Italy
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.
Geography
Location
Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
Geographic coordinates
42 50 N, 12 50 E
Map references
Europe
Area
total
301,340 sq km
land
294,140 sq km
water
7,200 sq km
Area - comparative
almost twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries
total
1,836.4 km
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
Coastline
7,600 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate
predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Terrain
mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
Elevation
highest point
Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur (a secondary peak of Mont Blanc) 4,748 m
lowest point
Mediterranean Sea 0 m
mean elevation
538 m
Natural resources
coal, antimony, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land
Land use
agricultural land
44.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 24% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 12.2% (2023 est.)
forest
31.8% (2023 est.)
other
24% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land
24,460 sq km (2021)
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)
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
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
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 - note
strategic location dominating central Mediterranean, as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
People and Society
Population
total
60,924,851 (2025 est.)
male
29,383,949
female
31,540,902
Nationality
noun
Italian(s)
adjective
Italian
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)
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)
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.
Religions
Christian 80.8% (overwhelmingly Roman Catholic with very small groups of Jehovah's Witnesses and Protestants), Muslim 4.9%, unaffiliated 13.4%, other 0.9% (2020 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
11.9% (male 3,699,167/female 3,531,734)
15-64 years
64.5% (male 19,378,160/female 19,958,137)
65 years and over
23.6% (2024 est.) (male 6,336,738/female 8,060,995)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
55.3 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
18.1 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
37.2 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
2.7 (2025 est.)
Median age
total
48.8 years (2025 est.)
male
47.4 years
female
49.4 years
Population growth rate
-0.05% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
7.13 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
3.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
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
Urbanization
urban population
72% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years
0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.79 male(s)/female
total population
0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
31.4 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male
3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female
2.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
total population
83 years (2024 est.)
male
80.7 years
female
85.5 years
Total fertility rate
1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.62 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: total
total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
9% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
11.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
4.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density
3.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
19.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total
7.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer
1.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
4.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
total
19.8% (2025 est.)
male
23.2% (2025 est.)
female
16.6% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
51.8% (2023 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
7.4% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy
total population
99.3% (2019 est.)
male
99.5% (2019 est.)
female
99.2% (2019 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total
17 years (2023 est.)
male
16 years (2023 est.)
female
17 years (2023 est.)
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
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
signed, but not ratified
Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol
Climate
predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Land use
agricultural land
44.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 24% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 12.2% (2023 est.)
forest
31.8% (2023 est.)
other
24% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
72% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
307.442 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
26.15 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
162.688 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
118.604 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions
energy
276.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
764.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
523.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other
35.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
30.088 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
39.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal
9.148 billion cubic meters (2022)
industrial
7.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
17 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources
191.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Geoparks
total global geoparks and regional networks
12 (2025)
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)
Government
Country name
conventional long form
Italian Republic
conventional short form
Italy
local long form
Repubblica Italiana
local short form
Italia
former
Kingdom of Italy
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 type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name
Rome
geographic coordinates
41 54 N, 12 29 E
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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
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)
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)
Legal system
civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislation under certain conditions
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
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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Italy
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
4 years for EU nationals, 5 years for refugees and specified exceptions, 10 years for all others
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25
Executive branch
chief of state
President Sergio MATTARELLA (since 3 February 2015)
head of government
Prime Minister Giorgia MELONI (since 22 October 2022); the prime minister's official title is President of the Council of Ministers
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
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
most recent election date
24-29 January 2022 (eight rounds)
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)
expected date of next election
2029
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament (Il Parlamento)
legislative structure
bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati)
number of seats
400 (all directly elected)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
term in office
5 years
most recent election date
9/25/2022
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)
percentage of women in chamber
32.8%
expected date of next election
September 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Senato della Repubblica)
number of seats
205 (200 directly elected; 5 appointed)
electoral system
mixed system
scope of elections
full renewal
term in office
5 years
most recent election date
9/25/2022
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)
percentage of women in chamber
36.3%
expected date of next election
September 2027
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)
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
subordinate courts
various lower civil and criminal courts (primary and secondary tribunals and courts of appeal)
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
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
Ambassador Marco PERONACI (since 5 September 2025)
chancery
3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 612-4400
FAX
[1] (202) 518-2154
email address and website
washington.ambasciata@esteri.it
https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/ambasciata_washington/en/
consulate(s) general
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco
consulate(s)
Detroit
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
Ambassador Tilman J. FERTITTA (since 6 May 2025); note - also accredited to San Marino
embassy
via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187 Roma
mailing address
9500 Rome Place, Washington DC 20521-9500
telephone
[39] 06-46741
FAX
[39] 06-4674-2244
email address and website
uscitizenrome@state.gov
https://it.usembassy.gov/
consulate(s) general
Florence, Milan, Naples
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
Independence
17 March 1861
National holiday
Republic Day, 2 June (1946)
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
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
National symbol(s)
five-pointed white star (Stella d'Italia)
National color(s)
red, white, green
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
National anthem(s)
title
"Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians)
lyrics/music
Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO
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)
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
61 (55 cultural, 6 natural)
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)
Economy
Economic overview
high-income, core EU economy; strong services, manufacturing, and tourism sectors; modest growth supported by net exports, low inflation, and public investments via EU funds; tight labor market with aging workforce and shortages in specialized skills; high public debt levels
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$3.133 trillion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$3.11 trillion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$3.088 trillion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2024
0.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
0.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2024
$53,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$52,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022
$52,300 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.373 trillion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
5.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
8.2% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture
2% (2024 est.)
