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Europe :: Italy Print
Page last updated on January 02, 2019
The World Factbook Country/Location Flag Modal
Europe :: Italy Print
Flag Description
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; design inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797; colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard

note: similar to the flag of Mexico, which is longer, uses darker shades of red and green, and has its coat of arms centered on the white band; Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green

The World Factbook Country/Location Locator Map Modal
Europe :: Italy Print
The World Factbook Country/Location Photo Gallery Modal
Europe :: Italy
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View of the city of Amalfi with Mount Cerreto (1,315 m; 4,314 ft) in the background. Amalfi was a maritime power with 70,000 residents until 1343 when an earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused most of the city and population to fall into the sea and destroyed the port. The tower of the Amalfi Cathedral (Duomo di Amalfi), built in 1208 and named Saint Andrew's Cathedral, may be seen in the foreground.
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View of homes on the rugged western coast of Italy in the city of Amalfi.
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View of homes and hotels on the rugged western coast of Italy in the city of Amalfi.
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Closer view of some of the homes on the rugged western coast of Italy in the city of Amalfi.
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View of homes in Positano on the rugged Amalfi Coast. The city is about 18 km east of the city of Amalfi. It was a prosperous port of the Amalfi Republic during the 16th and 17th centuries. Most of the population emigrated in the 19th century, mainly to Australia. In the 1950s, the town began to become popular with artists and writers. Tourists began to arrive in the mid 1950s in large numbers. The city and area are famous for the liqueur Limoncello.
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This view show the city of Positano built vertically on the face of a cliff on the rugged Amalfi Coast. In the foreground is the church Our Lady of the Assumption (Santa Maria Assunta) with its gleaming ceramic dome.
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Positano is a small, picturesque town on the Amalfi coast. In the 16th and 17th centuries, at the peak of its importance, it was the main port of the Amalfi Republic, but by the first half of the 20th century, it was a poor fishing village. In the 1950s, it emerged as a tourist attraction.
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View of the city of Positano on the rugged Amalfi Coast showing the church Our Lady of the Assumption in the foreground and homes built vertically on a cliff in the background.
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The ceramic dome of the church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Positano on the Amalfi Coast.
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Entrance to the church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Positano. The church was constructed as a Benedictine Monastery in the 10th century and remodeled between 1777 and 1783.
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Altar inside the church Our Lady of the Assumption in Positano on the Amalfi Coast. Above the altar is a 13th century Byzantine Black Madonna and Child.
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The town of Vernazza on the Italian Riviera is part of the Cinque Terre National Park (a World Heritage Site) established in 1999; which consists of five picturesque villages reached only by hiking trail, train, or ferry.
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The ancient and historic city of Rome, showing the dome of the Pantheon on the left, the Monument of Victor Emanuel II in the left background, and various church domes.
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The Garibaldi Bridge over the Tiber River in Rome. The dome of St. Peter's Basilica appears in the background.
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The Vittorio Emanuele Bridge over the Tiber River in Rome with Vatican City in the background. The bridge was completed in 1911.
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The Vittorio Emanuele Bridge over the Tiber River in Rome with Vatican City (and St. Peter's Basilica) in the background.
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Pieta by Michelangelo in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. The sculpture was created from 1498 to 1499 of Carrara marble when the sculptor was only 25 years old.
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Figure of St. Peter in vestments on the occasion of his feast day on 29 June in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.
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The main altar in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome is covered by a 30m- (98 ft-) tall bronze baldacchino (canopy) designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
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View to the right of the main altar in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.
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The dome over the mail altar in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome was designed by Michelangelo in 1547; it was completed in 1590 after his death. The dome is 136.57 m (448.1 ft) high making it the tallest dome in the world.
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Baptismal font in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
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View of Saint Peter's Square in Rome showing an Egyptian obelisk, the Via della Conciliazione, and colonnades with statues on the sides of the square. The square, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, was constructed between 1658 and 1667.
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An Egyptian obelisk in Saint Peter's Square in Rome. Composed of red granite, the obelisk is 25.5 m tall (41 m to top of cross). It was transferred to Rome by the Emperor Caligula in A.D. 37, and moved to its current location at the direction of Pope Sixtus V in 1586. It is the only Egyptian obelisk in Rome never to have fallen.
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The Castel Sant'Angelo along the Tiber River in Rome is also known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian. The Roman emperor built it as a tomb for himself and his family around A.D. 135. Succeeding emperors were also entombed there. The structure was in turn a fortress, a castle, and a museum.
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The Colosseum in Rome was first used in A.D. 80. In Roman times, it was called the Flavian Amphitheater and held 50,000 spectators. The name "Colosseum" was introduce in medieval times and referred to a giant statue of Nero that stood nearby. The outer walls have three levels of arches with columns topped by Ionic capitals at the lower level and Doric and Corinthian at the top. The 80 entrance/exit arches, known as vomitoria, allowed spectators easy access and the ability to clear the building in minutes.
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The Roman Colosseum's arena was a wooden floor covered with sand, underlain with rooms and passageways for performers, sets, and animals. Spectator seating was divided into three sections: ordinary people sat in the upper level, the better off in the middle sections, and the elite in the lower level.
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The Colosseum in Rome had seating for 50,000 spectators. Most of the stones used for construction of the building were taken by citizens of Rome in the Middle Ages for construction of other buildings in the city. The upper level of the Colosseum had supports for 240 masts that held up a canvas awning to shield spectators from sun and rain.
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The Colosseum in Rome showing the interior with a partial reconstruction of the wooden arena floor. The rooms and passageways under the floor were used for performers, sets, and animals. The arena could be flooded to recreate sea battles.
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The Colosseum in Rome showing the exterior arches that once surrounded the building. Most of the arches and much of the building were dismantled in the Middle Ages by citizens of Rome who used the stone to construct other buildings.
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Ruins of a Roman building in Rome.
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The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) in Florence is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Construction began in 1294 and consecration took place in 1442. Many of its 16 chapels are decorated with frescos by Giotto and his students. The basilica is the burial place of Galileo, Machiavelli, Michelangelo, and other famous Italian figures.
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Church towers and the dome (in the far background) of the Duomo (Cathedral) in Florence.
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The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) spans the Arno River in Florence at its narrowest point. The current structure dates to 1345. As it has for centuries, the bridge still houses shops on either side of the roadway.
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The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) spans the Arno River in Florence; since Medieval times it has hosted shops and merchants along its length.
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View on the Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) with shops (mostly jewelry boutiques) lining the roadway and the dome of the Duomo (Cathedral) in the background.
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The Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace), built between 1298 and 1314, is the traditional seat of the Florentine government. Its Torre d'Arnolfo (Arnolfo Tower) is 94m (308 ft) high and is a symbol of the city. The building, which stands on the Piazza della Signoria, is fronted by several famous statutes.
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The Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistry of St. John) in front of the Duomo (Cathedral) in Florence is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Its construction dates to between 1059 and 1128.
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The east doors of the Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistery of Saint John) in Florence, referred to as "The Gates of Paradise." The gilded bronze doors took the artist, Lorenzo Ghiberti, 27 years to complete.
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The facade of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Saint Mary of the Flowers) in Florence. Begun in 1296, the magnificent structure was not finished until 1436. The entire cathedral complex consists of the church itself, the free-standing campanile (bell tower), and the Baptistery, which stands across the square (portion seen in upper left).
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A look up at the dome of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Basilica of Saint Mary of the Flower) in Florence. Until modern times the dome - engineered by Brunelleschi - was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed. The campanile - designed by Giotto - appears on the left.
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The dome of the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore (Basilica of St. Mary of the Flower), also referred to as the Duomo (Cathedral), in Florence. Work on the Duomo began in 1296. The dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, was built between 1420 and 1436.
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The Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistry of St. John) in Pisa dates to 1153. The building on the left is the Camposanto or walled cemetery. To the right is the Duomo (Cathedral) and the Campanile (Leaning Tower).
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The facade of the Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria of the Assumption in the Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Plaza) or - since the 20th century - the Plaza del Miracoli (Plaza of Miracles) in Pisa. The Cathedral dates from 1064.
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Side view of the Cathedral of Santa Maria of the Assumption in Cathedral Plaza in Pisa. It was built in Pisan Romanesque style by the master Rainaldo using gray marble and white stone.
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The Duomo (Cathedral) and Campanile (Leaning Bell Tower) in the Cathedral Plaza in Pisa. Because of a poorly laid foundation, the leaning began almost as soon as the start of the tower's construction in 1173.
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The Campanile (Bell Tower) of the Duomo (Cathedral) in Pisa also goes by the name of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Construction on the tower began in 1173. The bell tower began to lean five years after construction began because of weak subsoil and poor foundation. The lean has been stabilized at 4 degrees. The tower is 55.9 m (183.3 ft) high.
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The famous Leaning Tower at Pisa. A statue of the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, being suckled by a she-wolf appears in the foreground.
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Close up of the Campanile (Bell Tower) of the Duomo (Cathedral) in Pisa. In an effort to compensate for the tilt, the medieval engineers built the upper floors with one side taller than the other. So, the tower is actually curved. Begun in 1178, the tower was not completed until 1319.
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Fortrezza Nuova at the harbor in Livorno, on the west coast of Tuscany. The fortress was built for the Medici family in the late 16th Century.
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The main street (Via Grande) in Livorno. The city also was known in history as "Leghorn."
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The Palazzo Pamphilj (also spelled Pamphili) in the Plaza Navona in Rome. The palace was built in the 17th Century for Pope Innocent X; it is now the Embassy of Brazil.
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Facade of the Palazzo Pamphilj in the Piazza Navona in Rome.
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Fontana del Nettuna (Fountain of Neptune) in the Piazza Navona in Rome. The fountain was constructed in 1574 by Giacomo della Porta. The statue of Neptune by Antonio della Porta was added in 1878.
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View of Piazza San Pietro (Saint Peter's Square) in Rome. The 240 m (787 ft) elliptical space was laid out by Gian Lorenzo Bernini between 1657 to 1667.
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Obelisk in Piazza San Pietro (Saint Peter's Square) in Rome. It is 25.3 m high and dates from 1835 BC. It was brought from Egypt by the Emperor Caligula for his circus. It was moved to Saint Peter's Square by Pope Sixtus V in 1586.
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The Papal Apartment occupies the top floor of the Apostolic Palace. The two right windows facing front are the study and bedroom of the pope. Sundays at noon, the pope usually appears at the second window from the right to pray the Angelus and to bless the crowd in Saint Peter's Square.
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Decorated doors leading into Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome.
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Trajan's Column, a distinctive triumphal column in Rome, commemorates Roman Emperor Trajan's victory in the Dacian Wars (A.D. 101-102, 105-106).
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Fountain of a sinking boat in the Plaza di Spagna in Rome close to the Spanish Steps. The fountain is believed to be by Pietro Bernini.
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The Spanish Steps in the Plaza di Spagna in Rome. The steps were built with a legacy from France in 1725 and lead to a French church, Trinita del Monti.
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La Fontana del Moro (The Fountain of the Moor) at the south end of the Plaza Navona in Rome shows a Moor wrestling with a dolphin surrounded by four tritons. The fountain and tritons were executed by Giacomo della Porta in 1575. The statue of the Moor by Gian Lorenzo Bernini was added in 1653. The originals of the figures were moved to the Villa Borghese in 1871.
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The obelisk presently in the Plaza Navona in Rome was created in Aswan, Egypt at the request of Emperor Domitian in the 1st century A.D. At one time it stood in the Circus Maximus. The obelisk is surrounded by the Fountain of Four Rivers (Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi) built by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1651. The fountain shows four river gods representing four continents under papal authority. The gods stand for the Nile, Danube, Ganges, and Platte.
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The Pantheon in the Plaza della Rotonda in Rome. Its current form dates from about A.D. 126 when the Emperor Hadrian rebuilt it over Marcus Agrippa's original temple dating from 27 B.C. The temple was dedicated to the classical gods. The name comes from the Greek words pan (all) and theos (god). The Pantheon has been a Christian church since about 608.
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Interior of the Pantheon in Rome. The dome was one of the most important Roman architectural achievements. It is the largest masonry vault built is a perfect semi sphere (the diameter is equal to the interior height - 43.3 m (142 ft)). Light is provided by an oculus, a 9 m (29.5 ft) opening in the dome.
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The Trevi Fountain in Rome. The baroque fountain was designed by Nicola Salvi in 1732. It depicts Neptune's chariot being led by Tritons with sea horses - one wild and one docile - representing the various moods of the sea.
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The mild eruptions of Italy's Stromboli volcano are so frequent and numerous that an entire style of volcanism - strombolian - is named after the volcano. Characteristics of strombolian eruptions are nearly continous lava fountaining and emissions of gas, ash, and volcanic bombs. The sight of lava spraying into the night sky has led folks to nickname Stromboli the "Lighthouse of the Mediterranean." This natural-color satellite image shows the island of Stromboli, the volcano's cloud-covered summit (about 924 m; 3,030 ft above sea level), and a thin volcanic plume on 13 January 2011. The current eruption has continued uninterrupted since 1932. Image courtesy of NASA.
