Topic: Photos of Italy

Topic: Introduction
Background: 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 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 is a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC) and its subsequent successors the EC and the EU. It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include sluggish economic growth, high youth and female unemployment, organized crime, corruption, and economic disparities between southern Italy and the more prosperous north.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 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 is a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC) and its subsequent successors the EC and the EU. It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include sluggish economic growth, high youth and female unemployment, organized crime, corruption, and economic disparities between southern Italy and the more prosperous north.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
Geographic coordinates: 42 50 N, 12 50 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 301,340 sq km

land: 294,140 sq km

water: 7,200 sq km

note: includes Sardinia and Sicily
Area - comparative: almost twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than Arizona
Land boundaries: total: 1,836.4 km

border countries (6): Austria 404 km; France 476 km; Holy See (Vatican City) 3.4 km; San Marino 37 km; Slovenia 218 km; Switzerland 698 km
Coastline: 7,600 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Terrain: mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands
Elevation: highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur (a secondary peak of Mont Blanc) 4,748 m

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 538 m
Natural resources: coal, antimony, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorspar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land
Land use: agricultural land: 47.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 22.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 8.6% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 15.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 31.4% (2018 est.)

other: 21.5% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 39,500 sq km (2012)
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 sq km)
Population distribution: despite a distinctive pattern with an industrial north and an agrarian south, a fairly even population distribution exists throughout most of the country, with coastal areas, the Po River Valley, and urban centers (particularly Milan, Rome, and Naples), attracting larger and denser populations
Natural hazards: regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venicevolcanism: significant volcanic activity; Etna (3,330 m), which is in eruption as of 2010, is Europe's most active volcano; flank eruptions pose a threat to nearby Sicilian villages; Etna, along with the famous Vesuvius, which remains a threat to the millions of nearby residents in the Bay of Naples area, have both been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Stromboli, on its namesake island, has also been continuously active with moderate volcanic activity; other historically active volcanoes include Campi Flegrei, Ischia, Larderello, Pantelleria, Vulcano, and Vulsiniregional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venicevolcanism: significant volcanic activity; Etna (3,330 m), which is in eruption as of 2010, is Europe's most active volcano; flank eruptions pose a threat to nearby Sicilian villages; Etna, along with the famous Vesuvius, which remains a threat to the millions of nearby residents in the Bay of Naples area, have both been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Stromboli, on its namesake island, has also been continuously active with moderate volcanic activity; other historically active volcanoes include Campi Flegrei, Ischia, Larderello, Pantelleria, Vulcano, and Vulsini
Geography - note: strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe
Map description: Italy map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and water bodies.Italy map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and water bodies.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 61,095,551 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Italian(s)

adjective: Italian
Ethnic groups: Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south)
Languages: Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German-speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)

major-language sample(s):
L'Almanacco dei fatti del mondo, l'indispensabile fonte per le informazioni di base. (Italian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Christian 80.8% (overwhelmingly Roman Catholic with very small groups of Jehovah's Witnesses and Protestants), Muslim 4.9%, unaffiliated 13.4%, other 0.9% (2020 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 13.45% (male 4,292,431/female 4,097,732)

15-24 years: 9.61% (male 3,005,402/female 2,989,764)

25-54 years: 40.86% (male 12,577,764/female 12,921,614)

55-64 years: 14% (male 4,243,735/female 4,493,581)

65 years and over: 22.08% (2020 est.) (male 5,949,560/female 7,831,076)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 57

youth dependency ratio: 20.4

elderly dependency ratio: 36.6

potential support ratio: 2.7 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 46.5 years

male: 45.4 years

female: 47.5 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.13% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 6.95 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 11.31 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: despite a distinctive pattern with an industrial north and an agrarian south, a fairly even population distribution exists throughout most of the country, with coastal areas, the Po River Valley, and urban centers (particularly Milan, Rome, and Naples), attracting larger and denser populations
Urbanization: urban population: 71.7% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 4.298 million ROME (capital), 3.149 million Milan, 2.180 million Naples, 1.798 million Turin, 907,000 Bergamo, 850,000 Palermo (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female

total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.4 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 2 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 3.16 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 3.32 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.59 years

male: 80.25 years

female: 85.08 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.22 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 65.1% (2013)

note: percent of women aged 18-49
Drinking water source: improved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 99.9% of population

unimproved: urban: NA

rural: NA

total: 0.1% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 8.7% (2019)
Physicians density: 3.95 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 3.1 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 140,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <1000
Major infectious diseases: note: a new coronavirus is causing respiratory illness (COVID-19) in Italy; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; as of 6 June 2022, Italy has reported a total of 17,505,973 cases of COVID-19 or 29,352 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 166,949 cumulative deaths or a rate of 279.9 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 6 June 2022, 84.1% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in Italy to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 19.9% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 23.1% (2020 est.)

