Republic of Italy

As of January 31, 2023, Italy had a population of 58,850,717. The country covers 301,388 square kilometers. On average, about 199 people live per square kilometer. However, there are significant regional differences. In Campania, for example, there are 430 people per square kilometer, while in the Aosta Valley there are just 40.

Italy has four neighboring countries. It borders France to the northwest, Switzerland and Austria to the north, and Slovenia to the northeast. The capital, Rome, is also home to an independent state of its own: the Vatican. The head of this state is the Pope, head of the Catholic Church. The Vatican has only about 600 residents. At its heart is St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest Christian church in the world. The small state of San Marino is also surrounded by Italy.

The official national language is Italian. About 4 percent of the population have a different mother tongue. In areas near the borders, Ladin, German, French and Slovenian are also spoken. German is spoken particularly widely in the province of Bolzano. This area, also known as South Tyrol, belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1919, when it was awarded to Italy.

Of every 100 people in Italy, about 80 are Catholic, 16 have no religion, and two are Muslim. There are only a few Protestants, Jews, Buddhists and people of other religions. Italians are 46 years old on average, the same as people in Germany.

Italy and Germany are among the countries that founded the European Union (EU). Today, the European Union has 27 member states. People in 19 of these countries use the euro, including Italy.

Street scene in Florence

The capital of Italy is Rome. In 2023, the city had a population of about 2,748,000. Including the suburbs around Rome, the population exceeds 4 million. Rome is also known as the Eternal City because it is so old. Rome is said to have been founded more than 2,700 years ago. In the centuries that followed, it became the center of the Roman Empire, which covered many lands around the Mediterranean. Even today, you can see buildings and ruins from the time of the Roman Empire in the city, such as the Colosseum, where the Romans once watched bloody contests. The Pantheon was dedicated to the Roman gods, headed by Jupiter and Hera. The Roman Forum was a place for markets and public gatherings.

Italy is now divided into 20 regions. The largest are Lombardy, Campania, Lazio, Sicily, Veneto, Piedmont, and Emilia-Romagna; the smallest is Aosta Valley.

View of Rome from the dome of St Peter’s Basilica

Milan, Italy’s second-largest city, is in the north of the country. Next come Naples, Turin, Palermo, Genoa, Bologna and Florence. You can find the exact population figures here.

Every year, many people travel to Venice, a city in northeastern Italy. It was built on more than 100 islands. Its 150 canals are waterways that can only be travelled by boat. More than 400 bridges connect the different parts of the city.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa stands in the city of Pisa. This white, round tower looks as if it could topple over at any moment. It was built 800 years ago as a bell tower. But the ground there was not very firm. The tower is very heavy, the ground gave way and the building partially sank. Since then, it has stood at a slight angle.

The Campanile and St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice

Italy’s longest river is the 650-kilometer-long Po. It rises in the northwest, near the French border, flows east across Italy and empties into the Mediterranean Sea.

The second-longest river is the Adige, also known in German as the Etsch. It rises in South Tyrol in northern Italy. The river is 410 kilometers long.

The third-longest river, the Tevere (Tiber), winds its way 405 kilometers through the country. It rises near a place called Verghereto and also flows through the capital, Rome, before emptying into the Mediterranean.

Italy’s three largest lakes are Lake Garda, known in Italian as Lago di Garda, Lake Como (Lago di Como) and Lago Maggiore. All three are in the north of the country, along the southern edge of the Alps.

Lake Maggiore is a lake in northern Italy

Italy is easy to find on a map. It lies in the Mediterranean and is shaped like a boot. In addition to the mainland, Italy includes two large islands: Sicily and Sardinia. There are also many smaller islands, such as Elba.

Much of the country is covered by hills or mountains. The Alps are partly in Italy. The highest mountain is Monte Bianco (called Mont Blanc in France), at 4,800 metres. It lies on the border between France and Italy. The second-highest mountain is Gran Paradiso, which is 4,060 metres high. The Apennine mountain range runs from north to south through the country.

Italy lies in an earthquake zone. Earthquakes often shake the country. Several volcanoes are also still active, including Mount Vesuvius and Mount Etna. Italy has many beaches. Wherever you are in Italy, you can reach the sea within a few hours. The coastline is almost 900 kilometres long in total.

Lake Garda is a popular holiday destination, including for visitors from Germany

St Peter’s Basilica in Rome is the largest Christian church in the world

Italy's economy is the seventh-largest in the world and the third-largest in Europe. Famous car brands such as Fiat, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Maserati are based in Italy. Other important sectors include machinery, metalworking and food processing.

Italy is one of the world’s leading wine-producing countries. It is also a popular travel destination. Tourism provides many jobs. Italy is also home to companies in the fashion industry. The economy is stronger in the north of the country than in the south.

The south is also known as the Mezzogiorno. People there are poorer and more often unemployed than in the north. These differences also lead to tensions between the north and south of the country. For centuries, criminal organizations such as the Mafia and the ’Ndrangheta have had considerable influence, especially in the south.

Via Coronari is a magnificent shopping street in Rome with many expensive shops

Italy was united as a kingdom in March 1861. Since 1946, it has been a parliamentary democracy. All Italians aged 18 and over can vote. They elect parliament every five years.

This parliament has two chambers, where politicians discuss and make decisions for the country. One is the Senate, which has 315 members. The other is the Chamber of Deputies, with 630 elected members. The government is headed by the prime minister.

Italy’s head of state is the President of the Republic. The president signs all laws, is commander-in-chief of the armed forces and can dissolve parliament. The president is elected every seven years by an assembly made up of politicians from the Senate, the Chamber of Deputies and the country’s regions.

The national holiday is June 2. Every year on this day, Italians celebrate the founding of the Italian Republic on June 2, 1946. The colors of the national flag can also be seen at major events. It is green, white and red.

The President resides in the Quirinal Palace in Rome - Images: Hamsterkiste