2020 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, 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.

Area

land

294,140 sq km

total

301,340 sq km

water

7,200 sq km

Area - comparative

almost twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona

Climate

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

Coastline

7,600 km

Elevation

highest point

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

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

mean elevation

538 m

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

24,460 sq km (2021)

Land boundaries

border countries

Austria 404 km; France 476 km; Holy See (Vatican City) 3.4 km; San Marino 37 km; Slovenia 218 km; Switzerland 698 km

total

1,836.4 km

Land use

agricultural land

44.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 24% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 12.2% (2023 est.)

forest

31.8% (2023 est.)

other

24% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 sq km)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

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 volcanism: significant volcanic activity; Etna (3,330 m) is Europe's most active volcano, and its flank eruptions pose a threat to nearby Sicilian villages; Etna, along with the famous Vesuvius, have both been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Stromboli, on its namesake island, has also been continuously active with moderate volcanic activity; other historically active volcanoes include Campi Flegrei, Ischia, Larderello, Pantelleria, Vulcano, and Vulsini

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

a fairly even population distribution exists throughout most of the country, with coastal areas, the Po River Valley, and urban centers (particularly Milan, Rome, and Naples) attracting larger and denser populations

Terrain

mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands

Age structure

0-14 years

11.9% (male 3,699,167/female 3,531,734)

15-64 years

64.5% (male 19,378,160/female 19,958,137)

65 years and over

23.6% (2024 est.) (male 6,336,738/female 8,060,995)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

1.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

7.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

4.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

7.13 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

51.8% (2023 est.)

Death rate

11.2 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

37.2 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

2.7 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

55.3 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

18.1 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

7.4% national budget (2022 est.)

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)

Gross reproduction rate

0.62 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

9% of GDP (2022)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

11.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.2 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

2.9 deaths/1,000 live births

male

3.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German-speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area), Croatian (in Molise)

major-language sample(s)

L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

85.5 years

male

80.7 years

total population

83 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

99.2% (2019 est.)

male

99.5% (2019 est.)

total population

99.3% (2019 est.)

Major urban areas - population

4.316 million ROME (capital), 3.155 million Milan, 2.179 million Naples, 1.802 million Turin, 913,000 Bergamo, 850,000 Palermo (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

6 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

49.4 years

male

47.4 years

total

48.8 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

31.4 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Italian

noun

Italian(s)

Net migration rate

3.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.9% (2016)

Physician density

4.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

31,540,902

male

29,383,949

total

60,924,851 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.05% (2025 est.)

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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2023 est.)

male

16 years (2023 est.)

total

17 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

0.93 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

16.6% (2025 est.)

male

23.2% (2025 est.)

total

19.8% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

72% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma) regions: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Veneto autonomous regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sardegna (Sardinia), Sicilia (Sicily), Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol) or Trentino-Suedtirol (German), Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) or Vallée d'Aoste (French)

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

by tradition, named after Romulus, one of the legendary founders of the city, but the name Romulus may instead derive from the city's name; the name Rome may come from an Etruscan name for the Tiber River, which was Roma or Ruma

geographic coordinates

41 54 N, 12 29 E

name

Rome

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Italy

dual citizenship recognized

yes

residency requirement for naturalization

4 years for EU nationals, 5 years for refugees and specified exceptions, 10 years for all others

Constitution

amendment process

proposed by both houses of Parliament; passage requires two successive debates and approval by absolute majority of each house on the second vote; a referendum is only required when requested by one fifth of the members of either house, by voter petition, or by 5 Regional Councils (elected legislative assemblies of the 15 first-level administrative regions and 5 autonomous regions of Italy); referendum not required if an amendment has been approved by a two-thirds majority in each house in the second vote

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

Country name

conventional long form

Italian Republic

conventional short form

Italy

etymology

derivation is unclear; traditionally said to come from the Vitali, a tribe that settled in what is now Calabria, and whose name is believed to be linked to the Latin word vitulus, or "calf;" alternatively, the name may derive from a local ruler known to the Romans as Italus

former

Kingdom of Italy

local long form

Repubblica Italiana

local short form

Italia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Tilman J. FERTITTA (since 6 May 2025); note - also accredited to San Marino

consulate(s) general

Florence, Milan, Naples

email address and website

uscitizenrome@state.gov https://it.usembassy.gov/

embassy

via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187 Roma

FAX

[39] 06-4674-2244

mailing address

9500 Rome Place, Washington DC 20521-9500

telephone

[39] 06-46741

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Marco PERONACI (since 5 September 2025)

consulate(s)