industry
21.7% (2024 est.)
services
65.6% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
58.3% (2023 est.)
government consumption
17.8% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital
22.5% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories
0.4% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services
33.5% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services
-32.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, wheat, grapes, tomatoes, maize, olives, apples, oranges, sugar beets, rice (2023)
Industries
tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Industrial production growth rate
0.2% (2024 est.)
Labor force
25.828 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2024
6.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
7.7% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022
8.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total
21.8% (2024 est.)
male
19.9% (2024 est.)
female
24.8% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
20.1% (2021 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
33.7 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
14.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
3.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.5% (2022 est.)
highest 10%
25.3% (2022 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2024
0.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023
0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022
0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget
revenues
$935.038 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$1.104 trillion (2023 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2017
131.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
24.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2024
$26.76 billion (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$3.261 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022
-$36.325 billion (2022 est.)
Exports
Exports 2024
$778.898 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023
$774.311 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022
$737.083 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners
Germany 11%, USA 11%, France 10%, Spain 5%, UK 5% (2023)
Exports - commodities
packaged medicine, garments, cars, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
Imports
Imports 2024
$717.278 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023
$739.646 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022
$775.518 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners
Germany 15%, France 9%, China 8%, Netherlands 6%, Spain 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities
natural gas, crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, garments (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$290.547 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$247.396 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$224.581 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024
0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020
0.876 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Electricity
installed generating capacity
128.692 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption
290.664 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports
3.32 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports
54.572 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
17.62 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels
56% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar
12% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind
9.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity
14.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
geothermal
2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
6.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Nuclear energy
Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down
4 (2025)
Coal
production
1.572 million metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
12.424 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports
304,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
12.069 million metric tons (2023 est.)
proven reserves
609.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
111,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
1.245 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
497.934 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production
2.778 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
61.906 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports
2.609 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports
61.851 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
45.76 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
96.797 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
20.107 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
34 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
78.7 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
133 (2024 est.)
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
Internet country code
.it
Internet users
percent of population
87% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
20.1 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
34 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
I
Airports
655 (2025)
Heliports
163 (2025)
Railways
total
18,475 km (2020) 12,936 km electrified
Merchant marine
total
1,276 (2023)
by type
bulk carrier 17, container ship 6, general cargo 109, oil tanker 95, other 1,049
Ports
total ports
123 (2024)
large
12
medium
11
small
71
very small
28
size unknown
1
ports with oil terminals
33
key ports
Brindisi, Civitavecchia, Genova, Gioia Tauro, La Spezia, Livorno, Messina, Napoli, Porto di Lido-Venezia, Siracusa, Taranto, Trieste
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 expenditures
Military Expenditures 2025
2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 170,000 active-duty military personnel; approximately 105,000 Carabinieri (2025)
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 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)
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 - 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)
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)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Italian Space Agency (L’Agenzia Spaziale Italiana or ASI; established 1988) (2025)
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)
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 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)
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
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
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
520,127 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
3,000 (2024 est.)