What does the United States import from Italy?

America imported $74.4B in goods from Italy in 2025. The largest categories: Pharmaceutical preparations, U.s. goods returned, and reimports, Industrial machines, other, Other foods.

What tariffs does the U.S. have on Italy?

The most recent U.S. tariff action toward Italy (2026-04-06): EU treatment preserved in expanded metals tariffs.

Country exposure · IT

Italy

Europe · Rome · parliamentary republic

What Italy means for your money — the prices you pay, the tariffs in motion, and where U.S. policy could change both.

$74.4B

U.S. imports, 2025

-2.1%

change in one year

$43.1B

U.S. exports, 2025

61M

Population

$2.4T

GDP

In your house

What you buy that Italy makes

America bought $74.4B in goods from Italy in 2025. Of every $100 of it, here's where the money went.

Pharmaceutical preparations

medicines and pharmacy items

$11.4B15.3%

U.s. goods returned, and reimports

$4.2B5.6%

Industrial machines, other

$3.7B5%

Other foods

$2.4B3.2%

Passenger cars, new and used

new and used cars

$2.3B3.1%

Wine, beer, and related products

wine and beer

$2.2B2.9%

Cell phones and other household goods, n.e.c.

cell phones and home electronics

$2.1B2.8%

Toiletries and cosmetics

toiletries and cosmetics

$1.9B2.6%

Jewelry

jewelry

$1.9B2.5%

Industrial engines

$1.9B2.5%

2026 so far (through April): $23.7B in imports. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Trade in Goods (customs basis).

The other direction

What America sells to Italy

$43.1B in 2025 — a trade rupture cuts both ways, for American producers as well as American prices.

Pharmaceutical preparations

$17.8B

medicines and pharmacy items

Gas-natural

$3.0B

Crude oil

$2.6B

Precious metals, other

$2.3B

Minimum value shipments

$1.1B

Civilian aircraft, engines, equipment, and parts

$997M

Industrial engines

$763M

Industrial machines, other

$740M

Telecommunications equipment

$637M

phones, routers, networking gear

Where you stand

U.S. tariff posture toward Italy

Since February 24, 2026 most EU goods face the universal 10% Section 122 temporary import surcharge, which replaced the framework's 15% all-inclusive IEEPA structure when EO 14389 terminated the reciprocal tariffs. The framework's Section 232 terms persist: EU autos at 15%, and the April 2026 metals expansion expressly preserved the EU's trade-agreement-partner treatment (steel and aluminum otherwise at 50%).

The United States negotiates tariffs with the European Union as a single market — every measure here applies to Italy as an EU member.

Reciprocal tariff (assigned — terminated)

20%

The rate this country was assigned under the EO 14257 reciprocal Annex — no longer in force. The Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs and they were terminated February 24, 2026 (EO 14389), replaced by a universal ~10% Section 122 surcharge. See the timeline below for the current effective rate.

Section 232 sectors

Autos, Wood

Steel, aluminum, autos, and similar national-security tariffs that name this country.

Policy in motion

Tariff status: a moving target

U.S. tariff policy toward the European Union — and with it Italy — has changed 11 times since 2025. This page tracks it.

