roots of these communities.
International observers point out that Italy's demographic balance depends on migration flows.
Data updated as of January 1, 2026, indicates the existence of 5,56 million foreign residentsThe group represents 9,4% of the total population.
