Italy
Italian RepublicRepubblica Italiana
republicIndependence 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed
Italy as the 2015 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 164 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
20 fieldsLocation
Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
Natural resources
coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land
Land use
- agricultural land:
- 47.1%;
- arable land 22.8%;
- permanent crops 8.6%;
- permanent pasture 15.7%
- forest:
- 31.4%
- other:
- 21.5% (2011 est.)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 45.41 cu km/yr (24%/43%/34%)
- per capita:
- 789.8 cu m/yr (2008)
Natural hazards
regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice
- 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
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
- party to:
- Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
People and Society
31 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2015 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2015 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups
Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-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)
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%
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 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:
- 0.94 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.75 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.93 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
Government
Republic; President Sergio MATTARELLA (3 February 2015); Prime Minister Matteo RENZI (since 22 February 2014)
21 fieldsSenate, 630 seats, elected 24-25 February 2013seats by party
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Italian Republic
- conventional short form:
- Italy
- local long form:
- Repubblica Italiana
- local short form:
- Italia
- former:
- Kingdom of Italy
Capital
- name:
- Rome
- geographic coordinates:
- 41 54 N, 12 29 E
- time difference:
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- daylight saving time:
- +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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 (Venetia)
- 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)
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)
Legal system
civil law system; judicial review of legislation under certain conditions in Constitutional Court
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Sergio MATTARELLA (3 February 2015); Giorgio NAPOLITANO resigned 14 January 2015
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Matteo RENZI (since 22 February 2014); note - the prime minister title is President of the Council of Ministers
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister and nominated by the president
- elections/appointments:
- president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a 7-year term (no term limits);
- election last held on 31 January 2015 (next scheduled for 2020);
- prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by parliament
- election results:
- Sergio MATTARELLA elected president;
- electoral college vote count in fourth round - 665 out of 1,009 (505-vote threshold);
- Matteo RENZI sworn in as prime minister on 22 February 2014
Legislative branch
- description:
- bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of the Senate or Senato della Repubblica (322 seats; 315 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 7 ex-officio members appointed by the president of the Republic to serve for life) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; 629 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 1 member from Valle d'Aosta elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)
- elections:
- Senate - last held on 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)
- 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
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Supreme Court of Cassation 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
- judge selection and term of office:
- Supreme Court judges appointed by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, headed by the president of the republic, 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)
Political parties and leaders
Brothers of Italy or FdI [Giorgia MELONI, Ignazio LA RUSSA, and Guido CROSETTO]
Forza Italia [Silvio BERLUSCONI] (formerly PdL)
The New Center-Right or NCD [Angelino ALFANO]
Northern League or LN [Roberto MARONI]
The Right or LD [Francesco STORACE]
other minor parties
Democratic Centre or CD [Bruno TABACCI and Massimo DONADI]
Democratic Party or PD [Matteo RENZI]
Italian Socialist Party or PSI [Riccardo NENCINI]
Left Ecology Freedom or SEL [Nichi VENDOLA]
South Tyrolean People's Party or SVP [Arno KOMPATSCHER]
Civic Choice or SC [Alberto BOMBASSEI]
Future and Freedom for Italy or FLI [vacant]
Union of the Center or UdC [Pier Ferdinando CASINI]
Act to Stop the Decline or FiD [Michele BOLDRIN]
Civil Revolution or RC [Antonio INGROIA]
Five Star Movment or M5S [Beppe GRILLO]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- manufacturers and merchants associations:
- Confcommercio; Confindustria
- organized farm groups:
- Confcoltivatori; Confagricoltura
- major trade union confederations:
- Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro or CGIL [Susanna CAMUSSO] (left wing); Confederazione Italiana dei Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL [Raffaele BONANNI] (Roman Catholic centrist); Unione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL [Luigi ANGELETTI] (lay centrist)
- other:
- Roman Catholic Church
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, MINUSMA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Claudio BISOGNIERO (since 13 January 2012)
- chancery:
- 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 612-4400
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 518-2151
- consulate(s) general:
- Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco
- consulate(s):
- Charlotte (NC), Cleveland (OH), Detroit (MI), Hattiesburg (MS), Honolulu (HI), New Orleans, Newark (NJ), Norfolk (VA), Pittsburgh (PA), Portland (OR), Seattle
- consular agency(ies):
- Anchorage (AL), Charleston (SC), Worcester (MA)
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador John R. PHILLIPS (since 3 October 2013); note - also accredited to San Marino
- embassy:
- Via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187-Rome
- mailing address:
- PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624
- telephone:
- [39] (06) 46741
- FAX:
- [39] (06) 4674-2244
- consulate(s) general:
- Florence, Milan, Naples
- consular agency(ies):
- Anchorage (AL), Charleston (SC), Worcester (MA)
Flag description
- three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red;
- design inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797;
- colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard
note: similar to the flag of Mexico, which is longer, uses darker shades of red and green, and has its coat of arms centered on the white band; Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange;
also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green
National anthem
- name:
- "Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians)
- lyrics/music:
- Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO
note: adopted 1946; the anthem, originally written in 1847, is also known as "L'Inno di Mameli" (Mameli's Hymn), and "Fratelli D'Italia" (Brothers of Italy)
Economy
Italy has a diversified 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.
