India–Italy cultural ties have a rare sweep. They begin with civilisational contact, pass through Tagore and Gandhi, carry the memory of Indian soldiers in Italy during the Second World War, and continue today through festivals, Indian films, Yoga, Ayurveda, students, workers, Gurdwaras, temples, universities and a large Indian diaspora.
Indian nationals in Italy form the largest Indian community in the European Union. As of January 2025, the number stood at 1,86,833, making Indians the seventh-largest foreign community in Italy. The community is deeply linked with agriculture, dairy farming, factories, care-giving, nursing, restaurants, grocery stores and vehicle repair businesses.
This people-to-people relationship is not abstract. It is visible in Rome, Milan, Brescia, Latina, Cremona, Lombardy, Lazio and other parts of Italy. It is heard in Gurdwaras, seen at film festivals, taught in universities and lived through migration, work, education and culture.
The Connect
Diaspora scale: Indian nationals in Italy form the largest Indian community in the European Union.
Community number: Indian nationals in Italy stood at 1,86,833 in January 2025.
Foreign community rank: Indians are the seventh-largest foreign community in Italy.
Share in foreign population: Indian nationals make up 3.25% of foreign nationals residing in Italy.
Work profile: A majority of Indians work in agriculture, dairy farming, factories, care-giving, nursing, restaurants, grocery stores and vehicle repair or washing centres.
Punjabi presence: The Punjabi community is estimated to form more than 70% of the Indian diaspora in Italy.
Gurdwara network: Italy has nearly 90 Gurdwaras.
Temple presence: The Indian community has several temples across Italy.
North Italy concentration: 56.8% of the Indian population lives in northern Italy.
Lombardy base: Lombardy hosts 27.6% of the Indian community.
Central Italy presence: Central Italy hosts 28.8% of the Indian population, especially Lazio.
Lazio share: Lazio accounts for 22.2% of the Indian diaspora.
Rome number: Rome has 22,225 Indian nationals.
Brescia number: Brescia has 15,946 Indian nationals.
Latina number: Latina has 14,244 Indian nationals.
Milan profile: Milan is home to around 60,000 Indian nationals, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and other Indian regions.
Indian students: Indian university students in Italy numbered 5,105 in 2025.
Popular fields: Indian students mostly study engineering, finance, economics and medicine.
Major universities: Indian students are concentrated at Politecnico di Milano, La Sapienza, Tor Vergata and Politecnico di Torino.
Indology tradition: Italy has a long tradition of Indological studies and the study of Hindi, Tamil and Sanskrit.
Cultural agreement: An Executive Programme on Cultural Cooperation for 2023–27 was signed in 2023.
Migration framework: The Migration and Mobility Agreement signed in November 2023 supports safe and legal movement of workers, researchers, professionals and academicians.
Indian Diaspora in Italy: Key Facts
Indicator
Figure / Detail
Explainer
Indian nationals in Italy
1,86,833 in January 2025
Largest Indian community in the European Union.
Rank among foreign communities in Italy
Seventh largest
Shows strong demographic significance.
Share of foreign nationals in Italy
3.25%
Indicates the Indian community’s weight in Italy’s immigrant population.
North Italy share
56.8%
Most Indians live in northern Italy.
Lombardy share
27.6%
Lombardy is the strongest regional base.
Central Italy share
28.8%
Central Italy has a large Indian presence.
Lazio share
22.2%
Lazio is a major community centre.
Campania share
4.5%
Southern Italy also has a smaller Indian presence.
Rome
22,225 Indian nationals
One of the largest Indian centres in Italy.
Brescia
15,946 Indian nationals
Major Indian population centre.
Latina
14,244 Indian nationals
Significant Indian community presence.
Milan
Around 60,000 Indian nationals
Large Indian population, mainly from Punjab and Haryana.
Punjabi share
Over 70% of Indian diaspora
Punjabi identity is central to the Indian presence in Italy.
Gurdwaras
Nearly 90
Shows organised religious and community life.
Professions of Indian Nationals in Italy
Profession / Sector
Share of Indian Nationals
Agriculture
33.5%
Industry
28.5%
Business and services
10.8%
Commerce
8.4%
Hospitality
5.7%
Education and Academic Relations
Area
Detail
Why It Matters
Indian university students in Italy
5,105 in 2025
Shows a growing education link.
Main fields of study
Engineering, finance/economics and medicine
Indian students are concentrated in professional and technical disciplines.
Major institutions
Politecnico di Milano, La Sapienza University, Tor Vergata University, Politecnico di Torino
These universities are key destinations for Indian students.
Indian school in Rome
A Cambridge Curriculum-based school serves mainly students from the Indian subcontinent.
Supports education for Indian-origin families.
Local schooling
Most children of Indians in Italy attend local Italian schools.
Shows social integration.
Indology tradition
Long-standing study of India and Indian languages in Italy.
