Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
34 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
20.1 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
two Italian media giants dominate, with 3 national terrestrial stations; privately owned companies have 3 national terrestrial stations; a large number of private stations, a satellite TV network; 3 AM/FM nationwide radio stations; about 1,300 commercial radio stations
Communications: Internet country code
.it
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
89.22% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
34 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
20.107 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
133 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
78.7 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
milk, wheat, grapes, tomatoes, maize, olives, apples, oranges, sugar beets, rice (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
3.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
14.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$1.104 trillion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$935.038 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$22.356 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$37.158 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
$22.759 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$46.449 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$48.868 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$53.986 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$65.312 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$75.097 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$44.449 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$36.325 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$3.261 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$26.76 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
0.923890 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
0.752945 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
0.752728 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
0.901296 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
0.903421 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
0.885206 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
0.846773 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
0.893276 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
0.875506 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
0.845494 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
0.949624 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
0.924840 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
0.923890 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
packaged medicine, garments, cars, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$612.801 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$622.038 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$537.834 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$543.464 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$593.973 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$646.910 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$625.066 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$547.940 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$679.294 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$737.083 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$774.311 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$778.898 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
33.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
17.8% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
58.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-32.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
22.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
21.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
65.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$62,014 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.373 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$3.656 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
35.4 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
35.2 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
35.9 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
35.2 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
34.6 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
35.2 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
34.8 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
33.7 (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
34.3 (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
25.3% (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.5% (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
natural gas, crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, garments (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$573.630 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$485.192 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$483.731 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$540.827 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$597.530 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$560.326 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$480.945 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$634.811 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$775.518 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$739.646 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$717.278 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
0.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
0.04% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
-0.09% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1.23% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
1.14% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
0.61% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
-0.14% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
1.87% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
8.20% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.62% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
0.98% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
25.828 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
20.10% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
131.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$2.212 trillion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$2.252 trillion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$2.434 trillion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$2.529 trillion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$2.787 trillion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$2.641 trillion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$2.946 trillion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$3.088 trillion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$3.11 trillion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$3.133 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
0.89% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
1.24% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
1.60% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
0.83% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
0.43% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-8.87% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
8.93% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.82% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
0.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
0.69% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$36,666 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$37,384 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$40,483 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$42,142 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$46,662 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$44,436 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$49,825 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$57,261 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$60,030 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$9.436 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$10.099 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$9.608 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$9.889 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$10.104 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
0.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$130.592 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$135.133 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$151.120 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$152.362 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$175.398 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$210.687 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$227.478 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$224.581 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$247.396 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$290.547 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
