[3][4] Bodio graduated in 1861 at University of Pisa as a doctor of law, and afterward traveled abroad with government scholarship to complete his postgraduate education in economics and statistics.

Since 1876 Bodio was an editor, together with Cesare Correnti and Paolo Boselli, of the "Archivio di statistica".

In 1885 was a founding member and General Secretary of the International Statistical Institute up to 1905.

In 1909 he was elected President of the International Statistical Institute and remained in charge until his death in 1920.

In 1900 Bodio was elected National Senator, and he was General Commissioner of Migration (1901–04), an Inter-ministerial Body created to address and protect the Italian migration abroad.