Annual contactless spending in Italy 2016-2023, in local currency and USD
among Europe's most cash reliant countries. The source cites the COVID-19 pandemic and the increase of the card limit from 25 euros to 50 euros as the main drivers for change. Contactless payments with phones or wearables made up seven billion euros in 2021 - although this segment recorded a growth figure of more than 100 percent between 2020 and 2021.
The value of payments made with a contactless or tap to pay payment option in Italy increased by over 30 percent between 2022 and 2023. This was a significant development for a country that is said to be