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Located on the Italian island of Sicily, Mt. Etna is one of the world's most active volcanoes. In this false-color satellite image of the volcano in 2001, a plume of steam and smoke rising from the crater drifts over some of the many dark lava flows that cover its slopes. Due to summit eruptions, Mt. Etna's elevation of 3,329 m (10,922 ft) is 21 m (69 ft) lower than it was in 1981. Because of its recent activity and proximity to nearby population centers, it has been designated as a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior. For other active volcanoes in Italy, see the Natural hazards-volcanism subfield in the Geography section. Image courtesy of USGS.
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A view of the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute (Basilica of St. Mary of Health) in Venice, a church constructed as a votive offering for the city's deliverance from a particularly devastating plague in 1630. Construction began in 1631 but was not completed until five decades later, in 1681.
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Looking down on St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice from the campanile (bell tower).
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One of the four gilded lunettes on the facade of St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice.
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A view of the Cathedral of St. Mark's in Venice showing some of the saints adorning its roof, and a peek at its bell tower.
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View of St. Mark's Square in Venice showing the famous Greek horses and the astronomical clock. The bronze horses were originally installed at the Hippodrome in Constantinople and so date back to at least the 4th century. In 1254 they came to Venice where they remained until 1797 when they were brought to Paris by Napoleon. In 1815 they were returned to Venice. The originals are now in St. Mark's Museum. The original astronomical clock was built between 1496-99. It has been renovated many times, most recently in 1996.
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Gondolas on the Grand Canal. A gondola is a traditional flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, hand-made using eight different types of wood and composed of 280 pieces.
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A view of San Giorgio Maggiore Island in Venice showing the Benedictine monastery established in 982 and the church of San Giorgio Maggiore (St. George the Great) designed by Palladio, which was begun in 1566 and completed in 1610.
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San Giorgio Maggiore Island in Venice viewed from St. Mark's campanile.
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A view of San Giorgio Maggiore Island in Venice across the sparkling waters of the lagoon with gondolas in the foreground.
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The Basilica of San Giorgio Maggiore (St. George the Great) on the eponymous island in Venice.
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A gondola winds its way through a Venice canal.
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The Rialto Bridge was one of the first bridges to span the Grand Canal in Venice allowing residents to access the Rialto Market. The structure was originally constructed of wood, but after it collapsed twice under the weight of residents watching boat races, it was replaced by a stone bridge in 1591.
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The Grand Canal, one of the major water-traffic corridors in Venice, as seen from the Rialto Bridge.
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Colorfully painted houses on the island of Burano in Venice.
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Moored boats along a quiet Venetian canal.
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Gondola on a Venetian canal approaching the Bridge of Sighs.
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The Bridge of Sighs over one of many canals in Venice was built in 1602 and connects the old prisons with the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. The name was applied by Lord Byron.
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Carnivale is a yearly holiday that starts two weeks before Ash Wednesday and ends on Shrove Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday). It has been banned at certain times in Venice's history, but after 1979 it became a growing tourist attraction. Many of the masks worn at Carnavale are considered works of art.
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The Alps march across this image of Autumnal (early October) southern Europe. On either side of and above the Alps are the countries of (from left to right) France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Slovenia, while below the Alps is Italy. The Mediterranean and Ligurian Seas sit to the west of Italy, while to the right is the Adriatic Sea. As the season progresses, snow begins to whiten the Alps. Image courtesy of NASA.
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The brightly lit metropolitan areas of Torino (Italy), Lyon, and Marseille (both in France) stand out amidst numerous smaller urban areas in this dramatic photo from the international space station. The image captures the nighttime appearance of the France-Italy border. The southwestern end of the Alps Mountains separates the two countries. The island of Corsica is visible in the Ligurian Sea to the south (image top). The full moon reflects brightly on the water surface and also illuminates the tops of low patchy clouds over the border (center). Image courtesy of NASA.
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The village of San Pietro (Saint Peter) is at the entrance of Val Gardena (Gardena Valley) in the Dolomites.
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The residents of Ortisei, a town in the Val Gardena, speak Ladin, a Rhaeto-Romance language. Their economy is based on tourism.
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Val Gardena is one of the top ski locales in Italy.
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Cross-country skiing in Val Gardena. During the summer, tourists enjoy hiking in the area.
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The building of Castle Tyrol began in the 11th century; further construction took place during the following two centuries. The fortress was the residence of the Counts of Tyrol until 1363 when the Hapsburgs took possession. It is now home to the South Tyrol Museum of History, and is also known for its castle chapel frescoes and two distinctive Romanesque portals.
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View of the town of Meran from Castle Tyrol. The town is renowned for its spa resorts.
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A view of Tyrol Castle and its surrounding rugged mountains.
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A scenic view of the town of Meran nestled in the mountains.
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Malcesine is an old medieval town on the eastern shore of Lago di Garda, Italy's largest lake.
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Castello Scaligero, which has 13th century fortifications and an even older medieval tower, was home to the della Scala family who ruled the region in the 13th century. An Etruscan tomb has been found in the castle walls.
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The Church of Sts. Philip and James in Cortina was completed in 1775; its tower was built between 1851 and 1858.
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Val Gardena in the Dolomites is one of five valleys in northern Italy with a majority of Ladin speakers. Nestled in the valley are three towns: Ortisei, the main settlement; Selva, the best known ski resort; and Santa Cristina, which lies between the other two towns.
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The Dolomites around Cortina are part of the Italian-speaking center of the Alps.
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Street scene in Ortesei, the main town in the ski resort of Val Gardena in the Dolomites. In the center of the photo is St. Anthony's Chapel, built in 1673 on the main square.
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Mountain scene in the Dolomites near Val Gardena.
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Looking out over the Dolomites.
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Italian cattle in the Dolomites.
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A foal and mare in the Dolomites.
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Sunset in the Dolomites.
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A view of a vineyard in Tuscany.
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A farmhouse at a winery in Siena.
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A grapevine at a vineyard in the town of San Giovanni.
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For more than 240 million years the region now known as Italy has been the scene of episodic volcanic activity. East-southeast of Napoli (Naples) stands the imposing cone of Vesuvius, which erupted explosively in A.D. 79 to bury Pompeii and Herculaneum. The Appenine ranges extend from northern Italy, down the boot of the peninsula and westward into Sicily. This photograph shows the Appenino Napoletano part of the mountain chain. Image courtesy of NASA.
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A view of some of the ruins at Pompeii, buried in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79 and not rediscovered until the 18th century.
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The forum at Pompeii with Mt. Vesuvius in the background.
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Floor mosaic in Pompeii, the Roman town buried in the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79. Pompeii is a short distance from the Gulf of Naples and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Part of a Roman home buried in Pompeii by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79. The ancient tragedy proved a boon for historians and archaeologists, since it provided a snapshot of Roman life from the 1st century.
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Dawn in Assisi reveals the dome of the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (St. Mary of the Angels).
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This southerly-looking view taken from onboard the space shuttle, shows the triangular-shaped island of Sicily. With only very limited coastal plains, the island's topography consists of rugged hills and low mountains. Snow-capped Mt. Etna is visible near the northeast point of the island. Some other distinctive features in this image are the lighter-colored zone of suspended sediment in the water along the southern coast, in the middle distance, the smaller islands of Malta, and off to the south, across the Mediterranean, the north African shore. Image courtesy of NASA.
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The Strait of Messina separates Sicily (left-west) from the mainland of Italy (right-east) and also provides a water passage, connecting the Tyrrhenian Sea with the Ionian Sea. The landscape on both sides of the strait is characterized by rugged mountainous terrain, short-flowing rivers, and clustered urban areas along the narrow coastline. The concentration of lighter colored areas along the shoreline identifies the location of Messina (Sicily) and Reggio di Calabria (Italy). Image courtesy of NASA.
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Mt. Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe, looms over rooftops on the island of Sicily.
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A Sicilian windmill.
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The Santuario di Cristo Re (Sanctuary of Christ the King) in Messina, Sicily was built in 1937 after previous constructions on the same site were destroyed by two earthquakes. The edifice has a commanding view of the city and the port.
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The Greek Theater at Taormina on the east coast of Sicily.
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The city of Naxos in Sicily lies at the foot of Mount Etna. The resort city of Taormina is 7 km (4.5 mi) in the distance.
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Closer view of the city of Naxos in Sicily on the slopes of Mount Etna.
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View of the town of Savoca in northeast Sicily.
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The Church of Saint Nicholas in Savoca in northeast Sicily. The wedding scene in the movie "The Godfather" was filmed in front of this church.
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View of the town of Savoca from the Church of Saint Nicholas.
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Street scene in Savoca with an Arab watch tower in the background.
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Arab watch tower outside the town of Savoca in Sicily.
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The Church of Saint Francis (or Saint Catherine) in Forza d'Agro, Sicily where scenes from the Godfather Trilogy were filmed. Built in the 15th century by Franciscan friars, the church faces the town hall square; it was restored in 1991.
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Steps leading to the Church of the Holy Trinity and to the Convento Agostiniano (Augustinian Convent) in Forza d'Agro in Sicily. The arch is named the Porta Durazzo.
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The Church of the Holy Trinity in Forza d'Agro, Sicily is also referred to as Saint Augustine's Church, because of the adjacent Augustinian Convent (Convento Agostiniano). The church was built in the 15th century and restored in 1576; the convent was constructed between 1559 and 1591.
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The Colosseum ruins from the outside in Rome.
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A view of the upper portions of the Roman Colosseum showing many of its arches.
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Close-up of some of the arches of the Roman Colosseum.
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The Colosseum in Rome, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire, could seat 50,000. Begun about A.D. 70 and completed in A.D. 80, it accommodated dramas, games, and spectacles. This is a view of its ruins from the inside.
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A nighttime view of the Roman Colosseum.
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A close-up of the Pantheon in Rome.
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Part of the inscription on the facade of the Pantheon in Rome naming Marcus Agrippa as the builder. The structure was dedicated in 27 B.C. as a temple to all the gods.
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The main altar of the Pantheon in Rome. Originally constructed in 27 B.C., the Pantheon was rebuilt by the Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 126; it became a Roman Catholic church in the 7th century. The tombs of Raphael, two Italian kings, and various other notables are located in the Pantheon. It is considered one of the best preserved of all Roman buildings. Its dome, 43.3 m (142 ft) wide and constructed of unreinforced concrete, sets it apart from other structures of the time.
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A view of the Forum in Rome.
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The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill as seen through the Arch of Septimius Severus in Rome. The Arch was constructed in A.D. 203.
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Evening at the Forum in Rome. Note the Colosseum in the distance.
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A nighttime view of Trajan's Market in Rome. Now a complex of ruins, it was built in A.D. 100-110. Its upper floor was filled by offices; a road divided it from the lower floor, which held shops.
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Piazza della Republica (Plaza of the Republic) looking down Via Nazionale in Rome. The Fountain of the Naiads was construced in 1901.
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The Piazza Navona in Rome is surrounded by Baroque Era buildings and has been used for markets, theatrical shows, and horse races. Its Fountain of the Four Rivers was sculpted by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1651.
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One of the alegorical statues at the foot of the Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II (National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II) in Rome. Victor Emmanuel was the first king of a unified Italy, ruling from 1861-1878.
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A view of Canopus, a sanctuary to the god Serapis, located in Tivoli at the Villa of Emperor Hadrian (also known as Villa Adriana). The villa complex was created as a retreat for the emperor.
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Another view of Canopus, sanctuary of the god Serapis, at Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli.
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Statue of St. Benedict at the Abbey of Monte Cassino, about 130 km (80 mi) southeast of Rome. Benedict established his first monastery here in about 529; it became the source for the Benedictine Order.
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The Salentino Peninsula (bottom of image), also known as "the heel of Italy," is the elongated promontory that juts southeasterly from the larger Italian Peninsula. This peninsula is bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the northeast (bottom of image) and the Gulf of Taranto to the southwest (center of image). The peninsula consists of gently rolling hills and coastal plains, thereby promoting an agrarian economy. The numerous, light-colored spots seen throughout the peninsula show the location of small agricultural towns and villages. Photo courtesy of NASA.
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The "boot" of Italy is visible running diagonally southward from the horizon across the center of the frame, with the night lights of Rome and Naples being visible on the coast near the center. Sardinia and Corsica are just above left center of the photo, and Sicily is at lower left. The Adriatic Sea is on the other side of Italy, and beyond it to the east and north can be seen parts of several other European nations. Image courtesy of NASA.
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Rich in antiquities and picturesque landscapes, the island provinces of Corsica, France, (top) and Sardinia, Italy, (bottom) have captured the imaginations of historians and poets alike for centuries. Corsica, crowned with snow-capped mountains, jeweled with shimmering lakes, and cloaked in misty emerald forests, is situated in the Mediterranean Sea southeast of mainland France. The island has almost 1,700 hills and mountains, and is carved by an extensive network of rivers. Across the Strait of Bonifacio to the south is Sardinia, the Mediterranean's second largest island. Stretching across the central, eastern part of Sardinia is the rugged terrain of Gennargentu - mountainous, thickly vegetated, and mostly uninhabited. The port city of Cagliari sits on the large bay on Sardinia's southern coast. Photo courtesy of NASA.
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- Introduction :: Italy
- Background: This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.