2026-04-06
EU treatment preserved in expanded metals tariffs
In effect
The April 2026 proclamation expanding Section 232 coverage of aluminum, steel, and copper derivatives expressly does not alter or supersede the prior U.S.–EU agreement implementation, and lists the EU among 'Trade Agreement Partners' eligible for its exclusion process.
91 FR 18201 →
2026-02-24
IEEPA reciprocal tariffs terminated — replaced by 10% Section 122
In effect
Executive Order 14389 (Ending Certain Tariff Actions) terminated the IEEPA tariff duties — including those under EO 14257, the basis of the EU's 15% all-inclusive structure — effective February 24, 2026. A flat 10% Section 122 temporary import surcharge (Proclamation 11012 of February 20, 2026) replaced them. The framework's Section 232 terms (the 15% EU autos cap, metals carve-outs) rest on separate authority and were expressly unaffected.
91 FR 9437 →
2025-09-25
Framework implemented: preferential treatment for certain EU goods
In effect
Acting under the September 8, 2025 procedures order, Commerce and USTR modified the HTSUS to implement the framework — preferential (zero) reciprocal treatment for certain EU goods and a reduction of the Section 232 automobile and parts duty to 15% for EU-origin vehicles.
90 FR 46136 →
2025-08-21
U.S.–EU Framework Agreement joint statement
Agreement
The United States and the European Union issued the Joint Statement on a Framework on an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade: the U.S. committed to the 15% all-inclusive ceiling, zero reciprocal duty on certain products, and a cut of the Section 232 automobile duty to 15%; the EU committed to eliminate tariffs on U.S. industrial goods and expand agricultural access, plus $750B in U.S. energy procurement through 2028.
Source ↗
2025-08-07
15% all-inclusive structure replaces the 20% rate
In effect
The July 31, 2025 order ('Further Modifying the Reciprocal Tariff Rates') gave the EU a unique structure effective August 7, 2025: for goods with an MFN (Column 1) rate below 15%, the reciprocal duty tops the total up to exactly 15%; goods with an MFN rate of 15% or higher pay no additional reciprocal duty.
Federal Register · 2025-15010 →
2025-07-09
Reciprocal-rate pause extended to August 1
In effect
The July 7, 2025 order extended the suspension of country-specific reciprocal rates through August 1, 2025, keeping the EU at the 10% baseline while framework talks continued.
90 FR 30823 →
2025-06-04
Section 232 steel and aluminum duties doubled to 50%
In effect
The June 3, 2025 proclamation raised Section 232 duties on steel and aluminum articles and derivatives from 25% to 50% effective June 4, 2025, with no EU carve-out.
90 FR 24199 →
2025-04-10
90-day pause suspends the 20% rate back to 10%
In effect
The April 9, 2025 modification order suspended country-specific reciprocal rates for 90 days for all partners except China, returning the EU to the 10% universal baseline effective April 10, 2025 while negotiations proceeded.
90 FR 15625 →
2025-04-09
EU country-specific reciprocal rate of 20% takes effect
In effect
Annex I of Executive Order 14257 assigned the European Union a 20% country-specific reciprocal rate, effective April 9, 2025 — the rate still carried for the EU in the HTS Chapter 99 Subchapter III note.
Federal Register · 2025-06063 →
2025-04-05
Universal 10% reciprocal baseline takes effect
In effect
Executive Order 14257 (signed April 2, 2025) imposed a 10% ad valorem reciprocal duty on imports from all trading partners, including the EU, effective April 5, 2025. The order singled out the EU's 5% average MFN rate and 10% passenger-vehicle tariff as examples of non-reciprocal treatment.
Federal Register · 2025-06063 →
2025-03-12
Section 232 steel and aluminum arrangements terminated — 25% duties on EU metals
In effect
Proclamations of February 10, 2025 ended the EU's tariff-rate-quota arrangements for steel and aluminum and raised the aluminum duty from 10% to 25%, applying 25% Section 232 duties to EU steel and aluminum effective March 12, 2025.
90 FR 9817 →

Compare all countries’ tariffs →Your tariff impact →

Made for America

What Italy makes for America

Italy is a direct U.S. source of 12 essential goods Americans rely on — the items themselves, shipped finished off the line.

health

6% of U.S.

OTC medicines

$4.7B to the U.S.

health

3% of U.S.

Cancer and specialty drugs

$2.5B to the U.S.

materials

3% of U.S.

Clothing and apparel

$2.5B to the U.S.

food

11% of U.S.

Beer, wine, and spirits

$2.4B to the U.S.

materials

1% of U.S.

Vehicles and light trucks

$2.3B to the U.S.

materials

8% of U.S.

Footwear

$2.0B to the U.S.

materials

10% of U.S.

Jewelry

$2.0B to the U.S.

home

13% of U.S.

Luggage, handbags & travel goods

$1.4B to the U.S.

materials

4% of U.S.

Furniture

$1.3B to the U.S.

materials

1% of U.S.

Auto parts and repairs

$1.1B to the U.S.

materials

5% of U.S.

Plumbing pipes and fittings

$1.0B to the U.S.

home

38% of U.S.

Eyewear (frames & sunglasses)

$939M to the U.S.