Detroit

consulate(s) general

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

email address and website

washington.ambasciata@esteri.it https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/ambasciata_washington/en/

FAX

[1] (202) 518-2154

telephone

[1] (202) 612-4400

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, who is known officially as the President of the Council of Ministers and locally as the premier; nominated by the president

chief of state

President Sergio MATTARELLA (since 3 February 2015)

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)

election/appointment process

president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a 7-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by parliament

expected date of next election

2029

head of government

Prime Minister Giorgia MELONI (since 22 October 2022); the prime minister's official title is President of the Council of Ministers

most recent election date

24-29 January 2022 (eight rounds)

Flag

description: three equal vertical bands of green (left side), white, and red meaning: colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard history: design inspired by the French flag that Napoleon brought to Italy in 1797

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

17 March 1861 

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Cassation or Corte Suprema di Cassazione (consists of the first president, deputy president, 54 justices presiding over 6 civil and 7 criminal divisions, and 288 judges; an additional 30 judges of lower courts serve as supporting judges; cases normally heard by 5-judge panels; more complex cases heard by 9-judge panels); Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (consists of the court president and 14 judges)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Council of the Judiciary, headed by the president of the republic; judges may serve for life; Constitutional Court judges - 5 appointed by the president, 5 elected by Parliament, 5 elected by select higher courts; judges serve up to 9 years

subordinate courts

various lower civil and criminal courts (primary and secondary tribunals and courts of appeal)

Legal system

civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislation under certain conditions

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

Parliament (Il Parlamento)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati)

electoral system

mixed system

expected date of next election

September 2027

most recent election date

9/25/2022

number of seats

400 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

Coalition Brothers of Italy (FdI) - Lega - Forza Italia - Us Moderates (Noi moderati, NM) (237); Democratic Party - Democratic and Progressive Italy (PD-IDP) - Greens and Left Alliance (AVS) - +EUROPA" - Civic Commitment (IC) (84); Five Star Movement (M5s) (52); Action - Italia Viva (21); Other (6)

percentage of women in chamber

32.8%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

Senate (Senato della Repubblica)

electoral system

mixed system

expected date of next election

September 2027

most recent election date

9/25/2022

number of seats

205 (200 directly elected; 5 appointed)

parties elected and seats per party

Coalition Brothers of Italy (FdI) - Lega - Forza Italia - Us Moderates (Noi moderati, NM) (115); Democratic Party - Democratic and Progressive Italy (PD-IDP) - Greens and Left Alliance (AVS) - +EUROPA" - Civic Commitment (IC) (44); Five Star Movement (M5s) (28); Other (13)

percentage of women in chamber

36.3%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 2005; the anthem, originally written in 1847, is also known as "L'Inno di Mameli" (Mameli's Hymn), and "Fratelli d'Italia" (Brothers of Italy)

lyrics/music

Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO

title

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

National coat of arms

this coat of arms has been a symbol of the Italian Republic since May 5, 1948, when Paolo Paschetto’s design won a two-year public competition; the olive branch symbolizes national and global peace; the oak branch stands for the strength and the dignity of the Italian people, and the steel cog-wheel for their hard work; the single star represents Italy’s solidarity

National color(s)

red, white, green

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Historic Center of Rome (c); Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata (c); Venice and its Lagoon (c); Historic Center of Florence (c); Piazza del Duomo, Pisa (c); Historic Centre of Naples (c); Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto)(c); Mount Etna (n); Cultural landscape of the Benedictine settlements in medieval Italy (c); Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci (c); City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto (c); Crespi d'Adda (c); Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna (c); Historic Centre of the City of Pienza (c); Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande, Modena (c); Costiera Amalfitana (c); Villa Romana del Casale (c); Archaeological Area and the Patriarchal Basilica of Aquileia (c); Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park with the Archeological Sites of Paestum and Velia, and the Certosa di Padula (c); Historic Centre of Urbino (c); Villa Adriana (Tivoli) (c); Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites (c); City of Verona (c); Isole Eolie (Aeolian Islands) (n); Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia (c); Val d'Orcia (c); Mantua and Sabbioneta (c); The Dolomites (n); Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (c); Medici Villas and Gardens in Tuscany (c); Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries: Stato da Terra – Western Stato da Mar (c); Padua’s fourteenth-century fresco cycles (c); The Porticoes of Bologna (c); Evaporitic Karst and Caves of Northern Apennines (n); Via Appia: Regina Viarum (c); Funerary Tradition in the Prehistory of Sardinia – The domus de janas (c)

total World Heritage Sites

61 (55 cultural, 6 natural)

