Italy - Introduction 2024
top of pageBackground: Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946, and economic revival followed. Italy is a charter member of NATO, as well as the European Economic Community (EEC) and its successors, the EC and the EU. It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include sluggish economic growth, high youth and female unemployment, organized crime, corruption, and economic disparities between southern Italy and the more prosperous north.
Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
Natural resources: coal, antimony, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land
Major watersheds area km²: Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 km²), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 km²), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 km²), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 km²)
Natural hazards: 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 2013, 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
GeographyNote: strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
top of pagePopulationDistribution: 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
Total: 60,964,931
Male: 29,414,065
Female: 31,550,866 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: -0.08% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 20.1% (2021 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Ethnic groups: Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north, Albanian-Italians, Croat-Italians, and Greek-Italians in the south)
Languages: Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German-speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area), Croatian (in Molise)
Major-language samples: L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian); Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Christian 80.8% (overwhelmingly Roman Catholic with very small groups of Jehovah's Witnesses and Protestants), Muslim 4.9%, unaffiliated 13.4%, other 0.9% (2020 est.)
Age structure0-14 years: 11.9% (male 3,699,167/female 3,531,734)
15-64 years: 64.5% (male 19,378,160/female 19,958,137)
65 years and over: 23.6% (2024 est.) (male 6,336,738/female 8,060,995)
Birth rate: 7.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Death rate: 11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Population distribution: 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
Major urban areasPopulation: 4.316 million ROME (capital), 3.155 million Milan, 2.179 million Naples, 1.802 million Turin, 913,000 Bergamo, 850,000 Palermo (2023)
EnvironmentCurrent issues: 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
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol
top of pageAdministrative divisions: 15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma); regions: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Veneto; autonomous regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sardegna (Sardinia), Sicilia (Sicily), Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol) or Trentino-Suedtirol (German), Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) or Vallee d'Aoste (French)
Independence: 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1871)
ConstitutionHistory: 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
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 5 Regional Councils (elected legislative assemblies of the 15 first-level administrative regions and 5 autonomous regions of Italy); referendum not required if an amendment has been approved by a two-thirds majority in each house in the second vote; amended many times, last in 2020
Note: in June 2024, the Senate approved in its first vote an amendment calling for the direct election of the prime minister; subsequent votes by both the Senate and House of Deputies is required for passage; lacking approval by Parliament, approval is required by constitutional referendum
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislation under certain conditions in Constitutional Court
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25
Executive branchChief of state: President Sergio MATTARELLA (since 3 February 2015)
Head of government: Prime Minister Giorgia MELONI (since 22 October 2022); the prime minister's official title is President of the Council of Ministers
Cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, 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 24-29 January 2022 (eight rounds) (next to be held in 2,029); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by parliament
Election results: 2022: Sergio MATTARELLA (independent) reelected president; electoral college vote count in eighth round - 759 out of 1,009 (505 vote threshold); 2015: Sergio MATTARELLA (independent) elected president; electoral college vote count in fourth round - 665 out of 995 (505 vote threshold)
Legislative branchDescription: bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of: Senate or Senato della Repubblica (205 seats; 122 members in multi-seat constituencies directly elected by proportional representation vote, 74 members in single-seat constituencies directly elected by plurality vote, 4 members in multi-seat constituencies abroad directly elected by proportional representation vote, and 5 members appointed by the president of Italy; all members serve 5-year terms), Chamber of Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (400 seats; 245 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; 147 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by plurality vote and 8 members in multi-seat constituencies abroad directly elected by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: Senate - last held on 25 September 2022 (next to be held no later than December 2,027), Chamber of Deputies - last held on 25 September 2022
Note: snap elections were called when Prime Minister DRAGHI resigned and the parliament was dissolved on 21 July 2022 (next to be held on 30 September 2,027)
Elections results: Senate - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - center-right coalition 113 (FdI 65, Lega 30, FI 18), center-left coalition 43 (PD 40, AVS 3), M5S 28, Action-Italia Viva 9, SVP 2, MAIE 1, ScN 1; composition - men 131, women 74, percentage women 36.1%, Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - center-right coalition 230 (FdI 119, Lega 66, FI 45), center-left coalition 83 (PD 69, AVS 12, +EU 2), M5S 52, Action-Italia Viva 21, SVP 3, MAIE 1, ScN 1; composition - men 271, women 129, percentage women 32.3%; total Parliament percentage women 33.6%