Go deeper

The supply chain view

Italy sits upstream of 24 essential American goods through 12 tracked inputs.

chemical

69%

Vinegar / Acetic Acid (Condiment Acidulant)

manufactured

50%

Consumer MEMS Sensors (Accelerometers, Gyroscopes, Environmental)

manufactured

50%

Nasopharyngeal Flocked Nylon Swabs

manufactured

37%

Sawmill cutting tooling

manufactured

35%

Yankee Dryer Cylinder (Steel or Cast-Iron Tissue Machine)

pharmaceutical

35%

Budesonide API

Full supply-map profile →

Reference

The country itself

Europe · Geography, people, economy, and government — public-domain data from the CIA World Factbook.

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.

Geography

Location: Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
Area: 301,340 sq km
Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
Natural resources: coal, antimony, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land
Coastline: 7,600 km
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

People & society

Population: 60,924,851 (2025 est.)
Nationality: Italian(s)
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)
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)
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.)
Median age: 48.8 years (2025 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: 83 years (2024 est.)
Literacy: 99.3% (2019 est.)

Economy

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
Industries: tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, grapes, tomatoes, maize, olives, apples, oranges, sugar beets, rice (2023)
Exports - partners: Germany 11%, USA 11%, France 10%, Spain 5%, UK 5% (2023)
Imports - partners: Germany 15%, France 9%, China 8%, Netherlands 6%, Spain 5% (2023)

Government

Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: Rome
Independence: 17 March 1861
Constitution: 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
Executive branch: President Sergio MATTARELLA (since 3 February 2015)
Legislative branch: Parliament (Il Parlamento)

Full reference data

Every field, by section — CIA World Factbook. Open a topic to expand it.

Introduction

Background

Travel Facts

US State Dept Travel Advisory

The US State Department currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution due to terrorism. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html

Passport/Visa Requirements

For the latest passport and visa requirements for this country, please consult the U.S. State Department’s “Learn About Your Destination” search tool, available through the link below. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages.html

US Embassy/Consulate

(+39) 06-4674-1; US Embassy Rome, via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187 Roma, Italy; uscitizenrome@state.gov; https://it.usembassy.gov/

LGBTQIA+ Travelers

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations.html

Telephone Code

Local Emergency Phone

Ambulance: 112, 118; Fire: 112, 115; Police: 112, 113;

Vaccinations

The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Italy: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tickborne encephalitis, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia, influenza, and COVID-19. http://www.who.int/

Climate

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

Currency (Code)

Euros (EUR)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)

230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F, L

Major Languages

Italian, German, French, Slovene

Major Religions

Christian (overwhelmingly Roman Catholic with very small groups of Jehovah's Witnesses and Protestants), Muslim

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

Potable Water

Yes, but some opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit

Suggested

Road Driving Side

Right

Tourist Destinations

Rome (includes Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Castel Sant’Angelo, Roman Forum); Venice Canals; Pompeii; Leaning Tower of Pisa; Lake Como; Florence (includes Ponte Vecchio, Cathedral, Uffizi Gallery); Sicily; Mount Vesuvius; Amalfi Coast; Hadrian's Villa; Milan (includes Cathedral, La Scala)

Major Sports

Soccer, basketball, rugby, cycling, water polo

Cultural Practices

It is common for Italian friends and families to kiss on the cheek when they meet, irrespective of their gender. Dress neatly and respectfully.

Tipping Guidelines

A service charge, ranging from 1-3 euros, is sometimes added to a restaurant bill, but you can round up for good service. Tip a bartender 1 euro for a round of drinks. Tipping in hotels is not required, but always appreciated. It is appropriate to tip a porter 5 euros, the concierge 1-2 euros (if they provided a service), and housekeeping between 75 cents to 1.5 euros per day. Round up taxi fares.

Souvenirs

Leather goods, designer fashion, artwork, ceramics and pottery, wine and liqueurs, cheese, pasta, crystal and blown-glass items

Traditional Cuisine

Pasta dishes, pizza

CIA source last updated

Tuesday, June 04, 2024

Travel resources

Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.

World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.

US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.

