2014 Edition

Background

Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy is a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). 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.

Area

301,340 sq km 294,140 sq km 7,200 sq km includes Sardinia and Sicily

total

301,340 sq km

water

7,200 sq km

Area - comparative

Area comparison map:

Climate

predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south

Coastline

7,600 km

Elevation extremes

Mediterranean Sea 0 m Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur 4,748 m (a secondary peak of Mont Blanc)

highest point

Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur 4,748 m (a secondary peak of Mont Blanc)

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Environment - current 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

Environment - international agreements

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 none of the selected agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

45.41 cu km/yr (24%/43%/34%) 789.8 cu m/yr (2008)

per capita

789.8 cu m/yr (2008)

total

45.41 cu km/yr (24%/43%/34%)

Geographic coordinates

42 50 N, 12 50 E

Geography - note

strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe

Irrigated land

39,510 sq km (2007)

Land boundaries

1,836 km Austria 404 km, France 476 km, Holy See (Vatican City) 3 km, San Marino 37 km, Slovenia 218 km, Switzerland 698 km

border countries

Austria 404 km, France 476 km, Holy See (Vatican City) 3 km, San Marino 37 km, Slovenia 218 km, Switzerland 698 km

total

1,836 km

Land use

22.57% 8.37% 69.07% (2011)

arable land

22.57%

other

69.07% (2011)

permanent crops

8.37%

Location

Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

12 nm 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

continental shelf

200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice significant volcanic activity; Etna (elev. 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

volcanism

significant volcanic activity; Etna (elev. 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

Natural resources

coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land

Terrain

mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands

Total renewable water resources

191.3 cu km (2011)

Age structure

13.8% (male 4,340,943/female 4,154,547) 9.8% (male 3,046,202/female 3,028,190) 43% (male 13,107,098/female 13,405,812) 12.4% (male 3,703,329/female 3,942,261) 20.8% (male 5,548,047/female 7,403,693) (2014 est.)

0-14 years

13.8% (male 4,340,943/female 4,154,547)

15-24 years

9.8% (male 3,046,202/female 3,028,190)

25-54 years

43% (male 13,107,098/female 13,405,812)

55-64 years

12.4% (male 3,703,329/female 3,942,261)

65 years and over

20.8% (male 5,548,047/female 7,403,693) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

8.84 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Death rate

10.1 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Dependency ratios

55 % 21.8 % 33.3 % 3 (2014 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

33.3 %

potential support ratio

3 (2014 est.)

total dependency ratio

55 %

youth dependency ratio

21.8 %

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2012 est.)

rural

0% of population

total

0% of population (2012 est.)

urban

0% of population

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2010)

Ethnic groups

Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south)

Health expenditures

9.5% of GDP (2011)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

140,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

3.31 deaths/1,000 live births 3.51 deaths/1,000 live births 3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

female

3.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

total

3.31 deaths/1,000 live births

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)

Life expectancy at birth

82.03 years 79.4 years 84.82 years (2014 est.)

female

84.82 years (2014 est.)

total population

82.03 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 99% 99.2% 98.7% (2011 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

98.7% (2011 est.)

male

99.2%

total population

99%

Major urban areas - population

ROME (capital) 3.298 million; Milan 2.909 million; Naples 2.373 million; Turin 1.613 million; Palermo 915,000; Bergamo 784,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

4 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

44.5 years 43.3 years 45.6 years (2014 est.)

female

45.6 years (2014 est.)

male

43.3 years

total

44.5 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

30.3 (2011 est.)

Nationality

Italian(s) Italian

adjective

Italian

noun

Italian(s)

Net migration rate

4.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.8% (2008)

Physicians density

3.8 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

61,680,122 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

0.3% (2014 est.)