male: 26.6% (2020 est.)

female: 19.5% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 4.3% of GDP (2018 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 99.2%

male: 99.4%

female: 99% (2018)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years

male: 16 years

female: 17 years (2019)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 29.4%

male: 27.9%

female: 31.8% (2020 est.)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities
Environment - international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 15.28 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 41.3 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: predominantly Mediterranean; alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
Land use: agricultural land: 47.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 22.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 8.6% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 15.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 31.4% (2018 est.)

other: 21.5% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 71.7% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.01% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: note: a new coronavirus is causing respiratory illness (COVID-19) in Italy; illness with this virus has ranged from mild to severe with fatalities reported; as of 6 June 2022, Italy has reported a total of 17,505,973 cases of COVID-19 or 29,352 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 166,949 cumulative deaths or a rate of 279.9 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 6 June 2022, 84.1% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in Italy to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 29.524 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 7,646,716 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 25.9% (2015 est.)
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Rhine-Maas (198,735 sq km), (Black Sea) Danube (795,656 sq km), (Adriatic Sea) Po (76,997 sq km), (Mediterranean Sea) Rhone (100,543 sq km)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 9.488 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 7.7 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 17 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 191.3 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Italian Republic

conventional short form: Italy

local long form: Repubblica Italiana

local short form: Italia

former: Kingdom of Italy

etymology: derivation is unclear, but the Latin "Italia" may come from the Oscan "Viteliu" meaning "[Land] of Young Cattle" (the bull was a symbol of southern Italic tribes)
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Rome

geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 29 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology: by tradition, named after Romulus, one of the legendary founders of the city and its first king
Administrative divisions: 15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma) regions: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Veneto autonomous regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sardegna (Sardinia), Sicilia (Sicily), Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol) or Trentino-Suedtirol (German), Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) or Vallee d'Aoste (French)15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma)regions: Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Toscana (Tuscany), Umbria, Venetoautonomous regions: Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sardegna (Sardinia), Sicilia (Sicily), Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-South Tyrol) or Trentino-Suedtirol (German), Valle d'Aosta (Aosta Valley) or Vallee d'Aoste (French)
Independence: 17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1871)
National holiday: Republic Day, 2 June (1946)
Constitution: history: previous 1848 (originally for the Kingdom of Sardinia and adopted by the Kingdom of Italy in 1861); latest enacted 22 December 1947, adopted 27 December 1947, entered into force 1 January 1948

amendments: proposed by both houses of Parliament; passage requires two successive debates and approval by absolute majority of each house on the second vote; a referendum is only required when requested by one fifth of the members of either house, by voter petition, or by five Regional Councils (elected legislative assemblies of the 15 first-level administrative regions and 5 autonomous regions of Italy); referendum not required if an amendment has been approved by a two-thirds majority in each house in the second vote; amended many times, last in 2020
Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislation under certain conditions in Constitutional Court
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Italy

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 4 years for EU nationals, 5 years for refugees and specified exceptions, 10 years for all others
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25
Executive branch: chief of state: President Sergio MATTARELLA (since 3 February 2015)

head of government: Prime Minister Mario DRAGHI (since 13 February 2021); the prime minister's official title is President of the Council of Ministers; note - Prime Minister Giuseppe CONTE resigned on 26 January 2021

cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, known officially as the President of the Council of Ministers and locally as the Premier; nominated by the president; the current deputy prime ministers, known officially as vice-presidents of the Council of Ministers, are Matteo Salvini (L) and Luigi Di Maio (M5S) (since 1 June 2018)