To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs: American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)

How to get help in an emergency? Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers: from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444

Page last updated: Tuesday, June 04, 2024

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

42 50 N, 12 50 E

Map references

Europe

Area - total

301,340 sq km

Area - land

294,140 sq km

Area - water

7,200 sq km

Area - note

note: includes Sardinia and Sicily

Area - comparative

almost twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona

Land boundaries - total

1,836.4 km

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

Coastline

7,600 km

Maritime claims - territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims - continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate

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

Terrain

mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands

Elevation - highest point

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

Elevation - lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Elevation - mean elevation

538 m

Natural resources

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

Land use - agricultural land

44.3% (2023 est.)

Land use - agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 24% (2023 est.)

Land use - agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)

Land use - agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 12.2% (2023 est.)

Land use - forest

31.8% (2023 est.)

Land use - other

24% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

24,460 sq km (2021)

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)

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

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

Geography - note

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

People and Society

Population - total

60,924,851 (2025 est.)

Population - male

29,383,949

Population - female

31,540,902

Nationality - noun

Italian(s)

Nationality - adjective

Italian

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)

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)

Languages - 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.

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.)

Age structure - 0-14 years

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

Age structure - 15-64 years

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

Age structure - 65 years and over

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

Dependency ratios - total dependency ratio

55.3 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios - youth dependency ratio

18.1 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios - elderly dependency ratio

37.2 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios - potential support ratio

2.7 (2025 est.)

Median age - total

48.8 years (2025 est.)

Median age - male

47.4 years

Median age - female

49.4 years

Population growth rate

-0.05% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

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

Population distribution

Urbanization - urban population

72% of total population (2023)

Urbanization - rate of urbanization

0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 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)

Sex ratio - at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Sex ratio - 0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

Sex ratio - 15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

Sex ratio - 65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

Sex ratio - total population

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

Mother's mean age at first birth

31.4 years (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Infant mortality rate - total

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

Infant mortality rate - male

3.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate - female

2.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth - total population

83 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth - male

80.7 years

Life expectancy at birth - female

85.5 years

Total fertility rate

1.27 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.62 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source - improved: total

total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source - unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure - Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

9% of GDP (2022)

Health expenditure - Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

11.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

4.19 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access - improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access - improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access - improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access - unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access - unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access - unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

19.9% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita - total

7.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita - beer

1.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita - wine

4.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita - spirits

0.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita - other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use - total

19.8% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use - male

23.2% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use - female

16.6% (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

51.8% (2023 est.)

Education expenditure - Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure - Education expenditure (% national budget)

7.4% national budget (2022 est.)

Literacy - total population

99.3% (2019 est.)

Literacy - male

99.5% (2019 est.)

Literacy - female

99.2% (2019 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) - total

17 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) - male

16 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) - female

17 years (2023 est.)

Government

Country name - conventional long form

Italian Republic

Country name - conventional short form

Italy

Country name - local long form

Repubblica Italiana

Country name - local short form

Italia

Country name - former

Kingdom of Italy

Country name - 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

Government type

parliamentary republic

Capital - name

Rome

Capital - geographic coordinates

41 54 N, 12 29 E

Capital - time difference

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

Capital - daylight saving time

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

Capital - 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

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)

Legal system

civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legislation under certain conditions

Constitution - 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

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship - citizenship by birth

Citizenship - citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Italy

Citizenship - dual citizenship recognized

yes

Citizenship - residency requirement for naturalization

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

Suffrage

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

Executive branch - chief of state

President Sergio MATTARELLA (since 3 February 2015)

Executive branch - head of government

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

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

Executive branch - 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

Executive branch - most recent election date

24-29 January 2022 (eight rounds)

Executive branch - 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)

Executive branch - expected date of next election

2029

Legislative branch - legislature name

Parliament (Il Parlamento)

Legislative branch - legislative structure

bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber - chamber name

Chamber of Deputies (Camera dei Deputati)

Legislative branch - lower chamber - number of seats

400 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber - electoral system

mixed system

Legislative branch - lower chamber - scope of elections

full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber - term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber - most recent election date

9/25/2022

Legislative branch - lower chamber - 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)