Religions

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%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

16 years 16 years 17 years (2011)

female

17 years (2011)

male

16 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

1.06 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.98 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female 0.74 male(s)/female 0.93 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.98 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.93 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.74 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.42 children born/woman (2014 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

35.3% 33.7% 37.5% (2012)

female

37.5% (2012)

total

35.3%

Urbanization

68.4% of total population (2011) 0.49% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.49% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

68.4% of total population (2011)

Administrative divisions

15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma) Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Veneto (Venetia) 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)

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)

regions

Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Veneto (Venetia)

Capital

Rome 41 54 N, 12 29 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

41 54 N, 12 29 E

name

Rome

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

previous 1848 (originally for Kingdom of Sardinia and adopted by Kingdom of Italy in 1861); latest enacted 22 December 1947, adopted 27 December 1947, entered into force 1 January 1948; amended many times, last in 2012 (2013)

Country name

Italian Republic Italy Repubblica Italiana Italia Kingdom of Italy

conventional long form

Italian Republic

conventional short form

Italy

former

Kingdom of Italy

local long form

Repubblica Italiana

local short form

Italia

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador John R. PHILLIPS (since 16 August 2013); note - also accredited to San Marino Via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187-Rome PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624 [39] (06) 46741 [39] (06) 4674-2244 Florence, Milan, Naples

chief of mission

Ambassador John R. PHILLIPS (since 16 August 2013); note - also accredited to San Marino

consulate(s) general

Florence, Milan, Naples

embassy

Via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187-Rome

FAX

[39] (06) 4674-2244

mailing address

PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624

telephone

[39] (06) 46741

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Claudio BISOGNIERO (since 13 January 2012) 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 612-4400 [1] (202) 518-2154 Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco Detroit, Newark (NJ), San Francisco

chancery

3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Claudio BISOGNIERO (since 13 January 2012)

consulate(s)

Detroit, Newark (NJ), San Francisco

consulate(s) general

Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 518-2154

telephone

[1] (202) 612-4400

Executive branch

President Giorgio NAPOLITANO (since 15 May 2006) Prime Minister Matteo RENZI (since 22 February 2014); note - the prime minister is referred to as the President of the Council of Ministers Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister and nominated by the President of the Republic president elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held on 18-20 April 2013 (next scheduled for 2020); prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by parliament; national parliamentary elections were last held on 24-25 February 2013 Giorgio NAPOLITANO elected president on the sixth round of voting; electoral college vote - 738 out of a possible 1,007 (504 votes required); Enrico LETTA sworn in as prime minister on 28 April 2013 following formal talks between the center-left Democratic Party (PD), the center-right People of Freedom party (PdL), the centrist Civic Choice, and President NAPOLITANO that also led to the creation of a broad coalition government; the talks coming after the February 2013 legislative election produced a stalemate that impeded government formation; the PdL split into the Forza Italia and the New Center Right (NCD) in November 2013 and only the NCD remained in the governing coalition

cabinet

Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister and nominated by the President of the Republic

chief of state

President Giorgio NAPOLITANO (since 15 May 2006)

election results

Giorgio NAPOLITANO elected president on the sixth round of voting; electoral college vote - 738 out of a possible 1,007 (504 votes required); Enrico LETTA sworn in as prime minister on 28 April 2013 following formal talks between the center-left Democratic Party (PD), the center-right People of Freedom party (PdL), the centrist Civic Choice, and President NAPOLITANO that also led to the creation of a broad coalition government; the talks coming after the February 2013 legislative election produced a stalemate that impeded government formation; the PdL split into the Forza Italia and the New Center Right (NCD) in November 2013 and only the NCD remained in the governing coalition

elections

president elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held on 18-20 April 2013 (next scheduled for 2020); prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by parliament; national parliamentary elections were last held on 24-25 February 2013

head of government

Prime Minister Matteo RENZI (since 22 February 2014); note - the prime minister is referred to as the President of the Council of Ministers

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 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

Government type

republic

Independence

17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), 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-20, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), 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, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMISS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Cassation or Corte Suprema di Cassazione (organized into penal, civil, administrative, and military divisions, each with a president and several judges); Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (consists of 15 judges) Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, headed by the president, to serve NA terms; Constitutional Court judges - 5 appointed by the president, 5 elected by parliament, 5 elected by select higher courts; judges serve up to 9 years) various lower civil and criminal courts (primary and secondary tribunals, courts, and courts of appeal)

