Reuters AlertNet Lite

PEOPLE

Language
Italian (official). Several regional languages, like Neapolitan and Sicilian, are widely spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	59.9 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	59.3 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	59.0 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	58.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	58.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	58.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	58.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	57.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	57.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
57.1 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Italians 94 percent. Other groups include Sardinians, Germans and African immigrants.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
More than 90 percent Catholic; there is also a growing Muslim population.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	67.9 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	67.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	67.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	67.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	67.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	67.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	67.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	67.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1945
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
98 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	14.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	14.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	14.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	14.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	14.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	14.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
Standard Time GMT +1, Summer Time GMT +2

Climate description
Predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south.

Currency
Euro

Telephone dialling code
(+) 39

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	80.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	80.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	80.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	78.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	78.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	78.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	77.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	77.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	76.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	75.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	75.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	75.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	83.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	83.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	83.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	81.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	81.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	81.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	3 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	4 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	4 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	4 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	4 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	4 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	4 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	5 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	4 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	6 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel
No data available percent

Maternal mortality

2005	3 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	5 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	20	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	17	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	18	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	21	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	21	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	20	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)
No data available percent

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	<5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	<2.5 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	<2.5 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water
No data available percent

Population with access to improved sanitation
No data available percent

Literacy - average

2004	98.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	98.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	98.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	98.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	98.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	98.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	98.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	98.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	98.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	98.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	98.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	98.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	336 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	423 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	456 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	427 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	445 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	459 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	471 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	477 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	475 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	1486 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	1514 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	1363 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	1219 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	1077 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	980 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	941 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	894 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	740 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	494 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	544 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	529 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	482 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	468 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	395 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	342 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	270 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	229 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	55 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	41 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	45	Transparency International
2005	40 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	42 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	35 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	31	Transparency International
2001	29	Transparency International
2000	39 (joint)	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	33490 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	32100 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	30520 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	26760 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	22170 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	19770 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	20190 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	20890 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	2101.6 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	1856.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	1776.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	1727.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	1507.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	1218.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1117.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1097.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	1.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	0.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	1.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	0.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	0.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	1.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	3.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	2.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	1.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	2.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	3.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	3.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.3 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
26.8 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	420 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	420 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	607 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	567 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	0.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	0.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	0.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.4 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
No risk
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	7 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	7 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	8 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	9 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	62	UNHCR
2007	90	UNHCR
2006	105	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	217	UNHCR
2004	192	UNHCR
2003	207	UNHCR
2002	224	UNHCR
2001	34	UNHCR
2000	48	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	47061	UNHCR
2007	38068	UNHCR
2006	26875	UNHCR
2005	20675	UNHCR
2004	15674	UNHCR
2003	12841	UNHCR
2002	10060	UNHCR
2001	8571	UNHCR
2000	6849	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	1.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	1.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	2.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	2.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	4.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	4.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	4.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	5.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	4.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	6.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	6.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	6.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	6.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	6.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003