Judicial branchHighest 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 and courts of appeal)
Political parties and leaders: Action-Italia Viva , Associative Movement of Italians Abroad or MAIE , Brothers of Italy or FdI , Democratic Party or PD , Five Star Movement or M5S , Forza Italia or FI , Free and Equal (Liberi e Uguali) or LeU , Greens and Left Alliance or AVS , Italexit , League or Lega , More Europe or +EU , Popular Union or PU , South calls North or ScN , South Tyrolean Peoples Party or SVP , other minor parties
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representationIn the us: chief of mission: Ambassador Mariangela ZAPPIA (since 15 September 2021)
In the us chancery: 3,000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 612-4,400
In the us fax: [1] (202) 518-2,154
In the us email address and website: washington.ambasciata@esteri.it;
[link]In the us consulates general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco
In the us consulates: Detroit
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Jack MARKELL (since September 2023)
From the us note: also accredited to San Marino
From the us embassy: via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187 Roma
From the us mailing address: 9,500 Rome Place, Washington DC 20,521-9,500
From the us telephone: [39] 06-46,741
From the us fax: [39] 06-4,674-2,244
From the us email address and website: uscitizenrome@state.gov;
[link]From the us consulates general: Florence, Milan, Naples
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 green and red, 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 symbols: white, five-pointed star (Stella d'Italia); national colors: red, white, green
National anthemName: '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)
top of pageEconomy overview: core EU economy; strong services, manufacturing, and tourism sectors; sustained recovery in post-COVID inflationary environment; high public debt levels; increasing poverty levels particularly in poorer south; strong exports to EU and US partners
Real gdp growth rate: 0.92% (2023 est.); 3.99% (2022 est.); 8.31% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Agriculture products: milk, grapes, wheat, tomatoes, maize, apples, olives, oranges, potatoes, pork (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries: tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Labor force: 25.669 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate: 7.62% (2023 est.); 8.07% (2022 est.); 9.5% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
BudgetRevenues: $857.336 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $1.015 trillion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt: 131.8% of GDP (2017 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
Current account balance: $11.552 billion (2023 est.); -$32.783 billion (2022 est.); $51.549 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Exports: $793.589 billion (2023 est.); $752.864 billion (2022 est.); $691.428 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Germany 12%, US 11%, France 10%, Spain 5%, UK 4% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: packaged medicine, refined petroleum, garments, cars, vehicle parts/accessories (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports: $756.154 billion (2023 est.); $785.549 billion (2022 est.); $644.93 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Germany 14%, France 8%, China 8%, Netherlands 5%, Spain 5% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: natural gas, crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, garments (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $247.396 billion (2023 est.); $224.581 billion (2022 est.); $227.478 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
top of pageItaly - Communication 2024
top of pagetop of pageMilitary expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.5% of GDP (2023); 1.5% of GDP (2022); 1.5% of GDP (2021); 1.6% of GDP (2020)
Military and security forces: Italian Armed Forces (Forze Armate Italiane): Army (Esercito Italiano, EI), Navy (Marina Militare Italiana, MMI; includes aviation, marines), Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana, AMI); Carabinieri Corps (Arma dei Carabinieri, CC) (2024)
Note 1: the National Police and Carabinieri (gendarmerie or military police) maintain internal security; the National Police reports to the Ministry of Interior while the Carabinieri reports to the Ministry of Defense but is also under the coordination of the Ministry of Interior; the Carabinieri is primarily a domestic police force organized along military lines, with some overseas responsibilities
Note 2: the Financial Guard (Guardia di Finanza) under the Ministry of Economy and Finance is a force with military status and nationwide remit for financial crime investigations, including narcotics trafficking, smuggling, and illegal immigration
Military service age and obligation: 17-25 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (some variations on age depending on the military branch); voluntary service is a minimum of 12 months with the option to extend in the Armed Forces or compete for positions in the Military Corps of the Italian Red Cross, the State Police, the Carabinieri, the Guardia di Finanza, the Penitentiary Police, or the National Fire Brigade; recruits can also volunteer for 4 years military service; conscription abolished 2004 (2024)
Note: women serve in all military branches; as of 2023, women made up about 8% of the military's full-time personnel
Terrorist groups: Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
Note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Italy - Transportation 2024
top of pagePipelines: 20,223 km gas, 1,393 km oil, 1,574 km refined products (2013)
Waterways: 2,400 km (2012) (used for commercial traffic; of limited overall value compared to road and rail)
Italy - Transnational issues 2024
top of pageRefugees and internally displaced personsRefugees country of origin: 21,441 (Nigeria), 17,706 (Afghanistan), 17,619 (Pakistan), 11,193 (Mali), 8,405 (Somalia), 6,324 (Gambia), 5,768 (Bangladesh), 5,463 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 169,165 (Ukraine) (as of 23 February 2024)
Stateless persons: 3,000 (2022)
Note: 861,413 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-March 2024)
Illicit drugs: important gateway for drug trafficking; organized crime groups allied with Colombian and Spanish groups trafficking cocaine to Europe
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