Introduction

Background: |  |

`
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 was 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 illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with the prosperous north.
`

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 country comparison to the world: 71 land: 294,140 sq km water: 7,200 sq km note: includes Sardinia and Sicily`
Area - comparative: |  |
`slightly larger than Arizona`
Land boundaries: |  |
`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: |  |
`7,600 km`
Maritime claims: |  |
`territorial sea: 12 nm 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 extremes: |  |
`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: |  |
`coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land`
Land use: |  |
`arable land: 26.41% permanent crops: 9.09% other: 64.5% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`27,500 sq km (2003)`
Total renewable water resources: |  |
`175 cu km (2005)`
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic / industrial / agricultural): |  |
`total: 41.98 cu km/yr (18%/37%/45%) per capita: 723 cu m/yr (1998)`
Natural hazards: |  |

`
regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice
volcanism: Italy experiences 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: |  |
`air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities`
Environment - international agreements: |  |

`
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
`

Geography - note: |  |
`strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe`

People

Population: |  |
`61,016,804 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 23`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 13.8% (male 4,315,292/female 4,124,624) 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 19,888,901/female 20,330,495) 65 years and over: 20.3% (male 5,248,418/female 7,109,074) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 43.5 years male: 42.4 years female: 44.7 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`0.42% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 157`
Birth rate: |  |
`9.18 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 208`
Death rate: |  |
`9.84 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 59`
Net migration rate: |  |
`4.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 18`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 68% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`ROME (capital) 3.357 million; Milan 2.962 million; Naples 2.27 million; Turin 1.662 million; Palermo 872,000 (2009)`
Sex ratio: |  |
`at birth: 1.059 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 3.38 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 213 male: 3.59 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 81.77 years country comparison to the world: 10 male: 79.16 years female: 84.53 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.39 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 202`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`0.3% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 81`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`140,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 35`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74`
Drinking water source: |  |
`improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population (2008)`
Nationality: |  |
`noun: Italian(s) adjective: Italian`
Ethnic groups: |  |
`Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south)`
Religions: |  |
`Roman Catholic 90% (approximately; about one-third practicing), other 10% (includes mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community)`
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)`
Literacy: |  |
`definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98.4% male: 98.8% female: 98% (2001 census)`
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |  |
`total: 16 years male: 16 years female: 17 years (2008)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`4.3% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 91`

Government

Country name: |  |
`conventional long form: Italian Republic conventional short form: Italy local long form: Repubblica Italiana local short form: Italia former: Kingdom of Italy`
Government type: |  |
`republic`
Capital: |  |
`name: Rome geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 29 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October`
Administrative divisions: |  |

`
15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma)
regions: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Veneto (Venetia)
autonomous regions: Friuli-Venezia Giulia; Sardegna (Sardinia); Sicilia (Sicily); Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol) or Trentino-Suedtirol (German); Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) or Vallee d'Aoste (French)
`

Independence: |  |
`17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870)`
National holiday: |  |
`Republic Day, 2 June (1946)`
Constitution: |  |
`passed 11 December 1947, effective 1 January 1948; amended many times`
Legal system: |  |
`civil law system; judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court`
International law organization participation: |  |
`has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction`
Suffrage: |  |
`18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25)`
Executive branch: |  |

`
chief of state: President Giorgio NAPOLITANO (since 15 May 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Silvio BERLUSCONI (since 8 May 2008); note - in Italy 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
(For more information visit theWorld Leaders website )
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 10 May 2006 (next to be held in May 2013); prime minister appointed by the president and confirmed by parliament
election results: Giorgio NAPOLITANO elected president on the fourth round of voting; electoral college vote - 543
`

Legislative branch: |  |

`
bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of the Senate or Senato della Repubblica (315 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 13-14 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 13-14 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - S. BERLUSCONI coalition 174 (PdL 147, LN 25, MpA 2), W. VELTRONI coalition 132 (PD 118, IdV 3), UdC 3, other 6; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - S. BERLUSCONI coalition 344 (PdL 276, LN 60, MpA 8), W. VELTRONI coalition 246 (PD 217, IdV 29), UdC 36, other 4
`

Judicial branch: |  |
`Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (composed of 15 judges: one-third appointed by the president, one-third elected by parliament, one-third elected by the ordinary and administrative Supreme Courts)`
Political parties and leaders: |  |
`Center-Right coalition: Lega Nord or LN [Umberto BOSSI]; Movement for Autonomy or MpA [Raffaele LOMBARDO]; People of Freedom or PdL [Silvio BERLUSCONI] Center-Left coalition: Democratic Party or PD [Pier Luigi BERSANI]; Italy of Values or IdV [Antonio DI PIETRO] other non-allied parties: Future and Liberty Party or FLI [Gianfranco FINI]; Union of the Center or UdC [Pier Ferdinando CASINI]`
Political pressure groups and leaders: |  |

