The total number of Italian retirees settling abroad is declining, according to INPS data reported by Corriere della Sera. Between 2018 and 2024, departures fell from around 5,700 to 4,300, an overall drop of 23.8%. This general trend does not affect all destinations, however, with some continuing to attract more retirees, including Spain and Tunisia.
A stable Italian flow to Tunisia
Between 2019 and 2023, nearly 2,300 Italian retirees moved to Spain, which remains the leading destination. The country recorded 536 new arrivals in 2023, compared to 451 in 2022, confirming continued progress.
Tunisia is also one of the rare destinations to resist the general trend. Around 1,000 Italian retirees settled there between 2019 and 2023, particularly in Hammamet. This volume places the country in second position, far ahead of Romania (around 500 new retirees) and Albania (200, including 100 for 2023 alone).
Conversely, several historic destinations are experiencing a marked fall. Portugal, which had attracted thousands of retirees thanks to its tax regime, saw new installations decrease by more than 83% in 2023 after the end of its NHR system. Other countries are recording stagnation or a decline in flows.
A stable fiscal framework that strengthens Tunisian attractiveness
Tunisia maintains its momentum thanks to a tax regime which provides for the exemption of 80% of transferred income, accompanied by a reduction of up to 1,500 euros and a maximum rate capped at 35%. This framework, which has remained unchanged in recent years, contrasts with the adjustments made in several European countries.
According to Italian data, 63% of retirees present in the Hammamet region are former civil servants, whose pensions are not taxed in Italy when they reside abroad. The cost of living, significantly lower than that of Italy or Spain, constitutes another important factor: a pension of between 1300 and 1500 euros largely covers current expenses.
The INPS also indicates that 43.9% of retirees leaving Italy in 2024 are foreigners returning to their country of origin, which mechanically contributes to the drop in the total number of Italian expatriations. In this context, Tunisia appears to be one of the destinations which maintain or strengthen their attractiveness, despite the overall decline observed elsewhere.
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