Italy Facts

Facts about Italy

Capital of Italy

Rome, Italy

Total Area of Italy

total: 301,230 sq km
land: 294,020 sq km
water: 7,210 sq km
note: includes Sardinia and Sicily

Population of Italy

58,103,033 (July 2005 est.)

Languages of Italy

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).

English is widely understood in tourist areas

Literacy in Italy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99%
female: 98.3% (2003 est.)

Religions in Italy

Italy is predominately Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community

Life Expectancy in Italy

total population: 79.68 years
male: 76.75 years
female: 82.81 years (2005 est.)

Government Type of Italy

republic

Currency in Italy

Euro (EUR) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries . See Euro for currency conversion.