National holiday

Republic Day, 2 June (1946)

National symbol(s)

five-pointed white star (Stella d'Italia)

Political parties

Action-Italia Viva  Associative Movement of Italians Abroad or MAIE  Brothers of Italy or FdI  Democratic Party or PD  Five Star Movement or M5S  Forza Italia or FI  Free and Equal (Liberi e Uguali) or LeU  Greens and Left Alliance or AVS  League or Lega  More Europe or +EU   South calls North or ScN  South Tyrolean Peoples Party or SVP  Us Moderates or NM other minor parties

Suffrage

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

Agricultural products

milk, wheat, grapes, tomatoes, maize, olives, apples, oranges, sugar beets, rice (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

3.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

14.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$1.104 trillion (2023 est.)

revenues

$935.038 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

-$36.325 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$3.261 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$26.76 billion (2024 est.)

Economic overview

high-income, core EU economy; strong services, manufacturing, and tourism sectors; modest growth supported by net exports, low inflation, and public investments via EU funds; tight labor market with aging workforce and shortages in specialized skills; high public debt levels

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$737.083 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$774.311 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$778.898 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

packaged medicine, garments, cars, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)

Exports - partners

Germany 11%, USA 11%, France 10%, Spain 5%, UK 5% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

33.5% (2023 est.)

government consumption

17.8% (2023 est.)

household consumption

58.3% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-32.1% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

22.5% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0.4% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2% (2024 est.)

industry

21.7% (2024 est.)

services

65.6% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.373 trillion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

33.7 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

25.3% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

2.5% (2022 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$775.518 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$739.646 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$717.278 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

natural gas, crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicine, garments (2023)

Imports - partners

Germany 15%, France 9%, China 8%, Netherlands 6%, Spain 5% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

0.2% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

8.2% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

5.6% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1% (2024 est.)

Labor force

25.828 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

20.1% (2021 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2017

131.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$3.088 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$3.11 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$3.133 trillion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.8% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.7% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

0.7% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$52,300 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$52,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$53,100 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$224.581 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$247.396 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$290.547 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

24.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

8.1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

7.7% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

6.8% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

24.8% (2024 est.)

male

19.9% (2024 est.)

total

21.8% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

12.424 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

304,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

12.069 million metric tons (2023 est.)

production

1.572 million metric tons (2023 est.)

proven reserves

609.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

290.664 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

3.32 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports

54.572 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

128.692 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

17.62 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

6.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

56% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

geothermal

2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

14.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

12% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

9.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

96.797 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

61.906 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

2.609 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

61.851 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

2.778 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

45.76 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Nuclear energy

Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down

4 (2025)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

497.934 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

1.245 million bbl/day (2024 est.)

total petroleum production

111,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

34 (2023 est.)

total

20.1 million (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

two Italian media giants dominate, with 3 national terrestrial stations; privately owned companies have 3 national terrestrial stations; a large number of private stations, a satellite TV network; 3 AM/FM nationwide radio stations; about 1,300 commercial radio stations

Internet country code

.it

Internet users

percent of population

87% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

34 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

20.107 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

133 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

78.7 million (2024 est.)

Airports

655 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

I

Heliports

163 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 17, container ship 6, general cargo 109, oil tanker 95, other 1,049

total

1,276 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Brindisi, Civitavecchia, Genova, Gioia Tauro, La Spezia, Livorno, Messina, Napoli, Porto di Lido-Venezia, Siracusa, Taranto, Trieste

large

12

medium

11

ports with oil terminals

33

size unknown

1

small

71

total ports

123 (2024)

very small

28

Railways

total

18,475 km (2020) 12,936 km electrified

Military - note

the Italian military is responsible for Italy’s national defense and security and fulfilling the country’s commitments to the EU, NATO, the UN, and other multinational military, security, and humanitarian operations; it also has some domestic security duties; key areas of emphasis for Italy’s security policy and multinational cooperation are Europe’s eastern and southern flanks, including the Mediterranean Sea, East and North Africa, and the Middle East and its adjacent waters Italy has been an active member of NATO since its founding in 1948, and the Alliance is a cornerstone of Rome’s national security strategy; it is one of NATO’s leading contributors of military forces and participates in such Alliance missions as Air Policing in the Baltics, the Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe, and maritime patrols in the Mediterranean and beyond; it hosts NATO’s Joint Force Command in Naples and a NATO Rapid Deployable Corps headquarters in Milan  Italy is also active in European/EU defense cooperation and integration, including hosting the headquarters for the EU’s Mediterranean naval operations force in Rome; in addition, Italy has close defense ties with the US and hosts several US military air, army, and naval bases and facilities (2025)

