Italy, officially known as the Italian Republic, is situated in Southern and Western Europe. The country occupies a peninsula that stretches into the Mediterranean Sea and boasts the Alps along its northern border. Italy shares its borders with several countries including France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Vatican City, and San Marino. It is the tenth largest country in Europe, covering an area of 301,340 km2. Italy is also the third most populous member state of the European Union with a population of approximately 60 million. Rome serves as the capital and largest city, while other major urban areas include Milan, Naples, Turin, Florence, and Venice.
Italy did not participate in the 1904 Summer Olympics.
Italian poet Giosuè Carducci, known for his nationalist themes, was honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1906.
Gabriele D'Annunzio, a prominent figure in modern literature, actively contributed to the literary scene from 1889 to 1910.
The Italian film industry experienced rapid expansion in 1912, with Turin producing 569 films and Rome producing 420 films.
Italy granted men the right to vote regardless of property ownership in 1913.
Cabiria, released in 1914, emerged as the most celebrated Italian silent film, achieving the distinction of being the first film to be screened at the White House.
The period between 1898 and 1914 marked the peak years of the Italian diaspora, with approximately 750,000 Italians emigrating annually.
In 1915, Italy joined World War I on the side of the Allies, hoping to gain territory from the Central Powers.
Italy entered World War I in 1915 on the side of the Allies, hoping to gain territory from the Central Powers.
Italy's involvement in World War I concluded in 1918. The country's contribution to the Allied victory earned it a place as one of the "Big Four" powers.
In 1920, the Treaty of Rapallo settled territorial disputes between Italy and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
Giovanni Giolitti, a dominant figure in Italian politics, ended his last term as prime minister in 1921.
The Italian Grand Prix of Formula One was inaugurated in 1921 and has been held at Autodromo Nazionale Monza for most of its history.
In October 1922, Mussolini's National Fascist Party staged a "March on Rome," leading to Mussolini's appointment as Prime Minister and the establishment of a fascist dictatorship in Italy.
In 1922, the National Fascist Party, led by Benito Mussolini, came to power in Italy, establishing a dictatorship.
King Victor Emmanuel III established the Regia Aeronautica (Royal Air Force) as an independent service branch in 1923.
The Treaty of Rome, signed in 1924, resulted in the annexation of the city of Fiume by Italy.
Grazia Deledda, an Italian realist writer, received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1926, recognizing her significant contributions to literature.
The Rome Masters, one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments, was founded in 1930.
The Venice Film Festival, the oldest film festival in the world and one of the "Big Three" European film festivals, was inaugurated in 1932.
Italy's national football team celebrated a momentous victory at the FIFA World Cup in 1934, marking the beginning of their journey as a football powerhouse.
Italy, under Mussolini's fascist regime, invaded Ethiopia in 1935, aiming to establish a colonial empire in Africa.
Luigi Pirandello, an influential figure in modern theatre, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1936 for his groundbreaking work.
Italy continued its dominance in international football by securing another victory at the FIFA World Cup in 1938, solidifying their reputation as a formidable force.
Italy annexed Albania in 1939, further expanding its territorial ambitions under Mussolini's rule.
The Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 led to the collapse of the Fascist regime and the removal of Mussolini from power.
In July 1943, the Allied invasion of Sicily led to the collapse of the Fascist regime and the arrest of Mussolini.
Per capita income in 1944 was at its lowest point since 1900, demonstrating the destruction of the Italian economy following the war.
Hostilities ended on 29 April 1945, when the German forces in Italy surrendered.
In April 1945, as defeat loomed, Mussolini attempted to escape north, but was captured and summarily executed near Lake Como by partisans.
Italy was liberated from German occupation in 1945, marking the end of World War II for the country.
"Il Canto degli Italiani", first performed in 1847, officially became the Italian national anthem in 1946.
Following Italy's transition to a republic in 1946, the Italian Army was formed from the remnants of the Royal Italian Army.
Italy became a republic after the 1946 Italian institutional referendum held on 2 June, a day celebrated since as Festa della Repubblica. This was the first time women voted nationally.
Italy has been a unitary parliamentary republic since 1946, when the monarchy was abolished by a constitutional referendum.
Italy's Republic Day is celebrated on June 2nd to commemorate the birth of the Italian Republic in 1946.
The Italian Navy was formed in 1946 from the remnants of the Regia Marina (Royal Navy) following the end of World War II.
The year 1947 marked a significant breakthrough in physics with the discovery of the pion or pi-meson decay, a discovery in which Giuseppe Occhialini played a crucial role.
Fears of a Communist takeover proved crucial in 1948, when the Christian Democrats, under Alcide De Gasperi, won a landslide victory.