Adds intellectual depth to cultural relations.
Indian languages
Hindi, Tamil and Sanskrit are studied in Italy.
Keeps linguistic and civilisational scholarship alive.
Vishwa Hindi Diwas
Celebrated at the University of Naples and other universities.
Promotes Hindi in Italian academic spaces.
IED–India LoI
Istituto Europeo di Design signed a Letter of Intent with India’s Ministry of Education in June 2025 to open a branch campus in Mumbai.
Expands Italy’s design education presence in India.
Campus Biomedico–Plaksha MoU
Signed in August 2025 for double degree programmes in Mohali.
Creates joint higher education pathways.
The Design Village Italy campus
TDV launched a Europe/Italy campus in Borgo Priolo in September 2025.
First Indian design school to open a campus in Europe.
Cultural Cooperation and Public Diplomacy
Year / Date
Event / Initiative
Cultural Meaning
2023
Executive Programme on Cultural Cooperation 2023–27 signed.
Provides formal direction to cultural exchange.
July 2023
ICCR troupe Panihari Lok Sangeet performed Rajasthani folk dances in four cities.
Marked 75 years of diplomatic relations through folk culture.
7 August 2024
Mahatma Gandhi’s bust was unveiled in Brindisi.
Honoured Gandhi’s moral and historical legacy.
2025
International Day of Yoga celebrated in several Italian cities.
Yoga became a visible public cultural bridge.
2025
Rome IDY celebration held at Castel Sant’Angelo.
Gave Yoga an iconic Italian setting.
July 2025
Bronze bust of Maharishi Valmiki unveiled in Camporotondo.
Added another Indian literary-spiritual figure to public memory in Italy.
October 2025
Gandhi Jayanti celebrated across Italy.
Sustained Gandhian memory in public diplomacy.
5–10 December 2025
25th River to River Florence Indian Film Festival held.
Indian cinema remained a major cultural bridge.
7–11 February 2025
First Indian Film Festival organised in Rome with ANICA.
Expanded Indian cinema outreach in Italy.
26–28 September 2025
Incredible India Cultural Festival held at Teatro India in Rome.
Featured dance, music, Yoga, Ayurveda, films and over 100 Italy-based artists.
27 September 2025
Viksit Bharat Run organised in Rome with nearly 150 Indian nationals.
Linked diaspora participation with India’s national development narrative.
20 February 2026
Indian Film Festival 2026 inaugurated in Rome with Sanjay Leela Bhansali retrospective.
Showcased Indian cinema in a curated Italian setting.
May–November 2026
India Pavilion at Venice Art Biennale scheduled.
Places India in one of Italy’s leading art platforms.
Migration and Mobility Framework
Area
Detail
Importance
Migration and Mobility Agreement
Signed in November 2023
Facilitates safe and legal migration.
Covered groups
Seasonal workers, non-seasonal workers, researchers, professionals and academicians
Connects labour mobility with knowledge mobility.
First JWG under MMA
Held in Rome on 26–27 June 2024
Began implementation dialogue.
Consular Dialogue
Second India–Italy Consular Dialogue held in New Delhi on 29 February 2024
Supports citizen services and movement.
Flows decree
India included in Italy’s legal entry flows for foreign workers for 2026–28
Gives Indian workers a defined legal pathway.
Seasonal work quota
5,000 Indian citizens per year from 2026 to 2028
Provides legal seasonal employment access.
Non-seasonal work quota
7,000 Indian citizens per year from 2026 to 2028
Offers a larger route for longer employment.
India–Italy Timeline
Year / Period
Political Track
Economic / Strategic Track
Cultural / People Track
13th century
—
Italian port cities linked with the spice route.
Marco Polo travelled to India.
1926
—
—
Rabindranath Tagore visited Italy.
1931
—
—
Mahatma Gandhi visited Rome.
World War II
Indian troops fought in Italy.
—
5,782 Indian soldiers were killed in action and are honoured in Italy.
1947
Diplomatic relations established.
—
Modern people-to-people relationship began taking shape.
2021
PM Modi visited Rome for G20.
—
PM Modi interacted with the Indian community.
2023
PM Meloni visited India; 75 years of diplomatic relations marked.
Italy joined IMEEC and GBA during India’s G20.
Cultural cooperation programme for 2023–27 signed.
2024
PM Modi visited Italy for G7.
India supported Italy’s G7 Presidency.
Gandhi bust unveiled in Brindisi.
2025
PM Meloni expressed support after Pahalgam attack.
Bilateral trade reached €14.25 billion.
Indian nationals in Italy stood at 1,86,833.
2025
Joint Initiative to Counter Financing of Terrorism adopted.
JCEC and business forums deepened economic engagement.
Incredible India Cultural Festival and Indian film events expanded cultural outreach.
2026
Foreign Office Consultations held in New Delhi.
Renewable Energy JWG met; AI and industry links continued.