41 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2014 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
Economy - overview
Italy has a diversified 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 132% of GDP in 2014, 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 tax evasion.
In 2014 economic growth and labor market conditions continued to deteriorate, with overall unemployment rising to 12.2% and youth unemployment around 40%. Italy's GDP is now nearly 10% below its 2007 pre-crisis level.
Gross national saving
18.3% of GDP (2014 est.) · 18.3% of GDP (2013 est.) · 17.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Agriculture - products
- fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives;
- beef, dairy products;
- fish
Industries
tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Distribution of family income - Gini index
31.9 (2012 est.) · 27.3 (1995) country comparison to the world: 110
Public debt
134.1% of GDP (2014 est.) · 132.6% of GDP (2013 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 the central government, state government, local government and social security funds country comparison to the world: 5
Central bank discount rate
0.25% (31 December 2013) · 0.75% (31 December 2012) note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area country comparison to the world: 149
Commercial bank prime lending rate
5.1% (31 December 2014 est.) · 5.14% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 153
Stock of narrow money
$1.185 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) · $1.264 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders country comparison to the world: 6
Stock of broad money
$2.134 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) · $2.284 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Stock of domestic credit
$3.319 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) · $3.613 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Current account balance
$38.94 billion (2014 est.) · $20.88 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 17
Exports - commodities
- engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals;
- foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco;
- minerals, nonferrous metals
Imports - commodities
engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing; food, beverages, tobacco
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$145.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $145.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 17
Debt - external
$2.604 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) · $2.516 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$552.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $538.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 17
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$763.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.) · $733.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 14
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7489 (2014 est.) · 0.7634 (2013 est.) · 0.78 (2012 est.) · 0.7185 (2011 est.) · 0.755 (2010 est.)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 124.2 million kW(2012 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves
560.5 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - proved reserves
59.43 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 61
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
385.8 million Mt (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
Communications
8 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2014 est.)
Telephone system
- general assessment:
- modern, well-developed, fast; fully automated telephone, telex, and data services
- domestic:
- high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks
- 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)
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)
Transportation
10 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 20,181.7 km
- standard gauge:
- 18,770.1 km 1.435-m gauge (12,893.6 km electrified)
- narrow gauge:
- 122.3 km 1.000-m gauge (122.3 km electrified); 1,289.3 km 0.950-m gauge (151.3 km electrified) (2014)
country comparison to the world: 13
Roadways
- total:
- 487,700 km
- paved:
- 487,700 km (includes 6,700 km of expressways) (2007)
country comparison to the world: 15
Waterways
2,400 km (used for commercial traffic; of limited overall value compared to road and rail) (2012) country comparison to the world: 36
Merchant marine
- total:
- 681
- by type:
- 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
- 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)
country comparison to the world: 17
Ports and terminals
- major seaport(s):
- Augusta, Cagliari, Genoa, Livorno, Taranto, Trieste, Venice
- oil terminals:
- Melilli (Santa Panagia) oil terminal, Sarroch oil terminal
- container port(s) (TEUs):
- Genoa (1,847,648), Gioia Tauro (2,264,798), La Spezia (1,307,274)
- LNG terminal(s) (import):
- La Spezia, Panigaglia, Porto Levante
Military
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)
6 fieldsMilitary 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)
Military service age and obligation
- 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service;
- women may serve in any military branch;
- Italian citizenship required;
- 1-year service obligation (2013)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 13,865,688
- females age 16-49:
- 14,003,755 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsDisputes - international
Italy's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern Africa
Refugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees (country of origin):
- 13,357 (Eritrea);
- 12,213 (Somalia);
- 8,991 (Afghanistan);
- 6,293 (Nigeria);
- 5,764 (Pakistan);
- 5,552 (Mali) (2014)
- stateless persons:
- 813 (2014)
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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Italy.” The World Factbook 2015. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/italy/2015.