24.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
9.88% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
9.19% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
9.50% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
8.07% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
7.63% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
6.50% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
24.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
19.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
21.8% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
12.424 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
304,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
12.069 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
1.572 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
609.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
6.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
56% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: geothermal
2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
14.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
12% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
9.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
290.664 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
3.32 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
54.572 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
128.692 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
17.62 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
96.797 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
61.906 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
2.609 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
61.851 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
2.778 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
45.76 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down
4 (2025)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
497.934 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
1.245 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
111,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
26.15 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
118.604 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
162.688 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
307.442 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Environment: Environmental issues
air pollution from industrial emissions; water pollution from industrial and agricultural effluents, as well as acid rain; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities
Environment: Geoparks: global geoparks and regional networks
Adamello-Brenta; Alpi Apuane; Aspromonte; Beigua; Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni; Madonie; Maiella; MurGEopark; Pollino; Rocca di Cerere; Sesia Val Grande; Tuscan Mining Park (2025)
Environment: Geoparks: total global geoparks and regional networks
12 (2025)
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
44.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 24% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 12.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
31.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
24% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
764.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
276.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
35.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
523.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
191.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
17 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
7.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
9.148 billion cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
69.60% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
30.088 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
39.9% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
almost twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona
Geography: Area: land
294,140 sq km
Geography: Area: water
7,200 sq km
Geography: Coastline
7,600 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur (a secondary peak of Mont Blanc) 4,748 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
538 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
42 50 N, 12 50 E
Geography: Geography - note
strategic location dominating central Mediterranean, as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
Geography: Irrigated land
24,460 sq km (2021)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Austria 404 km; France 476 km; Holy See (Vatican City) 3.4 km; San Marino 37 km; Slovenia 218 km; Switzerland 698 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,836.4 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
44.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 24% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 12.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
31.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
24% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Europe
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Etna (3,330 m) is Europe's most active volcano, and its flank eruptions pose a threat to nearby Sicilian villages; Etna, along with the famous Vesuvius, have both been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Stromboli, on its namesake island, has also been continuously active with moderate volcanic activity; other historically active volcanoes include Campi Flegrei, Ischia, Larderello, Pantelleria, Vulcano, and Vulsini
Geography: Population distribution
a fairly even population distribution exists throughout most of the country, with coastal areas, the Po River Valley, and urban centers (particularly Milan, Rome, and Naples) attracting larger and denser populations
Geography: Terrain
mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
Government: Administrative divisions
15 regions ( regioni , singular - regione ) and 5 autonomous regions ( regioni autonome , singular - regione autonoma ) regions: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Veneto autonomous regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sardegna (Sardinia), Sicilia (Sicily), Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol) or Trentino-Suedtirol (German), Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) or Vallée d'Aoste (French)
Government: Capital: daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Government: Capital: etymology
by tradition, named after Romulus, one of the legendary founders of the city, but the name Romulus may instead derive from the city's name; the name Rome may come from an Etruscan name for the Tiber River, which was Roma or Ruma
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
41 54 N, 12 29 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Italy
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
4 years for EU nationals, 5 years for refugees and specified exceptions, 10 years for all others
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by both houses of Parliament; passage requires two successive debates and approval by absolute majority of each house on the second vote; a referendum is only required when requested by one fifth of the members of either house, by voter petition, or by 5 Regional Councils (elected legislative assemblies of the 15 first-level administrative regions and 5 autonomous regions of Italy); referendum not required if an amendment has been approved by a two-thirds majority in each house in the second vote
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1848 (originally for the Kingdom of Sardinia and adopted by the Kingdom of Italy in 1861); latest enacted 22 December 1947, adopted 27 December 1947, entered into force 1 January 1948
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Italy
Government: Country name: etymology
derivation is unclear; traditionally said to come from the Vitali, a tribe that settled in what is now Calabria, and whose name is believed to be linked to the Latin word vitulus , or "calf;" alternatively, the name may derive from a local ruler known to the Romans as Italus
Government: Country name: former
Kingdom of Italy
Government: Country name: local long form
Repubblica Italiana
Government: Country name: local short form
Italia
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Tilman J. FERTITTA (since 6 May 2025); note - also accredited to San Marino
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: consulate(s) general
Florence, Milan, Naples
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
uscitizenrome@state.gov https://it.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187 Roma
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[39] 06-4674-2244
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
9500 Rome Place, Washington DC 20521-9500
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[39] 06-46741
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Marco PERONACI (since 5 September 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s)