  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 and the European Economic Community (EEC) and its subsequent 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.

  ITALY SUMMARY: PDF
- Geography :: Italy
- Location: This entry identifies the country's regional location, neighboring countries, and adjacent bodies of water.
  Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
  Geographic coordinates: This entry includes rounded latitude and longitude figures for the centroid or center point of a country expressed in degrees and minutes; it is based on the locations provided in the Geographic Names Server (GNS), maintained by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency on behalf of the US Board on Geographic Names.
  42 50 N, 12 50 E
  Map references: This entry includes the name of the Factbook reference map on which a country may be found. Note that boundary representations on these maps are not necessarily authoritative. The entry on Geographic coordinates may be helpful in finding some smaller countries.
  Europe
  Area: This entry includes three subfields. Total area is the sum of all land and water areas delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines. Land area is the aggregate of all surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines, excluding inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). Water area is the sum of the surfaces of all inland water bodies, such as lakes, reservoirs, or rivers, as delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines.
  total: 301,340 sq km
  land: 294,140 sq km
  water: 7,200 sq km

  note: includes Sardinia and Sicily

  country comparison to the world: 73
  Area - comparative: This entry provides an area comparison based on total area equivalents. Most entities are compared with the entire US or one of the 50 states based on area measurements (1990 revised) provided by the US Bureau of the Census. The smaller entities are compared with Washington, DC (178 sq km, 69 sq mi) or The Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 sq km, 0.23 sq mi, 146 acres).
  almost twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona
  Area comparison map:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Europe :: Italy Print
  Image Description

