Lack of opportunity prompts four million Italians to live abroad
December 3rd, 2010 - 12:44 pm ICT by IANSRome, Dec 3 (IANS/AKI) More than four million Italians, or about seven percent of Italy’s population, live abroad in search of a work, according to a new report presented Thursday in Rome by the Catholic refugee and immigrant charity Migrantes. About half the expatriates are women.
Italian immigration conjures images of ships transporting millions of the country’s desperately impoverished inhabitants to North and South America.
Between 1876 and 1924, 4.5 million out of 14 million Italians emigrated to the US alone, according to the Washington-based American Immigration Law Foundation.
Italy has changed since the early waves of mass migration ended in the middle of the 20th century. It is now one of the world’s richest countries and draws millions of immigrants from developing countries. But lack of opportunity still sparks mass departures in search of work.
The regional destination of choice is Europe, where 55 percent of Italian immigrants live, according to the “Italians in the World Report 2010″. In second place is North and South America, with 39 percent.
–IANS/AKI
rd/mj
- 25.4 bn euros recovered from tax evaders in Italy - Feb 11, 2011
- Four million Italians living abroad: Report - Nov 20, 2009
- Italy takes control of Libyan bank - Mar 15, 2011
- Berlusconi highest-earning politician in Italy - Mar 20, 2012
- Unemployed Italians become shepherds - May 03, 2012
- Unemployment rate highest in nine years in Italy - Apr 03, 2012
- Berlusconi breaks into Latin on Gaddafi's death - Oct 21, 2011
- Boat with Egyptian migrants held in Italy - Jun 13, 2012
- Racism rising at the workplace in Italy - Mar 09, 2012
- Fewer immigrants arrive in Italy in 2009 - Jun 07, 2010
- Berlusconi, Sarkozy call for changes to Schengen treaty - Apr 27, 2011
- Italian ministers post salaries online - Feb 22, 2012
- Italian MPs are top earners in Europe - Jan 04, 2012
- Italy's industrial output suffers steep October decline - Dec 09, 2011
- Berlusconi's income rises - Mar 20, 2012
Tags: 20th century, 5 million, american immigration law, american immigration law foundation, departures, developing countries, expatriates, inhabitants, italian immigrants, italian immigration, italians, mass migration, migrantes, mj, north and south america, refugee, regional destination, richest countries, rome, waves