Military and security forces

Italian Armed Forces (Forze Armate Italiane): Army (Esercito Italiano, EI), Navy (Marina Militare Italiana, MMI; includes aviation, marines), Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana, AMI); Carabinieri Corps (Arma dei Carabinieri, CC) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 170,000 active-duty military personnel; approximately 105,000 Carabinieri (2025)

Military deployments

Italy has on average about 8,000 military personnel deployed in support of NATO, UN, and other foreign missions; significant ground troop deployments include Bulgaria (750), Hungary (250), Kosovo (870), Latvia (300), and Lebanon (875); in addition, air and naval units are deployed in support of NATO missions (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory includes a mix of domestically manufactured, imported, and jointly produced weapons systems; imports come mostly from Europe and the US; the Italian defense industry is capable of producing equipment across all the military domains with particular strengths in aircraft, armored vehicles, and naval vessels; it also participates in joint development and production of advanced weapons systems with other European countries and the US (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2021

1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2025

2% of GDP (2025 est.)

Military service age and obligation

17 or 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women ; voluntary service is a minimum of 12 months with the option to extend in the Armed Forces or compete for positions in other government security organizations; conscription abolished 2004 (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

520,127 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

3,000 (2024 est.)

Key space-program milestones

1964 - first domestically manufactured science satellite (San Marco-1) launched by the US 1977 - first domestically built telecommunications/research satellite (Sirio) launched by the US 1990s-2011 - participated in US Space Shuttle program, resulting in first Italian astronaut in space (1992) 1998-present - participated in International Space Station, including the first European astronaut on the station (2001), first Italian to command it (2019-2020), and first woman to command the station (2022) 2012 - first launch of Italian-designed VEGA 3-stage satellite launch vehicle (SLV) for ESA 2020 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration  2023 - first Italian all-electric satellite (MicroHETSat) built for the ESA and launched by the US; began developing a habitat for the US-led Artemis Lunar Gateway project 2025 - passed a national space law to govern Italian space operations

Space agency/agencies

Italian Space Agency (L’Agenzia Spaziale Italiana or ASI; established 1988) (2025)

Space launch site(s)

the Broglio (aka San Marco, Malindi) Space Center, located near Malindi, Kenya, served from 1967 to 1988 as an Italian and international satellite launch facility; in 2020, Italy concluded a deal with Kenya to conduct rocket launches from the site again in the future; the Italian Space Agency has utilized the site as a satellite ground station since 2004 the Italian Government has designated the Taranto-Grottaglie Airport as a future spaceport and signed framework agreements with commercial space companies that could lead to suborbital and orbital launches from what would be called the Grottaglie Spaceport (2025)

Space program overview

one of the top contributors to the ESA; designs, builds, launches, and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites; designs and manufactures probes, rockets, and orbital satellite launch vehicles (SLVs); researches, develops, and builds a range of other space-related technologies and participates in a wide array of international programs; hosts the ESA Center for Earth Observation; has astronaut cadre in the ESA astronaut corps; has cooperated with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, the UAE, and the US; participates in international projects such as the International Space Station; has considerable commercial space industries encompassing a wide range of capabilities (2025)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

26.15 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

118.604 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

162.688 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

307.442 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

air pollution from industrial emissions; water pollution from industrial and agricultural effluents, as well as acid rain; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities

Geoparks

global geoparks and regional networks

Adamello-Brenta; Alpi Apuane; Aspromonte; Beigua; Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni; Madonie; Maiella; MurGEopark; Pollino; Rocca di Cerere; Sesia Val Grande; Tuscan Mining Park (2025)

total global geoparks and regional networks

12 (2025)

International environmental agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol

Methane emissions

agriculture

764.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

276.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

35.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

523.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

191.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

17 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

7.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

9.148 billion cubic meters (2022)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

30.088 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

39.9% (2022 est.)