  almost twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona

  Land boundaries: This entry contains the total length of all land boundaries and the individual lengths for each of the contiguous border countries. When available, official lengths published by national statistical agencies are used. Because surveying methods may differ, country border lengths reported by contiguous countries may differ.
  total: 1,836.4 km
  border countries (6): Austria 404 km, France 476 km, Holy See (Vatican City) 3.4 km, San Marino 37 km, Slovenia 218 km, Switzerland 698 km
  Coastline: This entry gives the total length of the boundary between the land area (including islands) and the sea.
  7,600 km
  Maritime claims: This entry includes the following claims, the definitions of which are excerpted from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which alone contains the full and definitive descriptions: territorial sea - the sovereignty of a coastal state extends beyond its land territory and internal waters to an adjacent belt of sea, described as the territorial sea in the UNCLOS (Part II); this sovereignty extends to the air space over the territorial sea as well as its . . . more
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  Climate: This entry includes a brief description of typical weather regimes throughout the year.
  predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
  Terrain: This entry contains a brief description of the topography.
  mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
  Elevation: This entry includes both the mean elevation and the elevation extremes.
  mean elevation: 538 m
  elevation extremes: 0 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea
  4748 highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur (a secondary peak of Mont Blanc)
  Natural resources: This entry lists a country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and other resources of commercial importance, such as rare earth elements (REEs). In general, products appear only if they make a significant contribution to the economy, or are likely to do so in the future.
  coal, antimony, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land
  Land use: This entry contains the percentage shares of total land area for three different types of land use: agricultural land, forest, and other; agricultural land is further divided into arable land - land cultivated for crops like wheat, maize, and rice that are replanted after each harvest, permanent crops - land cultivated for crops like citrus, coffee, and rubber that are not replanted after each harvest, and includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, and permane . . . more
  agricultural land: 47.1% (2011 est.)
  arable land: 22.8% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 8.6% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 15.7% (2011 est.)
  forest: 31.4% (2011 est.)
  other: 21.5% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land: This entry gives the number of square kilometers of land area that is artificially supplied with water.
  39,500 sq km (2012)
  Population distribution: This entry provides a summary description of the population dispersion within a country. While it may suggest population density, it does not provide density figures.
  despite a distinctive pattern with an industrial north and an agrarian south, 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: This entry lists potential natural disasters. For countries where volcanic activity is common, a volcanism subfield highlights historically active volcanoes.

  regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice

  volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Etna (3,330 m), which is in eruption as of 2010, is Europe's most active volcano; flank eruptions pose a threat to nearby Sicilian villages; Etna, along with the famous Vesuvius, which remains a threat to the millions of nearby residents in the Bay of Naples area, 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

  Environment - current issues: This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry: Acidification - the lowering of soil and water pH due to acid precipitation and deposition usually through precipitation; this process disrupts ecosystem nutrient flows and may kill freshwater fish and plants dependent on more neutral or alkaline conditions (see acid rain). Acid rain - characterized as containing harmful levels of sulfur dioxi . . . more
  air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities
  Environment - international agreements: This entry separates country participation in international environmental agreements into two levels - party to and signed, but not ratified. Agreements are listed in alphabetical order by the abbreviated form of the full name.
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
  Geography - note: This entry includes miscellaneous geographic information of significance not included elsewhere.
  strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
- People and Society :: Italy
- Population: This entry gives an estimate from the US Bureau of the Census based on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys pertaining to the recent past and on assumptions about future trends. The total population presents one overall measure of the potential impact of the country on the world and within its region. Note: Starting with the 1993 Factbook, demographic estimates for some countries (mostly African) have explicitly taken into account t . . . more
  62,246,674 (July 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 23
  Nationality: This entry provides the identifying terms for citizens - noun and adjective.
  noun: Italian(s)
  adjective: Italian
  Ethnic groups: This entry provides an ordered listing of ethnic groups starting with the largest and normally includes the percent of total population.
  Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south)
  Languages: This entry provides a listing of languages spoken in each country and specifies any that are official national or regional languages. When data is available, the languages spoken in each country are broken down according to the percent of the total population speaking each language as a first language. For those countries without available data, languages are listed in rank order based on prevalence, starting with the most-spoken language.
  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)
  Religions: This entry is an ordered listing of religions by adherents starting with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total population. The core characteristics and beliefs of the world's major religions are described below. Baha'i - Founded by Mirza Husayn-Ali (known as Baha'u'llah) in Iran in 1852, Baha'i faith emphasizes monotheism and believes in one eternal transcendent God. Its guiding focus is to encourage the unity of all peoples on the earth so that justice and peace m . . . more
  Christian 80% (overwhelmingly Roman Catholic with very small groups of Jehovah's Witnesses and Protestants), Muslim (about 800,000 to 1 million), atheist and agnostic 20%
  Age structure: This entry provides the distribution of the population according to age. Information is included by sex and age group as follows: 0-14 years (children), 15-24 years (early working age), 25-54 years (prime working age), 55-64 years (mature working age), 65 years and over (elderly). The age structure of a population affects a nation's key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older population . . . more
  0-14 years: 13.6% (male 4,326,862 /female 4,136,562)
  15-24 years: 9.61% (male 2,994,651 /female 2,984,172)
  25-54 years: 41.82% (male 12,845,442 /female 13,183,240)
  55-64 years: 13.29% (male 4,012,640 /female 4,261,956)
  65 years and over: 21.69% (male 5,817,819 /female 7,683,330) (2018 est.)
  population pyramid:
  The World Factbook Field Image Modal
  Europe :: Italy Print
  Image Description
  This is the population pyramid for Italy. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.
  For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
  Dependency ratios: Dependency ratios are a measure of the age structure of a population. They relate the number of individuals that are likely to be economically "dependent" on the support of others. Dependency ratios contrast the ratio of youths (ages 0-14) and the elderly (ages 65+) to the number of those in the working-age group (ages 15-64). Changes in the dependency ratio provide an indication of potential social support requirements resulting from changes in population age structures. As fertility lev . . . more
  total dependency ratio: 56.5 (2015 est.)
  youth dependency ratio: 21.5 (2015 est.)
  elderly dependency ratio: 35 (2015 est.)
  potential support ratio: 2.9 (2015 est.)
  Median age: This entry is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older. It is a single index that summarizes the age distribution of a population. Currently, the median age ranges from a low of about 15 in Niger and Uganda to 40 or more in several European countries and Japan. See the entry for "Age structure" for the importance of a young versus an older age structure and, by implication, a low versus a high . . . more
  total: 45.8 years
  male: 44.7 years
  female: 46.9 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Population growth rate: The average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid population growth can be seen as . . . more
  0.16% (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 183
  Birth rate: This entry gives the average annual number of births during a year per 1,000 persons in the population at midyear; also known as crude birth rate. The birth rate is usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of population growth. It depends on both the level of fertility and the age structure of the population.
  8.5 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 216
  Death rate: This entry gives the average annual number of deaths during a year per 1,000 population at midyear; also known as crude death rate. The death rate, while only a rough indicator of the mortality situation in a country, accurately indicates the current mortality impact on population growth. This indicator is significantly affected by age distribution, and most countries will eventually show a rise in the overall death rate, in spite of continued decline in mortality at all ages, as declining . . . more
  10.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Net migration rate: This entry includes the figure for the difference between the number of persons entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons (based on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the country is referred to as net immigration (e.g., 3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an excess of persons leaving the country as net emigration (e.g., -9.26 migrants/1,000 population). The net migration rate indicates the contribution of migration to the overall level of population chan . . . more
  3.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 31
  Population distribution: This entry provides a summary description of the population dispersion within a country. While it may suggest population density, it does not provide density figures.
  despite a distinctive pattern with an industrial north and an agrarian south, 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: This entry provides two measures of the degree of urbanization of a population. The first, urban population, describes the percentage of the total population living in urban areas, as defined by the country. The second, rate of urbanization, describes the projected average rate of change of the size of the urban population over the given period of time. Additionally, the World entry includes a list of the ten largest urban agglomerations. An urban agglomeration is defined as comprising th . . . more
  urban population: 70.4% of total population (2018)
  rate of urbanization: 0.29% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
  Major urban areas - population: This entry provides the population of the capital and up to six major cities defined as urban agglomerations with populations of at least 750,000 people. An urban agglomeration is defined as comprising the city or town proper and also the suburban fringe or thickly settled territory lying outside of, but adjacent to, the boundaries of the city. For smaller countries, lacking urban centers of 750,000 or more, only the population of the capital is presented.
  4.21 million ROME (capital), 3.132 million Milan, 2.198 million Naples, 1.786 million Turin, 874,000 Bergamo, 854,000 Palermo (2018)
  Sex ratio: This entry includes the number of males for each female in five age groups - at birth, under 15 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over, and for the total population. Sex ratio at birth has recently emerged as an indicator of certain kinds of sex discrimination in some countries. For instance, high sex ratios at birth in some Asian countries are now attributed to sex-selective abortion and infanticide due to a strong preference for sons. This will affect future marriage patterns and fertilit . . . more
  at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
  Mother's mean age at first birth: This entry provides the mean (average) age of mothers at the birth of their first child. It is a useful indicator for gauging the success of family planning programs aiming to reduce maternal mortality, increase contraceptive use – particularly among married and unmarried adolescents – delay age at first marriage, and improve the health of newborns.
  30.7 years (2014 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate: The maternal mortality rate (MMR) is the annual number of female deaths per 100,000 live births from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management (excluding accidental or incidental causes). The MMR includes deaths during pregnancy, childbirth, or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, for a specified year.
  4 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Infant mortality rate: This entry gives the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year. This rate is often used as an indicator of the level of health in a country.
  total: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  male: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  female: 3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 210
  Life expectancy at birth: This entry contains the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the future. Life expectancy at birth is also a measure of overall quality of life in a country and summarizes the mortality at all ages. It can also be thought of as indicating the potential return on investment in human capital and is necessary for the calculation of various actuarial measures.
  total population: 82.4 years (2018 est.)
  male: 79.7 years (2018 est.)
  female: 85.2 years (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Total fertility rate: This entry gives a figure for the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age. The total fertility rate (TFR) is a more direct measure of the level of fertility than the crude birth rate, since it refers to births per woman. This indicator shows the potential for population change in the country. A rate of two children per woman is considered the replaceme . . . more
  1.45 children born/woman (2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Contraceptive prevalence rate: This field gives the percent of women of reproductive age (15-49) who are married or in union and are using, or whose sexual partner is using, a method of contraception according to the date of the most recent available data. The contraceptive prevalence rate is an indicator of health services, development, and women’s empowerment. It is also useful in understanding, past, present, and future fertility trends, especially in developing countries.
  65.1% (2013)