Detroit
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
washington.ambasciata@esteri.it https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/ambasciata_washington/en/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 518-2154
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 612-4400
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, who is known officially as the President of the Council of Ministers and locally as the premier; nominated by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Sergio MATTARELLA (since 3 February 2015)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2022: Sergio MATTARELLA (independent) reelected president; electoral college vote count in eighth round - 759 out of 1,009 (505 vote threshold) 2015: Sergio MATTARELLA (independent) elected president; electoral college vote count in fourth round - 665 out of 995 (505 vote threshold)
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a 7-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by parliament
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Giorgia MELONI (since 22 October 2022); the prime minister's official title is President of the Council of Ministers
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
24-29 January 2022 (eight rounds)
Government: Flag
description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and red meaning: colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard history: design inspired by the French flag that Napoleon brought to Italy in 1797
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Cassation or Corte Suprema di Cassazione (consists of the first president, deputy president, 54 justices presiding over 6 civil and 7 criminal divisions, and 288 judges; an additional 30 judges of lower courts serve as supporting judges; cases normally heard by 5-judge panels; more complex cases heard by 9-judge panels); Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (consists of the court president and 14 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Council of the Judiciary, headed by the president of the republic; judges may serve for life; Constitutional Court judges - 5 appointed by the president, 5 elected by Parliament, 5 elected by select higher courts; judges serve up to 9 years
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
various lower civil and criminal courts (primary and secondary tribunals and courts of appeal)
Government: Legal system
civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislation under certain conditions
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
mixed system
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
September 2027
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
9/25/2022
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
400 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Coalition Brothers of Italy (FdI) - Lega - Forza Italia - Us Moderates (Noi moderati, NM) (237); Democratic Party - Democratic and Progressive Italy (PD-IDP) - Greens and Left Alliance (AVS) - +EUROPA" - Civic Commitment (IC) (84); Five Star Movement (M5s) (52); Action - Italia Viva (21); Other (6)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
32.8%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate (Senato della Repubblica)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: electoral system
mixed system
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
September 2027
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
9/25/2022
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
205 (200 directly elected; 5 appointed)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Coalition Brothers of Italy (FdI) - Lega - Forza Italia - Us Moderates (Noi moderati, NM) (115); Democratic Party - Democratic and Progressive Italy (PD-IDP) - Greens and Left Alliance (AVS) - +EUROPA" - Civic Commitment (IC) (44); Five Star Movement (M5s) (28); Other (13)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
36.3%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament (Il Parlamento)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 2005; the anthem, originally written in 1847, is also known as "L'Inno di Mameli" (Mameli's Hymn), and "Fratelli d'Italia" (Brothers of Italy)
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO
Government: National coat of arms
this coat of arms has been a symbol of the Italian Republic since May 5, 1948, when Paolo Paschetto’s design won a two-year public competition; the olive branch symbolizes national and global peace; the oak branch stands for the strength and the dignity of the Italian people, and the steel cog-wheel for their hard work; the single star represents Italy’s solidarity
Government: National color(s)
red, white, green
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Historic Center of Rome (c); Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata (c); Venice and its Lagoon (c); Historic Center of Florence (c); Piazza del Duomo, Pisa (c); Historic Centre of Naples (c); Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto)(c); Mount Etna (n); Cultural landscape of the Benedictine settlements in medieval Italy (c); Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci (c); City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto (c); Crespi d'Adda (c); Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna (c); Historic Centre of the City of Pienza (c); Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande, Modena (c); Costiera Amalfitana (c); Villa Romana del Casale (c); Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia (c); Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archeological Sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula (c); Historic Centre of Urbino (c); Villa Adriana (Tivoli) (c); Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites (c); City of Verona (c); Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands) (n); Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia (c); Val d'Orcia (c); Mantua and Sabbioneta (c); The Dolomites (n); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany (c); Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries: Stato da Terra – Western Stato da Mar (c); Padua’s fourteenth-century fresco cycles (c); The Porticoes of Bologna (c); Evaporitic Karst and Caves of Northern Apennines (n); Via Appia: Regina Viarum (c); Funerary Tradition in the Prehistory of Sardinia – The domus de janas (c)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
61 (55 cultural, 6 natural)
Government: National holiday
Republic Day, 2 June (1946)
Government: National symbol(s)
five-pointed white star (Stella d'Italia)
Government: Political parties
Action-Italia Viva Associative Movement of Italians Abroad or MAIE Brothers of Italy or FdI Democratic Party or PD Five Star Movement or M5S Forza Italia or FI Free and Equal (Liberi e Uguali) or LeU Greens and Left Alliance or AVS League or Lega More Europe or +EU South calls North or ScN South Tyrolean Peoples Party or SVP Us Moderates or NM other minor parties
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25
Introduction: Background
Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946, and economic revival followed. Italy is a charter member of NATO, as well as the European Economic Community (EEC) and its successors, the EC and the EU. It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include sluggish economic growth, high youth and female unemployment, organized crime, corruption, and economic disparities between southern Italy and the more prosperous north.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Italian military is responsible for Italy’s national defense and security and fulfilling the country’s commitments to the EU, NATO, the UN, and other multinational military, security, and humanitarian operations; it also has some domestic security duties; key areas of emphasis for Italy’s security policy and multinational cooperation are Europe’s eastern and southern flanks, including the Mediterranean Sea, East and North Africa, and the Middle East and its adjacent waters Italy has been an active member of NATO since its founding in 1948, and the Alliance is a cornerstone of Rome’s national security strategy; it is one of NATO’s leading contributors of military forces and participates in such Alliance missions as Air Policing in the Baltics, the Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe, and maritime patrols in the Mediterranean and beyond; it hosts NATO’s Joint Force Command in Naples and a NATO Rapid Deployable Corps headquarters in Milan Italy is also active in European/EU defense cooperation and integration, including hosting the headquarters for the EU’s Mediterranean naval operations force in Rome; in addition, Italy has close defense ties with the US and hosts several US military air, army, and naval bases and facilities (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Italian Armed Forces (Forze Armate Italiane): Army (Esercito Italiano, EI), Navy (Marina Militare Italiana, MMI; includes aviation, marines), Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana, AMI); Carabinieri Corps (Arma dei Carabinieri, CC) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 170,000 active-duty military personnel; approximately 105,000 Carabinieri (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