The Constitution of Italy, established in 1948, is the highest source of law in the country. The Constitutional Court ensures that all laws comply with it.
The Italian Scuderia Ferrari, the oldest surviving team in Grand Prix racing, first competed in 1948.
The Republican Constitution was approved in 1948.
In 1949 Italy became a member of NATO.
The Italian economic miracle, a period of significant economic growth, started in the 1950s, leading to large-scale internal migration from the rural south to the industrial north.
Italy became a member of the United Nations in 1955.
Italy hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956.
Salvatore Quasimodo, an esteemed Italian poet, received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1959 for his profound contributions to poetry.
Italy hosted the Summer Olympics in 1960.
Italian short story writer Italo Calvino's literary excellence was celebrated with the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1960.
Deforestation, illegal building, and poor land-management policies have led to significant erosion in Italy's mountainous regions, leading to ecological disasters such as the 1963 Vajont Dam flood, and the 1998 Sarno and 2009 Messina mudslides.
Giulio Natta's contributions to the field of high polymers earned him the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1963.
The country operated nuclear reactors between 1963-90 but, after the Chernobyl disaster and referendums, the nuclear programme was terminated, a decision overturned by the government in 2008, with plans to build up to four nuclear power plants. This was in turn struck down by a referendum following the Fukushima nuclear accident.
Gigliola Cinquetti brought pride to Italy by winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964.
Pier Giorgio Perotto, an Italian engineer, designed one of the earliest desktop programmable calculators in 1964, known as the Programma 101.
From the late 1960s until the early 80s, the country experienced the Years of Lead, characterised by economic difficulties, especially after the 1973 oil crisis; social conflicts; and terrorist massacres.
Eugenio Montale, a renowned Italian poet, was honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1975, solidifying his place among literary greats.
Italy's border today has existed since 1975, when Trieste was formally re-annexed to Italy.
In 1976, Italian tennis players achieved victory in the Davis Cup.
Italy established a universal public healthcare system in 1978.
Giuseppe Occhialini received the prestigious Wolf Prize in Physics in 1979 for his pivotal role in discovering the pion or pi-meson decay in 1947.
In 1980, the Italian Grand Prix of Formula One was not held at its usual location, Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
Italy experienced a period of progressive economic slowdown during the 1980s and 1990s.
Umberto Eco, an Italian writer, literary critic, philosopher, and semiotician, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1980 for his significant literary contributions.
Italy's national football team once again etched their name in football history by claiming victory at the FIFA World Cup in 1982.
Italy's men's national basketball team reached new heights by winning the gold medal at EuroBasket in 1983, a testament to their exceptional skills and teamwork.
Italian physicist Carlo Rubbia was honored with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1984 for his groundbreaking contributions to the field.
In 1985, Catholicism was no longer the official religion of Italy.
The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 had a profound impact on Italy, ultimately leading to the country's decision to abandon nuclear power.
In recognition of her groundbreaking discovery of the nerve growth factor, Rita Levi-Montalcini was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1986.
Following referendums held in 1987, prompted by the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, Italy decided to cease its nuclear power program.
Ennio De Giorgi's exceptional contributions to mathematics, including his solutions to Bernstein's problem on minimal surfaces and the 19th Hilbert problem on the regularity of solutions of elliptic partial differential equations, earned him the prestigious Wolf Prize in Mathematics in 1990.
Italy's men's national volleyball team achieved a remarkable feat in 1990 by winning the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship, solidifying their status as a dominant force in the sport.
Toto Cutugno's victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1990 further cemented Italy's presence in the international music scene.
Ötzi, a well-preserved natural mummy from around 3400-3100 BC, was discovered in the Similaun glacier in 1991.
Between 1992-93, Italy faced terror attacks perpetrated by the Sicilian Mafia as a consequence of new anti-mafia measures by the government.
Italy's men's national volleyball team continued their winning streak, securing another victory at the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship in 1994 and establishing their dominance in the sport.
Italy's total fertility rate hit an all-time low of 1.2 children per woman in 1995.
Dario Fo, an Italian satirist, playwright, actor, director, composer, songwriter, set designer, stage lighting designer, and political activist, was honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1997 for his multifaceted contributions to the literary world.
Deforestation, illegal building, and poor land-management policies have led to significant erosion in Italy's mountainous regions, leading to ecological disasters such as the 1963 Vajont Dam flood, and the 1998 Sarno and 2009 Messina mudslides.
Italy's men's national volleyball team's remarkable victory at the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship in 1998 marked their third consecutive title, cementing their legacy as one of the greatest volleyball teams of all time.