`
manufacturers and merchants associations - Confcommercio; Confindustria; organized farm groups - Confcoltivatori; Confagricoltura; Roman Catholic Church; three major trade union confederations - Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro or CGIL [Guglielmo EPIFANI] which is left wing; Confederazione Italiana dei Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL [Raffaele BONANNO], which is Roman Catholic centrist; Unione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL [Luigi ANGELETTI] which is lay centrist)
`

International organization participation: |  |

`
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-20, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
`

Diplomatic representation in the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador Giulio TERZI di Sant' Agata chancery: 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 612-4400 FAX: [1] (202) 518-2151 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco consulate(s): Detroit`
Diplomatic representation from the US: |  |
`chief of mission: Ambassador David THORNE embassy: Via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187-Rome mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624 telephone: [39] (06) 46741 FAX: [39] (06) 488-2672, 4674-2356 consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples`
Flag description: |  |

`
three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; design inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797; colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard
note: similar to the flag of Mexico, which is longer, uses darker shades of red and green, and has its coat of arms centered on the white band; Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green
`

National anthem: |  |
`name: "Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians) lyrics/music: Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO note: adopted 1946; the anthem, originally written in 1847, is also known as "L'Inno di Mameli" (Mameli's Hymn), and "Fratelli D'Italia" (Brothers of Italy)`

Economy

Economy - overview: |  |

`
Italy has a diversified industrial economy, which is divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less-developed, welfare-dependent, agricultural south, with high unemployment. 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 15% of GDP. These activities are most common within the agriculture, construction, and service sectors. Italy has moved slowly on implementing needed structural reforms, such as reducing graft, overhauling costly entitlement programs, and increasing employment opportunities for young workers, particularly women. The international financial crisis worsened conditions in Italy's labor market, with unemployment rising from 6.2% in 2007 to 8.4% in 2010, but in the longer-term Italy's low fertility rate and quota-driven immigration policies will increasingly strain its economy. A rise in exports and investment driven by the global economic recovery nevertheless helped the economy grow by about 1% in 2010 following a 5% contraction in 2009. The Italian government has struggled to limit government spending, but Italy's exceedingly high public debt remains above 115% of GDP, and its fiscal deficit - just 1.5% of GDP in 2007 - exceeded 5% in 2009 and 2010, as the costs of servicing the country's debt rose.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$1.774 trillion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 11 $1.751 trillion (2009 est.) $1.847 trillion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$2.055 trillion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`1.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165 -5.2% (2009 est.) -1.3% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$30,500 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43 $30,100 (2009 est.) $31,800 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 1.8% industry: 24.9% services: 73.3% (2010 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`25.05 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 23`
Labor force - by occupation: |  |
`agriculture: 4.2% industry: 30.7% services: 65.1% (2005)`
Unemployment rate: |  |
`8.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 7.8% (2009 est.)`
Population below poverty line: |  |
`NA%`
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |  |
`lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 26.8% (2000)`
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |  |
`32 (2006) country comparison to the world: 102 27.3 (1995)`
Investment (gross fixed): |  |
`19.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 99`
Budget: |  |
`revenues: $940.3 billion expenditures: $1.042 trillion (2010 est.)`
Public debt: |  |
`118.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 115.8% of GDP (2009 est.)`
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |  |
`1.4% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 0.8% (2009 est.)`
Central bank discount rate: |  |
`1.75% (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 128 1.75% (31 December 2009) 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: |  |
`10.26% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 11.31% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |

`
$1.234 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
$1.267 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
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: |  |
`$1.884 trillion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 10 $1.846 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$3.274 trillion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 $3.047 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$317.3 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 17 $520.9 billion (31 December 2008) $1.073 trillion (31 December 2007)`
Agriculture - products: |  |
`fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives; beef, dairy products; fish`
Industries: |  |
`tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics`
Industrial production growth rate: |  |
`0.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 150`
Electricity - production: |  |
`289.7 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 14`
Electricity - consumption: |  |
`315 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 13`
Electricity - exports: |  |
`3.431 billion kWh (2008 est.)`
Electricity - imports: |  |
`43 billion kWh (2008 est.)`
Oil - production: |  |
`146,500 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 47`
Oil - consumption: |  |
`1.537 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 16`
Oil - exports: |  |
`586,900 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 26`
Oil - imports: |  |
`1.911 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 10`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`423.7 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53`
Natural gas - production: |  |
`8.119 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 45`
Natural gas - consumption: |  |
`78.12 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 10`
Natural gas - exports: |  |
`124 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 43`
Natural gas - imports: |  |
`69.24 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 4`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`69.83 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 58`
Current account balance: |  |
`$-61.98 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 189 $-66.2 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$458.4 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 $407.2 billion (2009 est.)`
Exports - commodities: |  |
`engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food, beverages and tobacco; minerals, and nonferrous metals`
Exports - partners: |  |
`Germany 12.6%, France 11.57%, US 5.92%, Spain 5.69%, UK 5.13%, Switzerland 4.69% (2009)`
Imports: |  |
`$459.7 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 $403.9 billion (2009 est.)`
Imports - commodities: |  |
`engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing; food, beverages, and tobacco`
Imports - partners: |  |
`Germany 16.68%, France 8.82%, China 6.53%, Netherlands 5.63%, Spain 4.3%, Russia 4.12%, Belgium 4.08% (2009)`
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |  |
`$NA (31 December 2010 est.) $132.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Debt - external: |  |
`$2.223 trillion (30 June 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 $2.328 trillion (31 December 2008)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |  |
`$405.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $368.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |  |
`$601.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 12 $555.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)`
Exchange rates: |  |
`euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010) 0.7179 (2009) 0.6827 (2008) 0.7345 (2007) 0.7964 (2006)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`21.3 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 12`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`90.613 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 12`
Telephone system: |  |

`
general assessment: modern, well developed, fast; fully automated telephone, telex, and data services
domestic: high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks
international: country code - 39; a series of submarine cables provide links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, North Africa, and US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas - 3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and NA Eutelsat
`

Broadcast media: |  |
`two Italian media giants - the publicly-owned Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI) with 3 national terrestrial stations and privately-owned Mediaset with 3 national terrestrial stations - dominate; additional broadcasts by 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: |  |
`.it`
Internet hosts: |  |
`23.16 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 3`
Internet users: |  |
`29.235 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 13`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`132 (2010) country comparison to the world: 44`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 101 over 3,047 m: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 13 (2010)`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 31 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 19 (2010)`
Heliports: |  |
`6 (2010)`
Pipelines: |  |
`gas 18,348 km; oil 1,241 km (2010)`
Railways: |  |
`total: 20,254 km country comparison to the world: 15 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 (2010)`
Roadways: |  |
`total: 487,700 km country comparison to the world: 13 paved: 487,700 km (includes 6,700 km of expressways) (2007)`
Waterways: |  |
`2,400 km (used for commercial traffic; of limited overall value compared to road and rail) (2009) country comparison to the world: 37`
Merchant marine: |  |

`
total: 667
country comparison to the world: 17
by type: bulk carrier 81, cargo 47, carrier 1, chemical tanker 169, container 22, liquefied gas 25, passenger 23, passenger/cargo 160, petroleum tanker 56, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 34, specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier 34
foreign-owned: 78 (Denmark 4, France 2, Germany 1, Greece 8, Luxembourg 12, Nigeria 1, Norway 6, Sweden 1, Switzerland 6, Taiwan 11, Turkey 3, UK 2, US 21)
registered in other countries: 213 (Bahamas 5, Belize 3, Cayman Islands 6, Cyprus 6, Georgia 2, Gibraltar 4, Greece 5, Kiribati 1, Liberia 48, Malta 52, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands 9, Norway 3, Panama 23, Portugal 10, Russia 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore 3, Slovakia 2, Spain 1, Sweden 5, Turkey 2, UK 4, unknown 3) (2010)
`

Ports and terminals: |  |
`Augusta, Cagliari, Genoa, Livorno, Santa Panagia (Melilli), Taranto, Trieste, Venice`

Military

Military branches: |  |
`Italian Armed Forces: Army (Esercito Italiano, EI), Navy (Marina Militare Italiana, MMI), Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana, AMI), Carabinieri Corps (Arma dei Carabinieri, CC) (2011)`
Military service age and obligation: |  |
`18-27 year of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished January 2005; women may serve in any military branch; 10-month service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 45 (Army and Air Force) or 39 (Navy) (2006)`
Manpower available for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 13,865,688 females age 16-49: 14,003,755 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 11,247,446 females age 16-49: 11,348,695 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 288,188 female: 281,671 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`1.8% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 81`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`Italy's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern Africa`
Illicit drugs: |  |
`important gateway for and consumer of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market; money laundering by organized crime and from smuggling`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011