Page last updated on January 31, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
42 50 N, 12 50 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Europe
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 301,340 sq km
country comparison to the world: 72
land: 294,140 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km
note: includes Sardinia and Sicily
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1,899.2 km
border countries: Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 199 km, Switzerland 740 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7,600 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur 4,748 m (a secondary peak of Mont Blanc)
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 22.57%
permanent crops: 8.37%
other: 69.07% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
39,510 sq km (2007)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
191.3 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 45.41 cu km/yr (24%/43%/34%)
per capita: 789.8 cu m/yr (2008)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 Campi Flegrei, Ischia, Larderello, Pantelleria, Vulcano, and Vulsini
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Italian(s)
adjective: Italian
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Christian 80% (overwhelming Roman Catholic with very small groups of Jehova Witnesses and Protestants), Muslims NEGL (about 700,000 but growing), Atheists and Agnostics 20%
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
61,482,297 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 13.8% (male 4,335,746/female 4,148,249)
15-24 years: 9.9% (male 3,059,140/female 3,035,991)
25-54 years: 43.2% (male 13,133,733/female 13,416,626)
55-64 years: 12.3% (male 3,675,324/female 3,913,918)
65 years and over: 20.8% (male 5,454,283/female 7,309,287) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 54.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 21.7 %
elderly dependency ratio: 32.6 %
potential support ratio: 3.1 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 44.2 years
male: 43 years
female: 45.3 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.34% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.94 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.01 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 68% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ROME (capital) 3.357 million; Milan 2.962 million; Naples 2.27 million; Turin 1.662 million; Palermo 872,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
27.7 (2010 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 181
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3.33 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 216
male: 3.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 81.95 years
country comparison to the world: 11
male: 79.32 years
female: 84.73 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.41 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
62.7%
note: percent of women aged 20-49 (1995/96)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
9.5% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 33
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.8 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.5 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
140,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19.8% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 97
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 87
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99.2%
female: 98.7% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2010)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 35.3%
country comparison to the world: 18
male: 33.7%
female: 37.5% (2012)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Italian Republic
conventional short form: Italy
local long form: Repubblica Italiana
local short form: Italia
former: Kingdom of Italy
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
republic
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Republic Day, 2 June (1946)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
civil law system; judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25)
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: President Giorgio NAPOLITANO (since 15 May 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Enrico LETTA (since 28 April 2013); note - the prime minister is referred to as the President of the Council of Ministers
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister and nominated by the President of the Republic
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
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
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Center-right parties::
Center-left parties::
Centrist parties::
other coalitions and parties::
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
manufacturers and merchants associations - Confcommercio; Confindustria
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, 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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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) 518-2154
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco
consulate(s): Detroit, Newark (NJ), San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of mission: Ambassador John R. PHILLIPS (since 16 August 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
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; design inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797; colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard
note: similar to the flag of Mexico, which is longer, uses darker shades of red and green, and has its coat of arms centered on the white band; Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
white, five-pointed star (Stella d'Italia)
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 high. 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 126% of GDP in 2012, and investor concerns about the broader euro-zone crisis at times have caused borrowing costs on sovereign government debt to rise to euro-era records. During the second half of 2011 the government passed three austerity packages to reduce its budget deficit and help bring down borrowing costs. These measures included a hike in the value-added tax, pension reforms, and cuts to public administration. The government also faces pressure from investors and European partners to sustain its recent efforts to address Italy's long-standing structural impediments to growth, such as labor market inefficiencies and widespread tax evasion. In 2012 economic growth and labor market conditions deteriorated, with growth at -2.3% and unemployment rising to nearly 11%, with youth unemployment around 35%. The government has undertaken several reform initiatives designed to increase long-term economic growth. Italy's GDP is now 7% below its 2007 pre-crisis level.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.813 trillion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.987 trillion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-2.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$29,800 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 60.4%
government consumption: 20.5%
investment in fixed capital: 17.9%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 30.2%
imports of goods and services: -29.1%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 2%
industry: 24.2%
services: 73.8% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives; beef, dairy products; fish
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-4.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
25.62 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 3.9%
industry: 28.3%
services: 67.8% (2011)
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
19.6% (2011)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 26.8% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
31.9 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 107
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $964.3 billion
expenditures: $1.023 trillion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
48.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-2.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
126.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
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
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.5% (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 130
note: 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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.22% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.162 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
note: 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
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.944 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$3.438 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$431.5 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 27
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-15.21 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$478.9 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food, beverages and tobacco; minerals, nonferrous metals
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Germany 12.8%, France 11.3%, US 6.6%, Switzerland 5.8%, UK 5%, Spain 4.8% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$453.5 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing; food, beverages, and tobacco
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Germany 15.7%, France 8.9%, China 7%, Netherlands 5.8%, Spain 4.8%, Belgium 4.1% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$181.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.493 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$457.8 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$653.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
283.5 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
313.8 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.267 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
46.04 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
122.3 million kW (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
65% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
15.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
154,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
6,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.591 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
521.3 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 50
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.887 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.454 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
628,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
393,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.605 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
83.09 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
324 million cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
67.8 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
62.35 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 62
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
400.9 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
21.656 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 13
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
97.225 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 14
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.it
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
25.662 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 4
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
29.235 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 13
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
129 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 45
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 98
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 11 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m:
Heliports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5 (2013)
Pipelines:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
gas 20,223 km; oil 1,393 km; refined products 1,574 km (2013)
Railways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 20,255 km
country comparison to the world: 13
standard gauge: 18,611 km 1.435-m gauge (12,662 km electrified)
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)
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 487,700 km
country comparison to the world: 14
paved: 487,700 km (includes 6,700 km of expressways) (2007)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2,400 km (used for commercial traffic; of limited overall value compared to road and rail) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 37
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 681
country comparison to the world: 17
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)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in any military branch; Italian citizenship required; 12-month service obligation (2013)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 13,865,688
females age 16-49: 14,003,755 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 11,247,446
females age 16-49: 11,348,695 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 288,188
female: 281,671 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.69% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 157
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
refugees (country of origin): 11,345 (Eritrea); 9,284 (Somalia); 5,058 (Afghanistan) (2012)
stateless persons: 470 (2012)