Italy has on average about 8,000 military personnel deployed in support of NATO, UN, and other foreign missions; significant ground troop deployments include Bulgaria (750), Hungary (250), Kosovo (870), Latvia (300), and Lebanon (875); in addition, air and naval units are deployed in support of NATO missions (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically manufactured, imported, and jointly produced weapons systems; imports come mostly from Europe and the US; the Italian defense industry is capable of producing equipment across all the military domains with particular strengths in aircraft, armored vehicles, and naval vessels; it also participates in joint development and production of advanced weapons systems with other European countries and the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.20% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.33% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.35% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.35% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.31% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.73% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.66% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.65% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.61% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.61% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2025
2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
17 or 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women ; voluntary service is a minimum of 12 months with the option to extend in the Armed Forces or compete for positions in other government security organizations; conscription abolished 2004 (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
11.9% (male 3,699,167/female 3,531,734)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
64.5% (male 19,378,160/female 19,958,137)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
23.6% (2024 est.) (male 6,336,738/female 8,060,995)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
1.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
7.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
4.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
7.13 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
8.44% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
51.8% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
37.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
2.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
55.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
18.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
7.4% national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.07% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north, Albanian-Italians, Croat-Italians, and Greek-Italians in the south)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.62 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
9% of GDP (2022)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
11.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.30% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
3.1 beds/1,000 population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
2.9 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
2.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German-speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area), Croatian (in Molise)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
86.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
82.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
99.2% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
99.5% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
99.35% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
4.316 million ROME (capital), 3.155 million Milan, 2.179 million Naples, 1.802 million Turin, 913,000 Bergamo, 850,000 Palermo (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
49.4 years
People and Society: Median age: male
47.4 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
31.4 years (2020 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Italian
People and Society: Net migration rate
3.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
19.9% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
4.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
58,952,704 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
a fairly even population distribution exists throughout most of the country, with coastal areas, the Po River Valley, and urban centers (particularly Milan, Rome, and Naples) attracting larger and denser populations
People and Society: Population growth rate
-0.05% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
31,540,902
People and Society: Population: male
29,383,949
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
17 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
16 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
17 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.97 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.79 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
16.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
23.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
19.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.18 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
69.60% (2024 est.)
Space: Key space-program milestones
1964 - first domestically manufactured science satellite (San Marco-1) launched by the US 1977 - first domestically built telecommunications/research satellite (Sirio) launched by the US 1990s-2011 - participated in US Space Shuttle program, resulting in first Italian astronaut in space (1992) 1998-present - participated in International Space Station, including the first European astronaut on the station (2001), first Italian to command it (2019-2020), and first woman to command the station (2022) 2012 - first launch of Italian-designed VEGA 3-stage satellite launch vehicle (SLV) for ESA 2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2023 - first Italian all-electric satellite (MicroHETSat) built for the ESA and launched by the US; began developing a habitat for the US-led Artemis Lunar Gateway project 2025 - passed a national space law to govern Italian space operations
Space: Space agency/agencies
Italian Space Agency (L’Agenzia Spaziale Italiana or ASI; established 1988) (2025)
Space: Space launch site(s)
the Broglio (aka San Marco, Malindi) Space Center, located near Malindi, Kenya, served from 1967 to 1988 as an Italian and international satellite launch facility; in 2020, Italy concluded a deal with Kenya to conduct rocket launches from the site again in the future; the Italian Space Agency has utilized the site as a satellite ground station since 2004 the Italian Government has designated the Taranto-Grottaglie Airport as a future spaceport and signed framework agreements with commercial space companies that could lead to suborbital and orbital launches from what would be called the Grottaglie Spaceport (2025)
Space: Space program overview
one of the top contributors to the ESA; designs, builds, launches, and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites; designs and manufactures probes, rockets, and orbital satellite launch vehicles (SLVs); researches, develops, and builds a range of other space-related technologies and participates in a wide array of international programs; hosts the ESA Center for Earth Observation; has astronaut cadre in the ESA astronaut corps; has cooperated with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, the UAE, and the US; participates in international projects such as the International Space Station; has considerable commercial space industries encompassing a wide range of capabilities (2025)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
520,127 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
3,000 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
655 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
I
Transportation: Heliports
163 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 17, container ship 6, general cargo 109, oil tanker 95, other 1,049
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
1,276 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Brindisi, Civitavecchia, Genova, Gioia Tauro, La Spezia, Livorno, Messina, Napoli, Porto di Lido-Venezia, Siracusa, Taranto, Trieste
Transportation: Ports: large
12
Transportation: Ports: medium
11
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
33
Transportation: Ports: size unknown
1
Transportation: Ports: small
71
Transportation: Ports: total ports
123 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
28
Transportation: Railways: total
18,475 km (2020) 12,936 km electrified
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.