Italy

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 disastrous 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.

Languages & Population

Approximate Population: 58,147,733

Nationality (Noun): Italian(s)

Nationality (Adjective): Italian

Official Language(s): Italian

Major Languages Spoken: Albanian, French, German, Italian, Latin, Slovenian

Country Facts

Country Name (long form): Italian Republic

Country Name (short form): Italy

Country Name (local long form): Repubblica Italiana

Country Name (local short form): Italia

Name of Capital: Rome

UTC Time Difference (from capital): UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Countries Near by, and Bordering Italy: Switzerland, Malta, San Marino, Slovenia, Austria, France

Land Area: 294020 sq km

Water Area: 7210 sq km

Comparative Area: slightly larger than Arizona

Total Land Boundry: 1,932.2 km

Coastline: 7,600 km

National Holiday: Republic Day, 2 June (1946)

International Phone Code: 39

Currency Code: euro (EUR)

Internet Country Code: .it

US Embassy Location: Via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187-Rome

US Embassy Mailing Address: PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624