Legislative branch - lower chamber - percentage of women in chamber

32.8%

Legislative branch - lower chamber - expected date of next election

September 2027

Legislative branch - upper chamber - chamber name

Senate (Senato della Repubblica)

Legislative branch - upper chamber - number of seats

205 (200 directly elected; 5 appointed)

Legislative branch - upper chamber - electoral system

mixed system

Legislative branch - upper chamber - scope of elections

full renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber - term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber - most recent election date

9/25/2022

Legislative branch - upper chamber - 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)

Legislative branch - upper chamber - percentage of women in chamber

36.3%

Legislative branch - upper chamber - expected date of next election

September 2027

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)

Judicial branch - 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

Judicial branch - subordinate courts

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US - chief of mission

Ambassador Marco PERONACI (since 5 September 2025)

Diplomatic representation in the US - chancery

3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US - telephone

[1] (202) 612-4400

Diplomatic representation in the US - FAX

[1] (202) 518-2154

Diplomatic representation in the US - email address and website

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

Diplomatic representation in the US - consulate(s) general

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

Diplomatic representation in the US - consulate(s)

Detroit

Diplomatic representation from the US - chief of mission

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

Diplomatic representation from the US - embassy

via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187 Roma

Diplomatic representation from the US - mailing address

9500 Rome Place, Washington DC 20521-9500

Diplomatic representation from the US - telephone

[39] 06-46741

Diplomatic representation from the US - FAX

[39] 06-4674-2244

Diplomatic representation from the US - email address and website

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

Diplomatic representation from the US - consulate(s) general

Florence, Milan, Naples

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

Independence

17 March 1861

Independence - note

note: the Kingdom of Italy proclaimed on 17 March 1861, but Italy was not fully unified until 1871

National holiday

Republic Day, 2 June (1946)

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

Flag - note

note: similar to the flags of Mexico (longer, darker shades of green and red, and has its coat of arms centered on the white band), Ireland (longer and with orange instead of red), and Cote d'Ivoire (colors reversed)

National symbol(s)

five-pointed white star (Stella d'Italia)

National color(s)

red, white, green

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 anthem(s) - title

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

National anthem(s) - lyrics/music

Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO

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)

National heritage - total World Heritage Sites

61 (55 cultural, 6 natural)

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)

Economy

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) - Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$3.133 trillion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) - Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$3.11 trillion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) - Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$3.088 trillion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) - note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate - Real GDP growth rate 2024

0.7% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate - Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.7% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate - Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.8% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate - note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita - Real GDP per capita 2024

$53,100 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita - Real GDP per capita 2023

$52,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita - Real GDP per capita 2022

$52,300 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita - note

note: data in 2021 dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.373 trillion (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate) - note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices) - Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) - Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

5.6% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) - Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

8.2% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) - note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture

2% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry

21.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services

65.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin - note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption

58.3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption

17.8% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital

22.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories

0.4% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services

33.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services

-32.1% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use - note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

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

Agricultural products - note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

0.2% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate - note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force

25.828 million (2024 est.)

Labor force - note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate - Unemployment rate 2024

6.8% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate - Unemployment rate 2023

7.7% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate - Unemployment rate 2022

8.1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate - note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) - total

21.8% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) - male

19.9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) - female

24.8% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) - note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line

20.1% (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line - note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income - Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

33.7 (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income - note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Average household expenditures - on food

14.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures - on alcohol and tobacco

3.8% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%

2.5% (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10%

25.3% (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share - note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances - Remittances 2024

0.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances - Remittances 2023

0.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances - Remittances 2022

0.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances - note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget - revenues

$935.038 billion (2023 est.)

Budget - expenditures

$1.104 trillion (2023 est.)

Budget - note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Public debt - Public debt 2017

131.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

Public debt - note

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 central, state, and local government and social security funds

Taxes and other revenues

24.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues - note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Current account balance - Current account balance 2024

$26.76 billion (2024 est.)