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Cassation or Corte Suprema di Cassazione (organized into penal, civil, administrative, and military divisions, each with a president and several judges); Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (consists of 15 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, headed by the president, to serve NA terms; 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)

Legal system

civil law system; judicial review of legislation under certain conditions in Constitutional Court

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of the Senate or Senato della Repubblica (321 seats; members elected by proportional vote with the winning coalition in each region receiving 55% of seats from that region; members to serve five-year terms; and up to 5 senators for life appointed by the president of the Republic) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; members elected by popular vote with the winning national coalition receiving 54% of chamber seats; members to serve five-year terms); note - it has not been clarified if each president has the power to designate up to five senators or if five is the number of senators for life who might sit in the Senate Senate - last held on 24-25 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 24-25 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018) Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - center-left coalition [Pier Luigi BERSANI] 123 (PD 111, SEL 7, SVP 2, other 3), center-right coalition [Silvio BERLUSCONI] 117 (PdL 98, LN 18, other 1), M5S 54, centrist coalition [Mario MONTI] 19, other 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - center-left coalition [Pier Luigi BERSANI] 345 (PD 297, SEL 37, CD 6 SVP 5), center-right coalition [Silvio BERLUSCONI] 125 (PdL 98, LN 18, FdI 9), M5S 109, centrist coalition [Mario MONTI] 47, other 4; note - President NAPOLITANO dissolved Parliament on 22 December 2012

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - center-left coalition [Pier Luigi BERSANI] 123 (PD 111, SEL 7, SVP 2, other 3), center-right coalition [Silvio BERLUSCONI] 117 (PdL 98, LN 18, other 1), M5S 54, centrist coalition [Mario MONTI] 19, other 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - center-left coalition [Pier Luigi BERSANI] 345 (PD 297, SEL 37, CD 6 SVP 5), center-right coalition [Silvio BERLUSCONI] 125 (PdL 98, LN 18, FdI 9), M5S 109, centrist coalition [Mario MONTI] 47, other 4; note - President NAPOLITANO dissolved Parliament on 22 December 2012

elections

Senate - last held on 24-25 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 24-25 February 2013 (next to be held in 2018)

National anthem

"Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians) Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO 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)

lyrics/music

Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO

name

"Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians)

National holiday

Republic Day, 2 June (1946)

National symbol(s)

white, five-pointed star (Stella d'Italia)

Political parties and leaders

Forza Italia [Silvio BERLUSCONI] The New Center-Right or NCD [Angelino ALFANO] Northern League or LN [Roberto MARONI] Brothers of Italy or Fdl [Giorgia MELONI, Ignazio LA RUSSA, and Guido CROSETTO] The Right or LD [Francesco STORACE] other minor parties Democratic Party or PD [Matteo RENZI] Left Ecology Freedom or SEL [Nichi VENDOLA] Italian Socialist Party or PSI [Riccardo NENCINI] Democratic Centre or CD [Bruno TABACCI and Massimo DONADI] South Tyrolean People's Party or SVP [Arno KOMPATSCHER] Civic Choice or SC [Alberto BOMBASSEI] Union of the Center or UdC [Pier Ferdinando CASINI] Future and Freedom for Italy or FLI [vacant] Five Star Movment or M5S [Beppe GRILLO] Civil Revolution or RC [Antonio INGROIA] Act to Stop the Decline or FiD [Michele BOLDRIN]

Center-left parties

:

Center-right parties

:

Centrist parties

:

other coalitions and parties

:

Political pressure groups and leaders

manufacturers and merchants associations - Confcommercio; Confindustria organized farm groups - Confcoltivatori; Confagricoltura; Roman Catholic Church three major trade union confederations - Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro or CGIL [Susanna CAMUSSO] which is left wing; Confederazione Italiana dei Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL [Raffaele BONANNI], which is Roman Catholic centrist; Unione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL [Luigi ANGELETTI] which is lay centrist

