Hinduism in Italy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
223,000 (2023)  (0.4%) of total population | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Rome, Milan, Venice | |
| Religions | |
| Hinduism | |
| Languages | |
| Sacred Sanskrit Majority Hindi, English, Tamil and other Indian diaspora languages, some also speak Italian |
| Hinduism by country |
|---|
  |
| Full list |
Hinduism is practised by 0.4% of the people in Italy. It is practised by 0.1% of the Italian citizens and 2.9% of the immigrant population.[1] In 2012, there were about 90,000 Hindus in Italy.[2] In 2015, the population increased to 120,000. As of 2023, the population is around 223,000 - the second largest Hindu community in Europe after the United Kingdom, and the largest Hindu community in the European Union.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 90,000 | — |
| 2015 | 120,000 | +33.3% |
| 2021 | 180,000 | +50.0% |
| 2023 | 223,000 | +23.9% |
| Year | Percent | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 0.1% | - |
| 2015 | 0.2% | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 0.3% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 0.4% | +0.1% |
Italian Hindu Union
The Italian Hindu Union (Italian: Unione Induista Italiana, UII) is an association representing Hinduism in Italy. The UII was founded in 1996, under the leadership of Swami Yogananda Giri and the cooperation of the Indian Embassy in Rome.[3]
Official recognition as a religion
In the mid-2000s, Hindus were pressing for official recognition in Italy. In 2007 the UII, which represents a large chunk of Italy's 115,000 Hindus,[4] signed an agreement with the Italian government, in accordance with article 8 of the Italian Constitution (which regulates the relations with religious minorities), and the agreement became law in 2012.[5][6] The document was then waiting for approval by the Italian Parliament. Afterwards, Hinduism was granted official recognition by the Italian Parliament in 2012 alongside Buddhism.[7] On 11 December 2012, the Italian Parliament ratified an official agreement (Intesa) with the Italian Hindu Union (L.31/12/2012 n. 246). As declared in Article 24 of the Law of agreement, Dipavali or Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is recognized in Italy as the official Hindu religious festival of the Hindu organization.[8]