Italy's men's national basketball team repeated their success at EuroBasket in 1999, securing another gold medal and solidifying their position as a force to be reckoned with in European basketball.
According to the 2010 agricultural census, Italy had 1.6 million farms, marking a 32% decline since 2000.
The daily smoker rate in Italy was 24% in 2000.
As of 2002, Italy's road network comprised 668,721 km of serviceable roads, which included 6,487 km of privately operated motorways owned by Atlantia.
Italy officially adopted the euro as its common European currency in 2002.
Italy deployed over 2,000 troops to Afghanistan in 2003 to support Operation Enduring Freedom.
In 2004, Italy had 43 major seaports, with Genoa being the largest in the country and the second largest in the Mediterranean.
Italy's men's national basketball team's outstanding performance at the 2004 Olympics earned them a silver medal, showcasing their ability to compete at the highest level of international competition.
Italy transitioned to a voluntary military service system in 2005.
Starting in 2005, Italy imposed restrictions on smoking in public places, limiting it to designated "specially ventilated rooms".
In 2005, Italy maintained a civilian air fleet of approximately 389,000 units and a merchant fleet consisting of 581 ships.
As of 2005, 6,759 vascular plant species are recorded in the Data bank of Italian vascular flora.
In 2005, Italy's road network saw the circulation of approximately 34,667,000 cars (590 per 1,000 people) and 4,015,000 goods vehicles.
Italy deployed approximately 2,450 troops to join the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon in August 2006.
Italy hosted the Winter Olympics for the second time in 2006.
Italy's national football team's triumph at the FIFA World Cup in 2006 added another glorious chapter to their illustrious footballing legacy.
The 2007-2008 financial crisis significantly impacted Italy, exposing and worsening existing structural issues within its economy.
The decision to terminate the nuclear program was overturned by the government in 2008, with plans to build up to four nuclear power plants. This was in turn struck down by a referendum following the Fukushima nuclear accident.
The estimated number of illegal immigrants in Italy was 670,000 in 2008.
Italy's total fertility rate climbed to 1.4 children per woman in 2008, still below the replacement rate.
The 2007-2008 financial crisis significantly impacted Italy, exposing and worsening existing structural issues within its economy.
By 2008, Italy's state-owned railway network, operated by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (FSI), extended to a total of 16,529 km. Of this, 11,727 km were electrified, accommodating 4,802 locomotives and railcars.
A 2009 report revealed that 610 comuni in Italy had a strong Mafia presence, impacting 13 million Italians and 15% of the nation's GDP.
Deforestation, illegal building, and poor land-management policies have led to significant erosion in Italy's mountainous regions, leading to ecological disasters such as the 1963 Vajont Dam flood, and the 1998 Sarno and 2009 Messina mudslides.
Italy has been one of the world's leading producers of renewable energy, in 2010 ranking as the fourth largest provider of installed solar energy capacity and sixth largest of wind power capacity.
The Montalto di Castro Photovoltaic Power Station, finalized in 2010, became the largest photovoltaic (PV) power station in Italy, boasting a capacity of 85 MW.
The Italian military had 293,202 active personnel in 2010, with 114,778 of those serving as Carabinieri.
By 2010, one in five Italians was over the age of 65, making it the country with the fifth oldest population globally.
As of 2010, the majority of Italy's foreign-born population originated from Europe (54%), followed by Africa (22%), Asia (16%), the Americas (8%), and Oceania (0.06%).
According to the 2010 agricultural census, Italy had 1.6 million farms, marking a 32% decline since 2000.
By 2011, Italy saw a rise in minority Christian faiths, including an estimated 1.5 million Orthodox Christians and growing Protestant communities. The Jewish population stood at around 28,000, with notable communities of Hindus (120,000) and Sikhs (70,000) also present.
In 2011, Italy held the fifth position in Europe for air passenger numbers, recording about 148 million passengers, representing roughly 10% of the entire European total.
In 2011, amidst the Great Recession, Berlusconi resigned and was replaced by the technocratic cabinet of Mario Monti.
By 2012, the national inland waterways network, used for commercial traffic, extended over a length of 2,400 km (1,491 mi).
The proportion of daily smokers in Italy was recorded at 22% in 2012.
In 2013, the Global Language Monitor ranked Rome as the sixth and Milan as the twelfth top global fashion capitals.
Italy provided a significant financial contribution of €60 million to the Palestinian Authority in 2013.
In 2013, UNESCO included several Italian festivals and processions on its list of intangible cultural heritage.
Between 2013-18, Italy took in over 700,000 migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, which put a strain on the public purse and led to a surge in support for far-right or euro-sceptic parties.