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25

Agriculture - products

fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives; beef, dairy products; fish

Budget

$984 billion $1.052 trillion (2013 est.)

expenditures

$1.052 trillion (2013 est.)

revenues

$984 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.25% (31 December 2013) 0.75% (31 December 2012) this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.2% (31 December 2013 est.) 5.22% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.4 billion (2013 est.) -$14.88 billion (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$2.604 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) $2.516 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

31.9 (2012 est.) 27.3 (1995)

Economy - overview

Italy has a diversified industrial economy, which is divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less-developed, highly subsidized, agricultural south, where unemployment is higher. 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, topping 133% of GDP in 2013, but 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 long-standing structural impediments to growth, such as labor market inefficiencies and widespread tax evasion. In 2013 economic growth and labor market conditions deteriorated, with growth at -1.8% and unemployment rising to 12.4%, with youth unemployment around 40%. Italy's GDP is now 8% below its 2007 pre-crisis level.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7634 (2013 est.) 0.7752 (2012 est.) 0.755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.)

Exports

$474 billion (2013 est.) $478.9 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food, beverages and tobacco; minerals, nonferrous metals

Exports - partners

Germany 12.63%, France 11.11%, United States 6.84%, Switzerland 5.72%, United Kingdom 4.72%, Spain 4.48% (2013 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

60% 20.6% 17.6% -0.3% 30.1% -27.9% (2013 est.)

exports of goods and services

30.1%

government consumption

20.6%

household consumption

60%

imports of goods and services

-27.9%

investment in fixed capital

17.6%

investment in inventories

-0.3%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

2% 24.4% 73.5% (2013 est.)

agriculture

2%

industry

24.4%

services

73.5% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$29,600 (2013 est.) $29,800 (2012 est.) $30,100 (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-1.8% (2013 est.) -2.4% (2012 est.) 0.4% (2011 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.068 trillion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.805 trillion (2013 est.) $1.838 trillion (2012 est.) $1.883 trillion (2011 est.) data are in 2013 US dollars

Gross national saving

17.4% of GDP (2013 est.) 16.9% of GDP (2012 est.) 16.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.3% 26.8% (2000)

highest 10%

26.8% (2000)

lowest 10%

2.3%

Imports

$435.8 billion (2013 est.) $453.5 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing; food, beverages, and tobacco

Imports - partners

Germany 14.73%, France 8.4%, China 8.4%, Russia 6.35%, Netherlands 5.85%, Spain 4.54%, Belgium 4.09% (2013 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

-2.7% (2013 est.)

Industries

tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.2% (2013 est.) 3% (2012 est.)

Labor force

25.74 million (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

3.9% 28.3% 67.8% (2011)

agriculture

3.9%

industry

28.3%

services

67.8% (2011)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$480.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $431.5 billion (31 December 2011) $318.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

29.9% (2012)

Public debt

133% of GDP (2013 est.) 126.9% of GDP (2012 est.) 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 the central government, state government, local government and social security funds

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

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 the central government, state government, local government and social security funds

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$181.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $173.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.15 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) $2.134 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$683.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $653.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$466.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.) $457.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$3.407 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) $3.438 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.138 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) $1.162 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 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

Taxes and other revenues

47.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

Unemployment rate

12.4% (2013 est.) 10.7% (2012 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

400.9 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

6,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

1.591 million bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

112,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

521.3 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.)

Electricity - consumption

307.2 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

2.304 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

65% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

18% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

15.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

45.41 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

124.2 million kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

299.3 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

68.7 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

324 million cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

67.8 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

7.8 billion cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

62.35 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1.454 million bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

628,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

393,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

6,600 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Broadcast media

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; some 1,300 commercial radio stations (2007)

Internet country code

.it

Internet hosts

25.662 million (2012)

Internet users

29.235 million (2009)

Telephone system

modern, well-developed, fast; fully automated telephone, telex, and data services high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks 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 (2011)

domestic

high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks

general assessment

modern, well-developed, fast; fully automated telephone, telex, and data services