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament and 58 regional representatives for a 7-year term (no term limits); election last held on 24-29 January 2022 (eight rounds) (next to be held in 2029); prime minister appointed by the president, confirmed by parliament

election results: Sergio MATTARELLA (independent) reelected president; electoral college vote count in eighth round - 759 out of 1,009 (505 vote threshold)
Legislative branch: description: bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of:
Senate or Senato della Repubblica (320 seats; 116 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 193 members in multi-seat constituencies and 6 members in multi-seat constituencies abroad directly elected by party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms and 5 ex-officio members appointed by the president of the Republic to serve for life)
Chamber of Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; 629 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 1 member from Valle d'Aosta elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)

elections:
Senate - last held on 4 March 2018 (next to be held on 25 September 2022)
Chamber of Deputies - last held on 4 March 2018 (next to be held on 25 September 2022); note - snap elections were called when Prime Minister DRAGHI resigned and the parliament was dissolved on 21 July 2022

election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - center-right coalition 137 (Lega 58, FI 57, FdI 18, NCI-UDC 4), M5S 111, center-left coalition 60 (PD 53, SVP-PATT 3, CP 1, +EU 1, Together 1, VdAI 1), LeU 4, MAIE 1, USEI 1; composition (as of March 2022) - men 208, women 112, percent of women 35%
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - center-right coalition 265 (Lega 125, FI 104, FdI 32, NcI-UDC 4), M5S 227, center-left coalition 122 (PD 112, SVP-PATT 4, +EU 3, CP 2, Together 1), LeU 14, MAIE 1,USEI 1; composition (as of September 2021) - men 401, women 229, percent of women 36.4%; note - total Parliament percent of women 35.9%

note: in October 2019, Italy's Parliament voted to reduce the number of Senate seats from 315 to 200 and the number of Chamber of Deputies seats from 630 to 400; a referendum to reduce the membership of Parliament held on 20-21 September 2020 was approved, effective for the September 2022 snap election
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Cassation or Corte Suprema di Cassazione (consists of the first president (chief justice), deputy president, 54 justices presiding over 6 civil and 7 criminal divisions, and 288 judges; an additional 30 judges of lower courts serve as supporting judges; cases normally heard by 5-judge panels; more complex cases heard by 9-judge panels); Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (consists of the court president and 14 judges)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the High Council of the Judiciary, headed by the president of the republic; judges may serve for life; Constitutional Court judges - 5 appointed by the president, 5 elected by Parliament, 5 elected by select higher courts; judges serve up to 9 years

subordinate courts: various lower civil and criminal courts (primary and secondary tribunals and courts of appeal)
Political parties and leaders: Article One or Art.1-MDP [Roberto SPERANZA]
Associative Movement of Italians Abroad or MAIE [Ricardo Antonio MERIO]
Brothers of Italy or FdI [Giorgia MELONI]
Democratic Party or PD [Enrico LETTA]
Five Star Movement or M5S [Giuseppe CONTE]
Forza Italia or FI [Silvio BERLUSCONI]
Free and Equal (Liberi e Uguali) or LeU [Pietro GRASSO]
League or Lega [Matteo SALVINI]
More Europe or +EU [Emma BONINO]
Popular Civic List or CP [Beatrice LORENZIN]
Possible [Beatrice BRIGNONE]
South American Union of Italian Emigrants or USEI [Eugenion SANGREGORIO]
South Tyrolean People's Party or SVP [Philipp ACHAMMER]
Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party (Partito Autonomista Trentino Tirolese) or PATT [Franco PANIZZA, secretary]
Us with Italy or NcI [Maurizio LUPI]
other minor partiesArticle One or Art.1-MDP [Roberto SPERANZA]
Associative Movement of Italians Abroad or MAIE [Ricardo Antonio MERIO]
Brothers of Italy or FdI [Giorgia MELONI]
Democratic Party or PD [Enrico LETTA]
Five Star Movement or M5S [Giuseppe CONTE]
Forza Italia or FI [Silvio BERLUSCONI]
Free and Equal (Liberi e Uguali) or LeU [Pietro GRASSO]
League or Lega [Matteo SALVINI]
More Europe or +EU [Emma BONINO]
Popular Civic List or CP [Beatrice LORENZIN]
Possible [Beatrice BRIGNONE]
South American Union of Italian Emigrants or USEI [Eugenion SANGREGORIO]
South Tyrolean People's Party or SVP [Philipp ACHAMMER]
Trentino Tyrolean Autonomist Party (Partito Autonomista Trentino Tirolese) or PATT [Franco PANIZZA, secretary]
Us with Italy or NcI [Maurizio LUPI]
other minor parties
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CDB, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-7, G-8, G-10, G-20, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Maria Angela ZAPPIA (since 15 September 2021)

