ROME -- The population of immigrants in Italy has grown to nearly 5.2 million people, which has benefited the Italian economy with 1.4 billion euros, according to the 2013 Immigration Statistics Dossier.

 

The latest report on immigration statistics was presented before the Minister of Integration Cécile Kyenge in Rome on Wednesday. It found that Italy is now home to 5,186,000 immigrants, a significant increase from nearly 4 million in 2007.

 

The figures in the report consider all of the foreign immigrants in Italy, including those on short- and long-term visits, as well as those who remain unregistered residents. The report found that while many foreigners immigrate to Italy for work, roughly 13 percent are unemployed. It also found that there are other reasons people are immigrate to Italy, such as to ensure that their children are born Italian citizens and in order to reunite with family members.

 

Immigrants to Italy derive from all across the world, with the largest number coming from other countries in Europe (50.3 percent). Among those European immigrants, those from Romania constitute the largest community, with roughly one million Romanian immigrants in Italy. Emigration from Africa and Asia to Italy is also high, at 22.2 percent and 19.4 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, eight percent of the immigrants come from the Americas while only 0.1 percent make the trek from Oceania.

 

The report also found that immigration has actually been beneficial for the Italian economy. Foreign immigrants contribute roughly 13.3 billion euros to Italy in the form of social security contributions and taxes while the Italian government spends 11.9 billion euros on immigration measures, leaving the state with a surplus of 1.4 billion euros.