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 (2011)

Telephones - main lines in use

21.656 million (2012)

Telephones - mobile cellular

97.225 million (2012)

Airports

129 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

11 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

18

2,438 to 3,047 m

31

914 to 1,523 m

29

over 3,047 m

9

total

98

under 914 m

11 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

20 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

10

total

31

Heliports

5 (2013)

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 105, cargo 42, carrier 1, chemical tanker 164, container 21, liquefied gas 28, passenger 25, passenger/cargo 154, petroleum tanker 59, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 39, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 30 90 (Denmark 4, France 2, Greece 7, Luxembourg 14, Netherlands 2, Nigeria 1, Norway 6, Singapore 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 13, Taiwan 10, Turkey 4, UK 2, US 23) 201 (Bahamas 1, Belize 3, Cayman Islands 7, Cyprus 6, Georgia 2, Gibraltar 4, Greece 5, Liberia 47, Malta 45, Marshall Islands 1, Morocco 1, Netherlands 6, Panama 25, Portugal 12, Russia 14, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Singapore 5, Slovakia 2, Spain 1, Sweden 5, Turkey 1, UK 3, unknown 1) (2010)

foreign-owned

90 (Denmark 4, France 2, Greece 7, Luxembourg 14, Netherlands 2, Nigeria 1, Norway 6, Singapore 1, Sweden 1, Switzerland 13, Taiwan 10, Turkey 4, UK 2, US 23)

registered in other countries

201 (Bahamas 1, Belize 3, Cayman Islands 7, Cyprus 6, Georgia 2, Gibraltar 4, Greece 5, Liberia 47, Malta 45, Marshall Islands 1, Morocco 1, Netherlands 6, Panama 25, Portugal 12, Russia 14, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Singapore 5, Slovakia 2, Spain 1, Sweden 5, Turkey 1, UK 3, unknown 1) (2010)

total

681

Pipelines

gas 20,223 km; oil 1,393 km; refined products 1,574 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

Augusta, Cagliari, Genoa, Livorno, Taranto, Trieste, Venice Melilli (Santa Panagia) oil terminal, Sarroch oil terminal Genoa (1,847,648), Gioia Tauro (2,264,798), La Spezia (1,307,274)

container port(s) (TEUs)

Genoa (1,847,648), Gioia Tauro (2,264,798), La Spezia (1,307,274)

major seaport(s)

Augusta, Cagliari, Genoa, Livorno, Taranto, Trieste, Venice

oil terminals

Melilli (Santa Panagia) oil terminal, Sarroch oil terminal

Railways

20,255 km 18,611 km 1.435-m gauge (12,662 km electrified) 123 km 1.000-m gauge (123 km electrified); 1,290 km 0.950-m gauge (151 km electrified); 231 km 0.850-m gauge (2008)

narrow gauge

123 km 1.000-m gauge (123 km electrified); 1,290 km 0.950-m gauge (151 km electrified); 231 km 0.850-m gauge (2008)

total

20,255 km

Roadways

487,700 km 487,700 km (includes 6,700 km of expressways) (2007)

total

487,700 km

Waterways

2,400 km (used for commercial traffic; of limited overall value compared to road and rail) (2012)

Manpower available for military service

13,865,688 14,003,755 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

14,003,755 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

13,865,688

Manpower fit for military service

11,247,446 11,348,695 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

11,348,695 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

11,247,446

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

288,188 281,671 (2010 est.)

female

281,671 (2010 est.)

male

288,188

Military branches

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) (2011)

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) (2011)

Military expenditures

1.69% of GDP (2012) 1.72% of GDP (2011) 1.69% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in any military branch; Italian citizenship required; 12-month service obligation (2013)

Disputes - international

Italy's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern Africa

Illicit drugs

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

12,682 (Eritrea); 10,817 (Somalia); 6,695 (Afghanistan) (2013) 470 (2012)

refugees (country of origin)

12,682 (Eritrea); 10,817 (Somalia); 6,695 (Afghanistan) (2013)

stateless persons

470 (2012)