Italian pensioners increasingly moving abroad

According to data from Istat, a structural trend of “pensioner emigration” is occurring in Italy, with 347,000 Italian citizens residing abroad as pension holders as of December 31, 2024.

Key drivers for this movement include lower costs of living, increased purchasing power, and favorable tax conditions in certain countries. Family reunification, such as moving to be near children or grandchildren, also plays a significant role.

Geographically, 54% of these retirees live in Europe, followed by 39.6% in the Americas, 3.6% in Oceania, 1.8% in Africa, and 1.1% in Asia. Within Europe, Spain and Portugal are popular destinations, hosting approximately 13,000 and 4,000 Italian pensioners respectively. Outside of Europe, Tunisia is a notable destination for about 3,000 Italians. Other significant European locations include Croatia and Romania.

Regarding origin, 72% of these individuals were born in Italy, while 28% were born abroad. Among those born abroad, women represent 62% of the group.