Area Total | 301,340 sq km |
Climate | predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south |
Natural Resources | coal, antimony, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land |
Imports | Germany 16.3%, France 8.8%, China 7.1%, Netherlands 5.6%, Spain 5.3%, Belgium 4.5% (2017) – engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing; food, beverages, tobacco |
Government | parliamentary republic |
Capital | Rome |
Population | 62.2 million (July 2018 est.) |
Ethnicity | Italian (small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek Italians in the south) |
Language | Italian (official), German, French, Slovene |
Exports | Germany 12.5%, France 10.3%, US 9%, Spain 5.2%, UK 5.2%, Switzerland 4.6% (2017) – engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco; minerals, nonferrous metals |
News about Italy
- 'Devastating': How new citizenship rules blindsided descendants of Italians worldwideby The Local Italy on April 2, 2025
Descendants of Italians around the world described feeling "gutted" and "devastated" after they were stripped of the right to apply for citizenship by descent following an abrupt government decree.
- Why has Italy clamped down on citizenship by descent claims?by The Local Italy on April 2, 2025
Rules around who can apply for Italian citizenship by descent have undergone drastic changes following an abrupt government decree. But why has the Italian government dramatically restricted access to ancestry claims?
- Italian expression of the day: 'Mettere la mano sul fuoco'by The Local Italy on April 2, 2025
Be ready to risk it all with this Italian expression.
- Today in Italy: A roundup of the latest news on Wednesdayby The Local Italy on April 2, 2025
US Vice President Vance to visit Italy in April, Italian and German police arrest dozens of suspects over mafia food fraud, and more news from Italy on Wednesday.
- Scottish tourist dies after Rome holiday home explosionby The Local Italy on April 1, 2025
A Scottish tourist has died from his injuries after his holiday home in central Rome collapsed following a suspected gas explosion, Italian media reported.
- Confusion surrounds ETA visa waiver process for some dual national Britsby The Local Italy on April 1, 2025
The UK's ETA visa waiver becomes obligatory for Europeans from Wednesday April 2nd, but there is still confusion for certain British dual nationals who have received very different official advice from the UK.
- Italy's Meloni says Le Pen's election ban disenfranchises millions of votersby The Local Italy on April 1, 2025
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday condemned a five-year public office ban against France's Marine Le Pen, saying that it stripped "millions of citizens of representation".
- Six key things to consider before you sell your home in Italyby The Local Italy on April 1, 2025
If you're planning to sell your house or apartment in Italy, it's always a good idea to prepare well in advance. Here are six things you should consider if you want to make a sale.
- TELL US: Are you affected by Italy's new citizenship by descent law?by The Local Italy on March 31, 2025
Italy has drastically tightened its rules around who can apply for Italian citizenship by descent. Tell us if your plans have been affected by the change in law.
- On the agenda: What’s happening in Italy this weekby The Local Italy on March 30, 2025
From the return of a popular France-Italy rail link to a new requirement for EU citizens travelling to the UK and free museum openings, here’s what to expect this week.
- Venice slams rumours of disruption for Jeff Bezos's wedding as 'fake news'by The Local Italy on March 30, 2025
Venice authorities on Saturday moved to dampen speculation that the upcoming wedding of Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos will cause widespread disruption around the city, rejecting the rumours as "fake news".
- Italian PM Meloni calls for 'reasoned' EU approach to US tariffsby The Local Italy on March 29, 2025
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday called for a "reasoned" European approach to escalating trade tensions with the US, reiterating the importance of transatlantic unity.
- Q&A: How Italy’s rules for claiming citizenship by descent have changedby The Local Italy on March 29, 2025
Rules for claiming Italian citizenship by descent have undergone drastic changes following an abrupt government decree on Friday. Here’s exactly what’s changed – and what to expect going forward.
- Italy given green light for Winter Olympics bobsleigh trackby The Local Italy on March 29, 2025
Italy's contested Winter Olympics bobsleigh and luge track was given the provisional green light on Friday after a week of testing by the two sports' international federations.
- Italy tightens rules for claiming citizenship by descentby The Local Italy on March 28, 2025
Italy’s government has introduced drastically stricter rules for claiming Italian citizenship by descent in a surprise move intended to crack down on recent “abuse” of the system.
- EXPLAINED: How to convert an Italian second home into your main residenceby The Local Italy on March 26, 2025
It's not uncommon for second-home owners to decide that they want to move to Italy full-time - but what are the practical steps that you need to take to make this happen?
- KEY DATES: The transport strikes to expect in Italy in April 2025by The Local Italy on March 24, 2025
People travelling to, from or across Italy may face disruption in April as trade unions have announced several nationwide protests affecting air, rail and public transport services.
- What changes about life in Italy in April 2025by The Local Italy on March 20, 2025
From the return of a popular cross-border rail link and a new UK-Italy flight route to the Easter holidays and Liberation Day celebrations, here's what people living in Italy can expect next month.
- How does Italy decide if I'm a tax resident in the country?by The Local Italy on September 17, 2024
Taxation in Italy is famously complex, often creating confusion about who's liable to pay taxes in the country and who isn't. But how do Italian authorities actually decide if you’re a tax resident?
- UK rolls out ETA travel authorisation on Europeansby The Local Italy on September 12, 2024
On Wednesday, April 2nd the UK's new ETA travel authorisation system became obligatory for European travellers. Here's how it will impact residents of European countries.