About Italy
When traveling to a new country it can be good to know some general information about the nation which you are visiting. With this in mind we have provided some broad outlines about Italy below.
Please be aware that the information contained herein is meant for reference purposes only and is liable to change without prior warning. For up to date information about Italy , please consult an expert.
Official Name: The Italian Republic , or simply Italy .
Capital: The capital of Italy is Rome , one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. Historical evidence has found that Rome has been continually inhabited since the 8 th century BC, and as a home to the Etruscan, Roman, and Renaissance Italian civilizations, has played a major role in then development of western civilization. Rome is also home to the independent state of the Vatican City , the home to the Catholic Church.
Location : Located in South-Central Europe, Italy is a boot shaped peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea . Italy shares land borers with Austria , Slovenia , Switzerland , Monaco , and France and lays claim to the two Mediterranean Islands of Sicily and Sardinia .
Size: With a total size of 301,230 square kilometers Italy occupies an area slightly larger than the American State of Arizona . Italy is the 78 th largest country in the world in terms of total size.
Climate: The Italian climate can change radically throughout the country. Costal regions often have mild winters and dry summers while the northern inland provinces experience an Alpine climate, not dissimilar to Switzerland and Austria . Generally the best time to visit Italy is during spring or autumn when the weather tends to be dry and sunny.
Population: With a total population of approximately 58 million, Italy has the 25 th largest population in the world. The population of Italy dramatically increases during the summer as millions of tourists flock to the country from all over the world; expect large crowds during the summer months, especially August.
Life expectancy at birth: With and average life expectancy at birth of 79.94 years, Italy has the 15 th highest life expectancy in the world. This is mainly due to the high quality of social services in the country and recent studies have shown that healthy Mediterranean cuisine has played a major role in the health of the Italian population.
Prevalence of HIV/AIDS: Approximately 0.5% of the Italian population is living with HIV/Aids. In real terms this is equivalent to approximately 140,000 people. Italy has the 73 rd highest HIV/Aids rate in the world.
Major illnesses: As a developed first world country the disease risk in Italy is fairly limited. The major healthcare concerns stem for seasonal illnesses such as Heat stroke in the summer and hypothermia in the winter. At present there is a global risk of Bird Flu and all travelers should take appropriate precautions.
Ethnic Groups: Italy is a fairly homogenous society with approximately 95% of the population claiming Italian ethnicity. The remaining 5% of the population are of Euo-Italian descent with the largest ethnicities being German-Italian, French-Italian, Slovene-Italian, Albanian-Italian, and Greek-Italian.
Languages: The official language of Italy is Italian, however due to the country's location and the historical contest of the region; a number of other languages are spoken throughout the nation. Languages spoken in Italy include; Italian, German, French, and Slovene.
Religion: Located in Italy is the Independent State of the Vatican City, the home of the Catholic Church, as such it is no surprise that approximately 90% of all Italians identify themselves as being catholic (only one third of this number actively attend catholic church services). The remaining 10% of the Italian population observes a number of religions including Protestant Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.
Government: Italy is a Republic; this is a system of government whereby the populace of a country has direct influence on the overall running of the country. A republic is a type of government without a monarch as the head of state; typically the head of state of a republic is called the President.
Head of State: President Giorgio Napolitano is the leader of the Italian State .
Head of Government: Prime Minister Romano Prodi is the head of the government. In Italy the prime minister is also referred to as the president of the council of ministers.
Military: Italy has an extremely comprehensive military that receives a budget equivalent to approximately 1.8% of the nations total GDP. There are approximately 13 million men in Italy who are currently fit for military service.
Economy : The Italian Economy is one of the strongest in the world. With the 7 th highest GDP in the world, behind countries such as the USA , UK , France , China , Japan and Germany , Italy has proven that it is a modern country with an extremely well developed capitalistic economy. Despite the nations slow economic growth, and dependence on overseas imports (mainly in the areas of raw materials and energy), the Italian government is taking steps, and introducing legislation to help the country become more competitive in the modern world.
There are some serious issues facing the Italian economy including high taxes, an influx of immigrants, and a labor force controlled by unions. All of which have contributed to a slowdown in the nations market growth. However, with large foreign investment and one of the strongest tourism industries in the world, Italy is attempting to change its easy going Mediterranean image and become one of the most competitive economies in the world.
GDP: With a purchasing power parity of US$ 1.8 trillion and an actual GDP of US$ 1.862 trillion, Italy is the 7 th largest economy in the world.
For more information about Italy, the international health insurance plans that we can offer there, or to receive a free quote, please contact one of our expert advisers today.
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