  note: percent of women aged 18-49

  Health expenditures: This entry provides the total expenditure on health as a percentage of GDP. Health expenditures are broadly defined as activities performed either by institutions or individuals through the application of medical, paramedical, and/or nursing knowledge and technology, the primary purpose of which is to promote, restore, or maintain health.
  9.2% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Physicians density: This entry gives the number of medical doctors (physicians), including generalist and specialist medical practitioners, per 1,000 of the population. Medical doctors are defined as doctors that study, diagnose, treat, and prevent illness, disease, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans through the application of modern medicine. They also plan, supervise, and evaluate care and treatment plans by other health care providers. The World Health Organization estimates that f . . . more
  4.02 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
  Hospital bed density: This entry provides the number of hospital beds per 1,000 people; it serves as a general measure of inpatient service availability. Hospital beds include inpatient beds available in public, private, general, and specialized hospitals and rehabilitation centers. In most cases, beds for both acute and chronic care are included. Because the level of inpatient services required for individual countries depends on several factors - such as demographic issues and the burden of disease - there is . . . more
  3.4 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source: This entry provides information about access to improved or unimproved drinking water sources available to segments of the population of a country. Improved drinking water - use of any of the following sources: piped water into dwelling, yard, or plot; public tap or standpipe; tubewell or borehole; protected dug well; protected spring; or rainwater collection. Unimproved drinking water - use of any of the following sources: unprotected dug well; unprotected spring; cart with small tank or . . . more
  improved: urban: 100% of population
  rural: 100% of population
  total: 100% of population
  unimproved: urban: 0% of population
  rural: 0% of population
  total: 0% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access: This entry provides information about access to improved or unimproved sanitation facilities available to segments of the population of a country. Improved sanitation - use of any of the following facilities: flush or pour-flush to a piped sewer system, septic tank or pit latrine; ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine; pit latrine with slab; or a composting toilet. Unimproved sanitation - use of any of the following facilities: flush or pour-flush not piped to a sewer system, septic tank . . . more
  improved: urban: 99.5% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 99.6% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 99.5% of population (2015 est.)
  unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population (2015 est.)
  rural: 0.4% of population (2015 est.)
  total: 0.5% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: This entry gives an estimate of the percentage of adults (aged 15-49) living with HIV/AIDS. The adult prevalence rate is calculated by dividing the estimated number of adults living with HIV/AIDS at yearend by the total adult population at yearend.
  0.2% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: This entry gives an estimate of all people (adults and children) alive at yearend with HIV infection, whether or not they have developed symptoms of AIDS.
  130,000 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  HIV/AIDS - deaths: This entry gives an estimate of the number of adults and children who died of AIDS during a given calendar year.
  <1000 (2017 est.)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate: This entry gives the percent of a country's population considered to be obese. Obesity is defined as an adult having a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater to or equal to 30.0. BMI is calculated by taking a person's weight in kg and dividing it by the person's squared height in meters.
  19.9% (2016)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Education expenditures: This entry provides the public expenditure on education as a percent of GDP.
  4.1% of GDP (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Literacy: This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of the Factbook. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measu . . . more
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
  total population: 99.2% (2015 est.)
  male: 99.4% (2015 est.)
  female: 99% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): School life expectancy (SLE) is the total number of years of schooling (primary to tertiary) that a child can expect to receive, assuming that the probability of his or her being enrolled in school at any particular future age is equal to the current enrollment ratio at that age. Caution must be maintained when utilizing this indicator in international comparisons. For example, a year or grade completed in one country is not necessarily the same in terms of educational content or qualit . . . more
  total: 16 years (2014)
  male: 16 years (2014)
  female: 17 years (2014)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: This entry gives the percent of the total labor force ages 15-24 unemployed during a specified year.
  total: 37.8% (2016 est.)
  male: 36.5% (2016 est.)
  female: 39.6% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
- Government :: Italy
- Country name: This entry includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.
  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, but the Latin "Italia" may come from the Oscan "Viteliu" meaning "[Land] of Young Cattle" (the bull was a symbol of southern Italic tribes)
  Government type: This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows. (Note that for some countries more than one definition applies.): Absolute monarchy - a form of government where the monarch rules unhindered, i.e., without any laws, constitution, or legally organized opposition. Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by the absence of governmental authority. Authoritarian - a form of government in whic . . . more
  parliamentary republic
  Capital: This entry gives the name of the seat of government, its geographic coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.
  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
  Administrative divisions: This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by the BGN are noted. Geographic names conform to spellings approved by the BGN with the exception of the omission of diacritical marks and special characters.

  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 Vallee d'Aoste (French)

  Independence: For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. For a number of countries, the establishment of statehood . . . more
  17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1871)
  National holiday: This entry gives the primary national day of celebration - usually independence day.
  Republic Day, 2 June (1946)
  Constitution: This entry provides information on a country’s constitution and includes two subfields. The history subfield includes the dates of previous constitutions and the main steps and dates in formulating and implementing the latest constitution. For countries with 1-3 previous constitutions, the years are listed; for those with 4-9 previous, the entry is listed as “several previous,” and for those with 10 or more, the entry is “many previous.” The amendments subfield summarizes the process of am . . . more
  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 (2017)
  amendments: 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 five 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; amended many times, last in 2012; note - a referendum held on 4 December 2016 on constitutional amendments was defeated (2017)
  Legal system: This entry provides the description of a country's legal system. A statement on judicial review of legislative acts is also included for a number of countries. The legal systems of nearly all countries are generally modeled upon elements of five main types: civil law (including French law, the Napoleonic Code, Roman law, Roman-Dutch law, and Spanish law); common law (including United State law); customary law; mixed or pluralistic law; and religious law (including Islamic law). An addition . . . more
  civil law system; judicial review of legislation under certain conditions in Constitutional Court
  International law organization participation: This entry includes information on a country's acceptance of jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and of the International Criminal Court (ICCt); 59 countries have accepted ICJ jurisdiction with reservations and 11 have accepted ICJ jurisdiction without reservations; 122 countries have accepted ICCt jurisdiction. Appendix B: International Organizations and Groups explains the differing mandates of the ICJ and ICCt.
  accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Citizenship: This entry provides information related to the acquisition and exercise of citizenship; it includes four subfields: citizenship by birth describes the acquisition of citizenship based on place of birth, known as Jus soli, regardless of the citizenship of parents. citizenship by descent only describes the acquisition of citizenship based on the principle of Jus sanguinis, or by descent, where at least one parent is a citizen of the state and being born within the territorial limits of the . . . more
  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: This entry gives the age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted.
  18 years of age; universal except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25
  Judicial branch: This entry includes three subfields. The highest court(s) subfield includes the name(s) of a country's highest level court(s), the number and titles of the judges, and the types of cases heard by the court, which commonly are based on civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional law. A number of countries have separate constitutional courts. The judge selection and term of office subfield includes the organizations and associated officials responsible for nominating and appointing j . . . more
  highest courts: Supreme Court of Cassation or Corte Suprema di Cassazione consists of the first president (chief justice), 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, courts, and courts of appeal)
  Executive branch: This entry includes five subentries: chief of state; head of government; cabinet; elections/appointments; election results. Chief of state includes the name, title, and beginning date in office of the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government. Head of government includes the name, title of the top executive designated to manage the executive branch of the government, a . . . more
  chief of state: President Sergio MATTARELLA (since 3 February 2015)
  head of government: Prime Minister Giuseppe CONTE (since 1 June 2018); the prime minister's official title is President of the Council of Ministers
  cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, known officially as the President of the Council of Ministers and locally as the Premier; nominated by the president
  elections/appointments: 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); election last held on 31 January 2015 (next to be held in 2022); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by parliament
  election results: Sergio MATTARELLA (PD) elected president; electoral college vote count in fourth round - 665 out of 1,009 (505-vote threshold)
  Legislative branch: This entry has three subfields. The description subfield provides the legislative structure (unicameral – single house; bicameral – an upper and a lower house); formal name(s); number of member seats; types of constituencies or voting districts (single seat, multi-seat, nationwide); electoral voting system(s); and member term of office. The elections subfield includes the dates of the last election and next election. The election results subfield lists percent of vote by party/coalition an . . . more
  description: bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of:
  Senate or Senato della Repubblica (321 seats; 116 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 193 members in multi-seat constituencies and 6 members in multi-seat constituencies abroad directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 6 ex-officio members appointed by the president of the Republic to serve for life)
  Chamber of Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; 629 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 1 member from Valle d'Aosta elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)
  elections:
  Senate - last held on 4 March 2018 (next to be held on March 2023)
  Chamber of Deputies - last held on 4 March 2018 (next to be held on March 2023); President MATTARELLA dissolved parliament on 28 December 2017, triggering an early election
  election results:
  Senate - percent of vote by party - center-right coalition 37.5% (L 17.6%, FI 14.4%, FdI 4.3%, UdC 1.2%), M5S 32.2%, center-left coalition (PD 19.1%, +E 2.3%, I 0.5%, CP 0.5%, SVP-PATT 0.4%), LeU 3.3%; seats by party - center-right coalition 77(L 37, FI 33, FdI 7), M5S 68, center-left coalition 44(PD 43, SVP-PATT 1), LeU 4; composition - men208, women 113, percent of women 35.2%
  Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - center-right coalition 37% (L 17.4%, FI 14%, FdI 4.4%, UdC 1.3%), M5S 33%, center-left coalition 22.9% (PD 18.8%, E+ 2.6%, I 0.6%, CP 0.5%, SVP-PATT 0.4%); seats by party - center-right coalition 151 (L73, FI 59, FdI 19), M5S 133, center-left coalition 88 (PD 86, SVP 2), LeU 14; composition - men 451, women 179, percent of women 28.4%; note - total Parliament percent of women 30.7%
  Political parties and leaders: This entry includes a listing of significant political parties, coalitions, and electoral lists as of each country's last legislative election, unless otherwise noted.
  Ruling left-center-right coalition: Civic Choice or SC [Enrico ZANETTI]; Democratic Centre or CD [Bruno TABACCI]; Democratic Party or PD [Maurizio MARTINA]; Popular Alliance or AP [Angelino ALFANO] (formerly New Center-Right or NCD); Union of the Center or UdC [Pier Fernando CASSINI]; Center-right opposition: Brothers of Italy-National Alliance or FdI-AN [Giorgia MELONI, Ignazio LA RUSSA, and Guido CROSETTO]; Forza Italia or FI [Silvio BERLUSCONI] (formerly People of Freedom or PdL); Northern League (Lega Nord) or Lega [Matteo SALVINI]; Other parties and parliamentary groups: Democratic and Progressive Movement or MDP [Roberto SPERANZA]; Five Star Movement or M5S [Luigi DI MAIO]; Liberal Popular Alliance or ALA [Denis VERDINI]; Sinistra Italiani or SI [Nicola FRATOIANNI] (formerly Sinistra Ecologia Liberta or SEL); South Tyrolean People's Party or SVP [Philipp ACHAMMER]; Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party (Partito Autonomista Trentino Tirolese) or PATT [Franco PANIZZA, secretary]
  International organization participation: This entry lists in alphabetical order by abbreviation those international organizations in which the subject country is a member or participates in some other way.
  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, MINUSMA, 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, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
  Diplomatic representation in the US: This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery address, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations. The use of the annotated title Appointed Ambassador refers to a new ambassador who has presented his/her credentials to the secretary of state but not the US president. Such ambassadors fulfill all diplomatic functions except meeting with or appearing at functions attended by the president until such time as they formally present their credentials at a White Hou . . . more
  chief of mission: Ambassador Armando VARRICCHIO (since 2 March 2016)
  chancery: 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 612-4400
  FAX: [1] (202) 518-2151
  consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco
  consulate(s): Charlotte (NC), Cleveland (OH), Detroit (MI), Hattiesburg (MS), Honolulu (HI), New Orleans, Newark (NJ), Norfolk (VA), Pittsburgh (PA), Portland (OR), Seattle
  Diplomatic representation from the US: This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.
  chief of mission: Ambassador Lewis EISENBERG (since 4 October 2017); note - also accredited to San Marino
  embassy: Via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187-Rome
  mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624
  telephone: [39] 06-4674-1
  FAX: [39] 06-488-2672
  consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples
  Flag description: This entry provides a written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.
  three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; design inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797; colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard

  note: similar to the flag of Mexico, which is longer, uses darker shades of red and green, and has its coat of arms centered on the white band; Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green

  National symbol(s): A national symbol is a faunal, floral, or other abstract representation - or some distinctive object - that over time has come to be closely identified with a country or entity. Not all countries have national symbols; a few countries have more than one.
  white, five-pointed star (Stella d'Italia); national colors: red, white, green
  National anthem: A generally patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.
  name: "Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians)
  lyrics/music: Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO

  note: adopted 1946; the anthem, originally written in 1847, is also known as "L'Inno di Mameli" (Mameli's Hymn), and "Fratelli D'Italia" (Brothers of Italy)

- Economy :: Italy
- Economy - overview: This entry briefly describes the type of economy, including the degree of market orientation, the level of economic development, the most important natural resources, and the unique areas of specialization. It also characterizes major economic events and policy changes in the most recent 12 months and may include a statement about one or two key future macroeconomic trends.

  Italy’s economy comprises a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less-developed, highly subsidized, agricultural south, with a legacy of unemployment and underdevelopment. The Italian economy is driven in large part by the manufacture of high-quality consumer goods produced by small and medium-sized enterprises, many of them family-owned. Italy also has a sizable underground economy, which by some estimates accounts for as much as 17% of GDP. These activities are most common within the agriculture, construction, and service sectors.

  Italy is the third-largest economy in the euro zone, but its exceptionally high public debt and structural impediments to growth have rendered it vulnerable to scrutiny by financial markets. Public debt has increased steadily since 2007, reaching 131% of GDP in 2017. Investor concerns about Italy and the broader euro-zone crisis eased in 2013, bringing down Italy's borrowing costs on sovereign government debt from euro-era records. The government still faces pressure from investors and European partners to sustain its efforts to address Italy's longstanding structural economic problems, including labor market inefficiencies, a sluggish judicial system, and a weak banking sector. Italy’s economy returned to modest growth in late 2014 for the first time since 2011. In 2015-16, Italy’s economy grew at about 1% each year, and in 2017 growth accelerated to 1.5% of GDP. In 2017, overall unemployment was 11.4%, but youth unemployment remained high at 37.1%. GDP growth is projected to slow slightly in 2018.

  GDP (purchasing power parity): This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices prevailing in the United States in the year noted. This is the measure most economists prefer when looking at per-capita welfare and when comparing living conditions or use of resources across countries. The measur . . . more
  $2.317 trillion (2017 est.)
  $2.282 trillion (2016 est.)
  $2.263 trillion (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 12
  GDP (official exchange rate): This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. A nation's GDP at official exchange rates (OER) is the home-currency-denominated annual GDP figure divided by the bilateral average US exchange rate with that country in that year. The measure is simple to compute and gives a precise measure of the value of output. Many economists prefer this measure when gauging the economic power an economy maintains vis- . . . more
  $1.939 trillion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate: This entry gives GDP growth on an annual basis adjusted for inflation and expressed as a percent. The growth rates are year-over-year, and not compounded.
  1.5% (2017 est.)
  0.9% (2016 est.)
  1% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  GDP - per capita (PPP): This entry shows GDP on a purchasing power parity basis divided by population as of 1 July for the same year.
  $38,200 (2017 est.)
  $37,600 (2016 est.)
  $37,200 (2015 est.)

  note: data are in 2017 dollars

  country comparison to the world: 50
  Gross national saving: Gross national saving is derived by deducting final consumption expenditure (household plus government) from Gross national disposable income, and consists of personal saving, plus business saving (the sum of the capital consumption allowance and retained business profits), plus government saving (the excess of tax revenues over expenditures), but excludes foreign saving (the excess of imports of goods and services over exports). The figures are presented as a percent of GDP. A negative . . . more
  20.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
  19.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
  18.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  GDP - composition, by end use: This entry shows who does the spending in an economy: consumers, businesses, government, and foreigners. The distribution gives the percentage contribution to total GDP of household consumption, government consumption, investment in fixed capital, investment in inventories, exports of goods and services, and imports of goods and services, and will total 100 percent of GDP if the data are complete. household consumption consists of expenditures by resident households, and by nonprofit insti . . . more
  household consumption: 61% (2017 est.)
  government consumption: 18.6% (2017 est.)
  investment in fixed capital: 17.5% (2017 est.)
  investment in inventories: -0.2% (2017 est.)
  exports of goods and services: 31.4% (2017 est.)
  imports of goods and services: -28.3% (2017 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin: This entry shows where production takes place in an economy. The distribution gives the percentage contribution of agriculture, industry, and services to total GDP, and will total 100 percent of GDP if the data are complete. Agriculture includes farming, fishing, and forestry. Industry includes mining, manufacturing, energy production, and construction. Services cover government activities, communications, transportation, finance, and all other private economic activities that do not prod . . . more
  agriculture: 2.1% (2017 est.)
  industry: 23.9% (2017 est.)
  services: 73.9% (2017 est.)
  Agriculture - products: This entry is an ordered listing of major crops and products starting with the most important.
  fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives; beef, dairy products; fish
  Industries: This entry provides a rank ordering of industries starting with the largest by value of annual output.
  tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
  Industrial production growth rate: This entry gives the annual percentage increase in industrial production (includes manufacturing, mining, and construction).
  2.1% (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Labor force: This entry contains the total labor force figure.
  25.94 million (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 24
  Labor force - by occupation: This entry lists the percentage distribution of the labor force by sector of occupation. Agriculture includes farming, fishing, and forestry. Industry includes mining, manufacturing, energy production, and construction. Services cover government activities, communications, transportation, finance, and all other economic activities that do not produce material goods. The distribution will total less than 100 percent if the data are incomplete and may range from 99-101 percent due to rounding. more
  agriculture: 3.9%
  industry: 28.3%
  services: 67.8% (2011)
  Unemployment rate: This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.
  11.3% (2017 est.)
  11.7% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Population below poverty line: National estimates of the percentage of the population falling below the poverty line are based on surveys of sub-groups, with the results weighted by the number of people in each group. Definitions of poverty vary considerably among nations. For example, rich nations generally employ more generous standards of poverty than poor nations.
  29.9% (2012 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share: Data on household income or consumption come from household surveys, the results adjusted for household size. Nations use different standards and procedures in collecting and adjusting the data. Surveys based on income will normally show a more unequal distribution than surveys based on consumption. The quality of surveys is improving with time, yet caution is still necessary in making inter-country comparisons.
  lowest 10%: 26.8% (2000)
  highest 10%: 26.8% (2000)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index: This index measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income in a country. The index is calculated from the Lorenz curve, in which cumulative family income is plotted against the number of families arranged from the poorest to the richest. The index is the ratio of (a) the area between a country's Lorenz curve and the 45 degree helping line to (b) the entire triangular area under the 45 degree line. The more nearly equal a country's income distribution, the closer its . . . more
  31.9 (2012 est.)
  27.3 (1995)
  country comparison to the world: 121
  Budget: This entry includes revenues, expenditures, and capital expenditures. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  revenues: 903.3 billion (2017 est.)
  expenditures: 948.1 billion (2017 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues: This entry records total taxes and other revenues received by the national government during the time period indicated, expressed as a percent of GDP. Taxes include personal and corporate income taxes, value added taxes, excise taxes, and tariffs. Other revenues include social contributions - such as payments for social security and hospital insurance - grants, and net revenues from public enterprises. Normalizing the data, by dividing total revenues by GDP, enables easy comparisons acr . . . more
  46.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): This entry records the difference between national government revenues and expenditures, expressed as a percent of GDP. A positive (+) number indicates that revenues exceeded expenditures (a budget surplus), while a negative (-) number indicates the reverse (a budget deficit). Normalizing the data, by dividing the budget balance by GDP, enables easy comparisons across countries and indicates whether a national government saves or borrows money. Countries with high budget deficits (relat . . . more
  -2.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Public debt: This entry records the cumulative total of all government borrowings less repayments that are denominated in a country's home currency. Public debt should not be confused with external debt, which reflects the foreign currency liabilities of both the private and public sector and must be financed out of foreign exchange earnings.
  131.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
  132% of GDP (2016 est.)

