As a result of mixed marriages and naturalization, many Arabs in Italy are Italian nationals or second-generation children of expatriates. Between 2008 and 2020, almost 340,000 people from Arab-speaking countries acquired Italian citizenship. As Italy doesn't collect data based on ethnicity it is not possible to know the actual number of Italians with Arab ancestry.
History
In the 9th century AD, Arabs settled in mass in the island of Sicily and formed the Emirate of Sicily under Islamic rule.[3] During this period, there were several attempts to invade mainland Italy, with the Emirate of Bari being one of the most notable examples.[4] Arabs have significantly impacted the genetics of the Island of Sicily as well as neighboring areas.[5]
Population
Foreigners from Arab countries in Italy according to the 2021 Census[1]