- Capital city: Rome
- Total area: 301 263 km²
- Population: 58.8 million
- Currency: euro
Italy comprises a peninsula, extending from southern Europe into the Mediterranean Sea, as well as a number of islands including the largest, Sicily and Sardinia. The Alps form a natural frontier to the north with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.
The Republic is fairly densely populated with an average population density of 189 people per km2. Of its 781,000 foreign residents, 150,000 come from other countries within the Union, predominantly from Germany, the United Kingdom and France.
Yet Italy has made the transition from an agricultural to an industrial economy in the past few decades, there are still significant differences in the levels of development from north to south. Principal Italian exports include machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, clothing and footwear. Tourism is also a key contributor to the economy and key imports include motor vehicles, parts and precious metals.
Italy is a parliamentary republic with power being vested into the Parliament. The Parliament consists of the Chamber of Deputies, with a total of 630 deputies, and the Senate, with 315 senators in total. Whilst senators are elected regionally, 75% of the deputies are chosen by a majority in single-member constituencies and 25% by the proportional representation. All deputies and senators are elected for a period of five years. The President appoints the Prime Minister while he, in turn, is elected by the Parliament.
Italy
