| |||
| Total population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 150,000 (ISTAT: 2015) | |||
| Regions with significant populations | |||
| Languages | |||
| Religion | |||
Romani people in Italy (Italian : Rom in Italia) have been living in Italy since the 15th century. [1] The Sinti, a Romani subgroup, arrived from the north. Others migrated from the Balkans and settled in Southern Italy and Central Italy. [2] Muslim Roma migrated to Italy from Bosnia and Kosovo at the time of the Balkan wars. [3]
In 2015 in Italy there are at about 150,000 (70,000 Italian citizens) of Romani people origins. The three cities with most number of Romanis are: Rome, Milan and Naples. [4]
According to a May 2008 poll, 68% of Italians wanted to see all of the country's approximately 150,000 Romanis, many of whom were Italian citizens, expelled. [5] The survey, published as mobs in Naples burned down Romani camps that month, revealed that the majority also wanted all Romani camps in Italy to be demolished. [5]
A 2015 poll conducted by Pew Research found that 86% of Italians have unfavourable views of Romani people. [6]
On June 18, 2018, Minister of the Interior Matteo Salvini announced the government would conduct a census of Romani people in Italy for the purpose of deporting all who are not in the country legally. [7] [8] [9] [10] However this measure was criticized as unconstitutional and was opposed by all the oppositions and also by some members of the M5S. [11]