  note: Italy reports its data on public debt according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty; general government gross debt is defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year, in the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises central, state, and local government and social security funds

  country comparison to the world: 5
  Fiscal year: This entry identifies the beginning and ending months for a country's accounting period of 12 months, which often is the calendar year but which may begin in any month. All yearly references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as a noncalendar fiscal year (FY).
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices): This entry furnishes the annual percent change in consumer prices compared with the previous year's consumer prices.
  1.3% (2017 est.)
  -0.1% (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 68
  Central bank discount rate: This entry provides the annualized interest rate a country's central bank charges commercial, depository banks for loans to meet temporary shortages of funds.
  0.25% (31 December 2013)
  0.75% (31 December 2012)

  note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

  country comparison to the world: 139
  Commercial bank prime lending rate: This entry provides a simple average of annualized interest rates commercial banks charge on new loans, denominated in the national currency, to their most credit-worthy customers.
  3% (31 December 2017 est.)
  3.5% (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 174
  Stock of narrow money: This entry, also known as "M1," comprises the total quantity of currency in circulation (notes and coins) plus demand deposits denominated in the national currency held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local governments, nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector of the economy, measured at a specific point in time. National currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange rate for the date of the information. Because of exchange rate moveme . . . more
  $1.347 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $1.101 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)