In 2014, PD Matteo Renzi became prime minister and the government started constitutional reform.
Italy achieved a significant milestone in 2014, with solar energy alone contributing to 9% of its electricity generation, positioning the country as the global leader in solar energy contribution.
Italy held the rotating presidency of the EU Council in 2014.
The Italian Navy operated 154 vessels in 2014, including minor auxiliary vessels.
The travel and tourism sector in Italy flourished in 2014, generating a substantial EUR163 billion in revenue, representing 10% of the country's GDP, and providing employment to 1,082,000 individuals, accounting for 5% of total employment.
The President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella since 2015, is Italy's head of state.
By 2015, Italy's automotive industry comprised over 144,000 firms, employing almost 485,000 individuals and representing 9% of the nation's GDP.
Approximately 201,000 individuals became Italian citizens in 2016.
By 2016, Italian cinema had garnered significant international acclaim, with Italian films winning 12 Palmes d'Or, 11 Golden Lions, and 7 Golden Bears, highlighting the country's cinematic excellence.
Italy welcomed a remarkable 52 million tourists in 2016, solidifying its position as the fifth most visited country globally.
The constitutional reform started by Matteo Renzi's government was rejected in a 2016 referendum and Paolo Gentiloni became prime minister.
By 2017, Italy boasted an impressive 59 World Heritage Sites, solidifying its position as the country with the most designations globally. The country provided a wide range of accommodation options, with 32,988 hotels offering 1,133,452 rooms and 2,239,446 beds. Additionally, there were 171,915 non-hotel facilities, including campsites, tourist villages, rental accommodations, and agritourism establishments, providing 2,798,352 beds.
By 2017, Italy's public debt had risen to over 132% of its GDP, making it the second highest in the European Union after Greece.
Italy held the rotating presidency of the G7 in 2017.
Rome emerged as the third most visited city in Europe and secured the 12th spot globally, attracting an impressive 9.4 million visitors in 2017.
The Euro health consumer index ranked Italy's healthcare system 20th in Europe in 2018.
The 2018 general election was characterised by a strong showing of the Five Star Movement and Lega. Giuseppe Conte became prime minister of a populist coalition.
Italy held the rotating presidency of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in 2018.
In 2018, Italy faced an extremely high youth unemployment rate, reaching 32%.
In 2018, Italy's secondary education system underwent evaluation and was found to be below the average for OECD countries, particularly in reading and science. A significant gap was observed between the performance of northern and southern schools.
In 2019, 33 Italian universities achieved rankings among the top 500 globally. Notably, the University of Bologna, established in 1088, maintained its standing as one of Europe's premier academic institutions.
The country had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 3.65/10, ranking it 142nd globally out of 172 countries.
Italy's population reached 60,317,116 in 2020, with a population density higher than most Western European countries.
Renewable energy provided approximately 37% Italy's energy consumption in 2020.
In 2020, Italy's healthcare spending reached 10% of its GDP.
In 2020, Italy was severely hit by Covid. With more than 155,000 victims, Italy was one of the countries with the most deaths in the pandemic and one of the most affected economically.
In 2020, 61% of foreign citizens in Italy resided in the north, 24% in the center, 11% in the south, and 4% on the islands.
In February 2021, after a government crisis, Conte was forced to resign. Mario Draghi, former president of the European Central Bank, formed a national unity government supported by most main parties, pledging to implement an economic stimulus to face the crisis caused by the pandemic.
ITA Airways stepped in to replace Alitalia as Italy's flag carrier in 2021.
In 2021, Italy had approximately 5.2 million foreign residents, accounting for 9% of the total population.
Måneskin, an Italian rock band, continued Italy's winning streak at the Eurovision Song Contest with their victory in 2021.
The Italian Air Force operated 219 combat jets in 2021.
As of 2022, Italy had 45 civil airports, including major hubs like Milan Malpensa Airport and Rome Fiumicino Airport.
In 2022, Giorgia Meloni was sworn in as Italy's first female prime minister. Her Brothers of Italy party formed a right-wing government with the far-right League and Forza Italia.
In 2022, the centre-right coalition won the majority of seats in the Italian parliament. The coalition included the Brothers of Italy, the League, Forza Italia, and Us Moderates. The remaining seats were taken by the centre-left coalition, which included parties such as the Democratic Party, the Greens and Left Alliance, and the Five Star Movement.
In 2023, Italy secured the 26th position in the Global Innovation Index, reflecting the country's commitment to innovation.
Italy is scheduled to host the Winter Olympics for the third time in 2026.
Italy's fertility rate is projected to reach 1.6-1.8 children per woman by 2030.