Current account balance - Current account balance 2023

$3.261 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance - Current account balance 2022

-$36.325 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance - note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports - Exports 2024

$778.898 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - Exports 2023

$774.311 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - Exports 2022

$737.083 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - partners

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

Exports - partners - note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - commodities - note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - Imports 2024

$717.278 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - Imports 2023

$739.646 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - Imports 2022

$775.518 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - partners

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

Imports - partners - note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - commodities - note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold - Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$290.547 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold - Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$247.396 billion (2023 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 - note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Exchange rates - Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates - Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates - Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates - Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates - Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates - Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access - electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

128.692 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity - consumption

290.664 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity - exports

3.32 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity - imports

54.572 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity - transmission/distribution losses

17.62 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources - fossil fuels

56% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources - solar

12% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources - wind

9.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources - hydroelectricity

14.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources - geothermal

2.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources - biomass and waste

6.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy - Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down

4 (2025)

Coal - production

1.572 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal - consumption

12.424 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal - exports

304,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal - imports

12.069 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal - proven reserves

609.999 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum - total petroleum production

111,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum - refined petroleum consumption

1.245 million bbl/day (2024 est.)

Petroleum - crude oil estimated reserves

497.934 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas - production

2.778 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

61.906 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas - exports

2.609 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas - imports

61.851 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas - proven reserves

45.76 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita - Total energy consumption per capita 2023

96.797 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines - total subscriptions

20.107 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines - subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

34 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular - total subscriptions

78.7 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular - subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

133 (2024 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.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions - total

20.1 million (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions - subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

34 (2023 est.)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

655 (2025)

Heliports

163 (2025)

Railways - total

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

Railways - note

1289.3 0.950-mm gauge (151.3 km electrified)

Merchant marine - total

1,276 (2023)

Merchant marine - by type

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

Ports - total ports

123 (2024)

Ports - large

Ports - medium

Ports - small

Ports - very small

Ports - size unknown

Ports - ports with oil terminals

Ports - key ports

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

Military and Security

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 forces - note

note 1: the National (or State) Police and Carabinieri (gendarmerie or military police) maintain internal security; the National Police reports to the Ministry of Interior while the Carabinieri reports to the Ministry of Defense but is also under the coordination of the Ministry of Interior; the Carabinieri is primarily a domestic police force organized along military lines, with some overseas responsibilities note 2: the Financial Guard (Guardia di Finanza) under the Ministry of Economy and Finance is a force with military status and nationwide remit for financial crime investigations, including narcotics trafficking, smuggling, and illegal immigration

Military expenditures - Military Expenditures 2025

2% of GDP (2025 est.)

Military expenditures - Military Expenditures 2024

1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures - Military Expenditures 2023

1.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures - Military Expenditures 2022

1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures - Military Expenditures 2021

1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

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

Military service age and obligation - note

note: women serve in all military branches; as of 2023, women made up about 8% of the military's full-time personnel

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 deployments - note

note : since 1960, Italy has committed more than 60,000 troops to UN missions, and it hosts a training center in Vicenza for police personnel destined for peacekeeping missions

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)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Terrorist group(s) - note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons - refugees

520,127 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons - stateless persons

3,000 (2024 est.)

Environment

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

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

International environmental agreements - signed, but not ratified

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

Climate

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

Land use - agricultural land

44.3% (2023 est.)

Land use - agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 24% (2023 est.)

Land use - agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 8.1% (2023 est.)

Land use - agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 12.2% (2023 est.)

Land use - forest

31.8% (2023 est.)

Land use - other

24% (2023 est.)

Urbanization - urban population

72% of total population (2023)

Urbanization - rate of urbanization

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

Carbon dioxide emissions - total emissions

307.442 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions - from coal and metallurgical coke

26.15 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions - from petroleum and other liquids

162.688 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions - from consumed natural gas

118.604 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

12.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions - energy

276.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Methane emissions - agriculture

764.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions - waste

523.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions - other

35.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling - municipal solid waste generated annually

30.088 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling - percent of municipal solid waste recycled

39.9% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal - municipal

9.148 billion cubic meters (2022)

Total water withdrawal - industrial

7.7 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal - agricultural

17 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

191.3 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Geoparks - total global geoparks and regional networks

12 (2025)

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)

Space

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)

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

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