  note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

  country comparison to the world: 6
  Stock of broad money: This entry covers all of "Narrow money," plus the total quantity of time and savings deposits, credit union deposits, institutional money market funds, short-term repurchase agreements between the central bank and commercial deposit banks, and other large liquid assets held by nonbank financial institutions, state and local governments, nonfinancial public enterprises, and the private sector of the economy. National currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange r . . . more
  $1.347 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $1.101 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Stock of domestic credit: This entry is the total quantity of credit, denominated in the domestic currency, provided by financial institutions to the central bank, state and local governments, public non-financial corporations, and the private sector. The national currency units have been converted to US dollars at the closing exchange rate on the date of the information.
  $3.422 trillion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $3.024 trillion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Market value of publicly traded shares: This entry gives the value of shares issued by publicly traded companies at a price determined in the national stock markets on the final day of the period indicated. It is simply the latest price per share multiplied by the total number of outstanding shares, cumulated over all companies listed on the particular exchange.
  $587.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $615.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  $480.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Current account balance: This entry records a country's net trade in goods and services, plus net earnings from rents, interest, profits, and dividends, and net transfer payments (such as pension funds and worker remittances) to and from the rest of the world during the period specified. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  $53.42 billion (2017 est.)
  $47.64 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Exports: This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise exports on an f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  $496.3 billion (2017 est.)
  $454.1 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Exports - partners: This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
  Germany 12.5%, France 10.3%, US 9%, Spain 5.2%, UK 5.2%, Switzerland 4.6% (2017)
  Exports - commodities: This entry provides a listing of the highest-valued exported products; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
  engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco; minerals, nonferrous metals
  Imports: This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise imports on a c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight) or f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  $432.9 billion (2017 est.)
  $389.8 billion (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 13
  Imports - commodities: This entry provides a listing of the highest-valued imported products; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
  engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing; food, beverages, tobacco
  Imports - partners: This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.
  Germany 16.3%, France 8.8%, China 7.1%, Netherlands 5.6%, Spain 5.3%, Belgium 4.5% (2017)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: This entry gives the dollar value for the stock of all financial assets that are available to the central monetary authority for use in meeting a country's balance of payments needs as of the end-date of the period specified. This category includes not only foreign currency and gold, but also a country's holdings of Special Drawing Rights in the International Monetary Fund, and its reserve position in the Fund.
  $151.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $130.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 16
  Debt - external: This entry gives the total public and private debt owed to nonresidents repayable in internationally accepted currencies, goods, or services. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.
  $2.444 trillion (31 March 2016 est.)
  $2.3 trillion (31 March 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 9
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: This entry gives the cumulative US dollar value of all investments in the home country made directly by residents - primarily companies - of other countries as of the end of the time period indicated. Direct investment excludes investment through purchase of shares.
  $552.1 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $471.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: This entry gives the cumulative US dollar value of all investments in foreign countries made directly by residents - primarily companies - of the home country, as of the end of the time period indicated. Direct investment excludes investment through purchase of shares.
  $671.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
  $584.1 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Exchange rates: This entry provides the average annual price of a country's monetary unit for the time period specified, expressed in units of local currency per US dollar, as determined by international market forces or by official fiat. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4217 alphabetic currency code for the national medium of exchange is presented in parenthesis. Closing daily exchange rates are not presented in The World Factbook, but are used to convert stock values - e.g., the . . . more
  euros (EUR) per US dollar -
  0.885 (2017 est.)
  0.903 (2016 est.)
  0.9214 (2015 est.)
  0.885 (2014 est.)
  0.7634 (2013 est.)
- Energy :: Italy
- Electricity access: This entry provides information on access to electricity. Electrification data – collected from industry reports, national surveys, and international sources – consists of four subfields. Population without electricity provides an estimate of the number of citizens that do not have access to electricity. Electrification – total population is the percent of a country’s total population with access to electricity, electrification – urban areas is the percent of a country’s urban population w . . . more
  electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
  Electricity - production: This entry is the annual electricity generated expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.
  275.3 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 14
  Electricity - consumption: This entry consists of total electricity generated annually plus imports and minus exports, expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.
  293.5 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 13
  Electricity - exports: This entry is the total exported electricity in kilowatt-hours.
  6.155 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 30
  Electricity - imports: This entry is the total imported electricity in kilowatt-hours.
  43.18 billion kWh (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 2
  Electricity - installed generating capacity: This entry is the total capacity of currently installed generators, expressed in kilowatts (kW), to produce electricity. A 10-kilowatt (kW) generator will produce 10 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, if it runs continuously for one hour.
  114.2 million kW (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 10
  Electricity - from fossil fuels: This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity by burning fossil fuels (such as coal, petroleum products, and natural gas), expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
  54% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels: This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity through radioactive decay of nuclear fuel, expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
  0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity by water-driven turbines, expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
  14% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Electricity - from other renewable sources: This entry measures the capacity of plants that generate electricity by using renewable energy sources other than hydroelectric (including, for example, wind, waves, solar, and geothermal), expressed as a share of the country's total generating capacity.
  32% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 14
  Crude oil - production: This entry is the total amount of crude oil produced, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  77,530 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Crude oil - exports: This entry is the total amount of crude oil exported, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  13,790 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 57
  Crude oil - imports: This entry is the total amount of crude oil imported, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  1.341 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 7
  Crude oil - proved reserves: This entry is the stock of proved reserves of crude oil, in barrels (bbl). Proved reserves are those quantities of petroleum which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.
  487.8 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Refined petroleum products - production: This entry is the country's total output of refined petroleum products, in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of refined petroleum products produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.
  1.607 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Refined petroleum products - consumption: This entry is the country's total consumption of refined petroleum products, in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of refined petroleum products produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.
  1.236 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Refined petroleum products - exports: This entry is the country's total exports of refined petroleum products, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  615,900 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 13
  Refined petroleum products - imports: This entry is the country's total imports of refined petroleum products, in barrels per day (bbl/day).
  422,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Natural gas - production: This entry is the total natural gas produced in cubic meters (cu m). The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.
  5.55 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Natural gas - consumption: This entry is the total natural gas consumed in cubic meters (cu m). The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.
  75.15 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Natural gas - exports: This entry is the total natural gas exported in cubic meters (cu m).
  271.8 million cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Natural gas - imports: This entry is the total natural gas imported in cubic meters (cu m).
  69.66 billion cu m (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 5
  Natural gas - proved reserves: This entry is the stock of proved reserves of natural gas in cubic meters (cu m). Proved reserves are those quantities of natural gas, which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.
  38.11 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: This entry is the total amount of carbon dioxide, measured in metric tons, released by burning fossil fuels in the process of producing and consuming energy.
  351 million Mt (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 20
- Communications :: Italy
- Telephones - fixed lines: This entry gives the total number of fixed telephone lines in use, as well as the number of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.
  total subscriptions: 20,700,659 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
  Telephones - mobile cellular: This entry gives the total number of mobile cellular telephone subscribers, as well as the number of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Note that because of the ubiquity of mobile phone use in developed countries, the number of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants can exceed 100.
  total subscriptions: 83,871,543 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Telephone system: This entry includes a brief general assessment of the system with details on the domestic and international components. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry: Arabsat - Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). Autodin - Automatic Digital Network (US Department of Defense). CB - citizen's band mobile radio communications. Cellular telephone system - the telephones in this system are radio transceivers, with each instrument having its o . . . more
  general assessment: modern, well-developed, fast; fully automated telephone, telex, and data services; highest mobile penetration rates in Europe; leading edge of development with 5G; government selects operators for 5G trials in five cities (2017)
  domestic: high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks; 33 per 100 for fixed-line and 135 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2017)
  international: country code - 39; a series of submarine cables provide links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, North Africa, and US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas - 3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and NA Eutelsat; Global Cloud Xchange building the EAGLE submarine cable system linking Italy to Hong Kong; (2017)
  Broadcast media: This entry provides information on the approximate number of public and private TV and radio stations in a country, as well as basic information on the availability of satellite and cable TV services.
  two Italian media giants dominate - the publicly owned Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI) with 3 national terrestrial stations and privately owned Mediaset with 3 national terrestrial stations; a large number of private stations and Sky Italia - a satellite TV network; RAI operates 3 AM/FM nationwide radio stations; about 1,300 commercial radio stations (2007)
  Internet country code: This entry includes the two-letter codes maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the ISO 3166 Alpha-2 list and used by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to establish country-coded top-level domains (ccTLDs).
  .it
  Internet users: This entry gives the total number of individuals within a country who can access the Internet at home, via any device type (computer or mobile) and connection. The percent of population with Internet access (i.e., the penetration rate) helps gauge how widespread Internet use is within a country. Statistics vary from country to country and may include users who access the Internet at least several times a week to those who access it only once within a period of several months.
  total: 38,025,661 (July 2016 est.)
  percent of population: 61.3% (July 2016 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 18
  Broadband - fixed subscriptions: This entry gives the total number of fixed-broadband subscriptions, as well as the number of subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Fixed broadband is a physical wired connection to the Internet (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber) at speeds equal to or greater than 256 kilobits/second (256 kbit/s).
  total: 16,586,376 (2017 est.)
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2017 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 12
- Transportation :: Italy
- National air transport system: This entry includes four subfields describing the air transport system of a given country in terms of both structure and performance. The first subfield, number of registered air carriers, indicates the total number of air carriers registered with the country’s national aviation authority and issued an air operator certificate as required by the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The second subfield, inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers, lists the total number . . . more
  number of registered air carriers: 9 (2015)
  inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 382 (2015)
  annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 26,036,010 (2015)
  annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 945,433,732 mt-km (2015)
  Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: This entry provides the one- or two-character alphanumeric code indicating the nationality of civil aircraft. Article 20 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), signed in 1944, requires that all aircraft engaged in international air navigation bear appropriate nationality marks. The aircraft registration number consists of two parts: a prefix consisting of a one- or two-character alphanumeric code indicating nationality and a registration suffix of one to fi . . . more
  I (2016)
  Airports: This entry gives the total number of airports or airfields recognizable from the air. The runway(s) may be paved (concrete or asphalt surfaces) or unpaved (grass, earth, sand, or gravel surfaces) and may include closed or abandoned installations. Airports or airfields that are no longer recognizable (overgrown, no facilities, etc.) are not included. Note that not all airports have accommodations for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.
  129 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 45
  Airports - with paved runways: This entry gives the total number of airports with paved runways (concrete or asphalt surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m (over 10,000 ft), (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5) under 914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all . . . more
  total: 98 (2017)
  over 3,047 m: 9 (2017)
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 31 (2017)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 (2017)
  914 to 1,523 m: 29 (2017)
  under 914 m: 11 (2017)
  Airports - with unpaved runways: This entry gives the total number of airports with unpaved runways (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m (over 10,000 ft), (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m (8,000 to 10,000 ft), (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m (5,000 to 8,000 ft), (4) 914 to 1,523 m (3,000 to 5,000 ft), and (5) under 914 m (under 3,000 ft). Only airports with usable runways are included in this listin . . . more
  total: 31 (2013)
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
  914 to 1,523 m: 10 (2013)
  under 914 m: 20 (2013)
  Heliports: This entry gives the total number of heliports with hard-surface runways, helipads, or landing areas that support routine sustained helicopter operations exclusively and have support facilities including one or more of the following facilities: lighting, fuel, passenger handling, or maintenance. It includes former airports used exclusively for helicopter operations but excludes heliports limited to day operations and natural clearings that could support helicopter landings and takeoffs.
  5 (2013)
  Pipelines: This entry gives the lengths and types of pipelines for transporting products like natural gas, crude oil, or petroleum products.
  20223 km gas, 1393 km oil, 1574 km refined products (2013)
  Railways: This entry states the total route length of the railway network and of its component parts by gauge, which is the measure of the distance between the inner sides of the load-bearing rails. The four typical types of gauges are: broad, standard, narrow, and dual. Other gauges are listed under note. Some 60% of the world's railways use the standard gauge of 1.4 m (4.7 ft). Gauges vary by country and sometimes within countries. The choice of gauge during initial construction was mainly in resp . . . more
  total: 20,182 km (2014)
  standard gauge: 18,770.1 km 1.435-m gauge (12,893.6 km electrified) (2014)
  narrow gauge: 122.3 km 1.000-m gauge (122.3 km electrified) (2014)
  1289.3 0.950-m gauge (151.3 km electrified)
  country comparison to the world: 14
  Roadways: This entry gives the total length of the road network and includes the length of the paved and unpaved portions.
  total: 487,700 km (2007)
  paved: 487,700 km (includes 6,700 km of expressways) (2007)
  country comparison to the world: 15
  Waterways: This entry gives the total length of navigable rivers, canals, and other inland bodies of water.
  2,400 km (used for commercial traffic; of limited overall value compared to road and rail) (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Merchant marine: Merchant marine may be defined as all ships engaged in the carriage of goods; or all commercial vessels (as opposed to all nonmilitary ships), which excludes tugs, fishing vessels, offshore oil rigs, etc. This entry contains information in four fields - total, ships by type, foreign-owned, and registered in other countries. Total includes the number of ships (1,000 GRT or over), total DWT for those ships, and total GRT for those ships. DWT or dead weight tonnage is the total weight of ca . . . more
  total: 1,430 (2017)
  by type: bulk carrier 65, container ship 10, general cargo 145, oil tanker 135, other 1075 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 20
  Ports and terminals: This entry lists major ports and terminals primarily on the basis of the amount of cargo tonnage shipped through the facilities on an annual basis. In some instances, the number of containers handled or ship visits were also considered. Most ports service multiple classes of vessels including bulk carriers (dry and liquid), break bulk cargoes (goods loaded individually in bags, boxes, crates, or drums; sometimes palletized), containers, roll-on/roll-off, and passenger ships. The listing le . . . more
  major seaport(s): Augusta, Cagliari, Genoa, Livorno, Taranto, Trieste, Venice
  oil terminal(s): Melilli (Santa Panagia) oil terminal, Sarroch oil terminal
  container port(s) (TEUs): Genoa (2,297,917), Gioia Tauro (2,797,000) (2016)
  LNG terminal(s) (import): La Spezia, Panigaglia, Porto Levante
- Military and Security :: Italy
- Military expenditures: This entry gives spending on defense programs for the most recent year available as a percent of gross domestic product (GDP); the GDP is calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). For countries with no military forces, this figure can include expenditures on public security and police.
  1.12% of GDP (2017)
  1.51% of GDP (2016)
  1.39% of GDP (2015)
  1.47% of GDP (2014)
  1.59% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 105
  Military branches: This entry lists the service branches subordinate to defense ministries or the equivalent (typically ground, naval, air, and marine forces).
  Italian Armed Forces: Army (Esercito Italiano, EI), Navy (Marina Militare Italiana, MMI), Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana, AMI), Carabinieri Corps (Arma dei Carabinieri, CC), Financial Guard (Guardia di Finanza) (2015)
  Military service age and obligation: This entry gives the required ages for voluntary or conscript military service and the length of service obligation.
  18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in any military branch; Italian citizenship required; 1-year service obligation (2013)
- Transnational Issues :: Italy
- Disputes - international: This entry includes a wide variety of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding disputes over international terrestrial and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the US Department of State. References to other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues; however, inclusion does not necessarily constitute . . . more
  Italy's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern Africa
  Refugees and internally displaced persons: This entry includes those persons residing in a country as refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), or stateless persons. Each country's refugee entry includes only countries of origin that are the source of refugee populations of 5,000 or more. The definition of a refugee according to a UN Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a . . . more
  refugees (country of origin): 17,171 (Afghanistan), 18,026 (Nigeria), 15,966 (Pakistan), 15,641 (Somalia), 13,206 (Mali), 10,273 (Gambia), 7,940 (Eritrea), 6,412 (Cote d'Ivoire) (2017), 6,197 (Senegal), 12,535 (Ukraine) (2018) note - estimate represents asylum applicants since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis in 2014 to September 2017
  stateless persons: 715 (2017)

  note: 477,853 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals by sea (January 2015-December 2018); hosts an estimated 155,619 migrants and asylum seekers as of the end of September 2018; 119,369 arrivals in 2017

  Illicit drugs: This entry gives information on the five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside of medical channels. Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydroca . . . more
  important gateway for and consumer of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market; money laundering by organized crime and from smuggling

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