Tamils in Italy are people of ethnic Tamil ancestry who reside in Italy. Recent estimates indicate that around 25,000 Tamils from both Sri Lanka and India are living in Italy.[1][2]
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 25,000 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Milan, Palermo, Rome | |
| Languages | |
| Tamil, Italian, English | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism (~95%), Catholicism (~5%) |
History of Migration
editThough it is not established when the migration of Tamil people to Italy started, Tamils were reported to have migrated to Milan during the 1980s.[3] More migrants came during the Sri Lankan Civil War, which commenced in 1983. It is estimated that Sri Lankan Tamils constitute at least a third of the Sri Lankan immigrants in Italy.[3]
The Tamil Diaspora is concentrated predominantly in Palermo, Catania, Milan, Reggio Emilia, Naples, Bologna and Lecce, where a number of cultural and linguistic organizations are based.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Tamil Nation - Tamil Diaspora in Italy". Retrieved 17 October 2013.
- ^ ""World Tamil Population", tamilo.com
- ^ a b c "Sri Lankan Diaspora in Italy" (PDF). Retrieved 17 October 2013.