chancery: 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 612-4400

FAX: [1] (202) 518-2154

email address and website:
amb.washington@cert.esteri.it

https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/ambasciata_washington/en/

consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco

consulate(s): Charlotte (NC), Cleveland (OH), Detroit (MI), Hattiesburg (MS), Honolulu (HI), New Orleans, Newark (NJ), Norfolk (VA), Pittsburgh (PA), Portland (OR), Seattle
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Thomas D. SMITHAM (since 4 January 2021); note - also accredited to San Marino

embassy: via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187 Roma

mailing address: 9500 Rome Place, Washington DC  20521-9500

telephone: [39] 06-46741

FAX: [39] 06-4674-2244

email address and website:
uscitizenrome@state.gov

https://it.usembassy.gov/

consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; design inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797; colors are those of Milan (red and white) combined with the green uniform color of the Milanese civic guard

note: similar to the flag of Mexico, which is longer, uses darker shades of green and red, and has its coat of arms centered on the white band; Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green
National symbol(s): white, five-pointed star (Stella d'Italia); national colors: red, white, green
National anthem: name: "Il Canto degli Italiani" (The Song of the Italians)

lyrics/music: Goffredo MAMELI/Michele NOVARO

note: adopted 1946; the anthem, originally written in 1847, is also known as "L'Inno di Mameli" (Mameli's Hymn), and "Fratelli D'Italia" (Brothers of Italy)
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 58 (53 cultural, 5 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center of Rome (c); Archaeological Areas of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Torre Annunziata (c); Venice and its Lagoon (c); Historic Center of Florence (c); Piazza del Duomo, Pisa (c); Historic Centre of Naples (c); Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (c); Villa d'Este, Tivoli (c); Mount Etna (n); Rock Drawings in Valcamonica (c); Historic Siena (c)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Italy’s economy comprises a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less-developed, highly subsidized, agricultural south, with a legacy of unemployment and underdevelopment. The Italian economy is driven in large part by the manufacture of high-quality consumer goods produced by small and medium-sized enterprises, many of them family-owned. Italy also has a sizable underground economy, which by some estimates accounts for as much as 17% of GDP. These activities are most common within the agriculture, construction, and service sectors.   Italy is the third-largest economy in the euro zone, but its exceptionally high public debt and structural impediments to growth have rendered it vulnerable to scrutiny by financial markets. Public debt has increased steadily since 2007, reaching 131% of GDP in 2017. Investor concerns about Italy and the broader euro-zone crisis eased in 2013, bringing down Italy's borrowing costs on sovereign government debt from euro-era records. The government still faces pressure from investors and European partners to sustain its efforts to address Italy's longstanding structural economic problems, including labor market inefficiencies, a sluggish judicial system, and a weak banking sector. Italy’s economy returned to modest growth in late 2014 for the first time since 2011. In 2015-16, Italy’s economy grew at about 1% each year, and in 2017 growth accelerated to 1.5% of GDP. In 2017, overall unemployment was 11.4%, but youth unemployment remained high at 37.1%. GDP growth is projected to slow slightly in 2018.Italy’s economy comprises a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less-developed, highly subsidized, agricultural south, with a legacy of unemployment and underdevelopment. The Italian economy is driven in large part by the manufacture of high-quality consumer goods produced by small and medium-sized enterprises, many of them family-owned. Italy also has a sizable underground economy, which by some estimates accounts for as much as 17% of GDP. These activities are most common within the agriculture, construction, and service sectors. Italy is the third-largest economy in the euro zone, but its exceptionally high public debt and structural impediments to growth have rendered it vulnerable to scrutiny by financial markets. Public debt has increased steadily since 2007, reaching 131% of GDP in 2017. Investor concerns about Italy and the broader euro-zone crisis eased in 2013, bringing down Italy's borrowing costs on sovereign government debt from euro-era records. The government still faces pressure from investors and European partners to sustain its efforts to address Italy's longstanding structural economic problems, including labor market inefficiencies, a sluggish judicial system, and a weak banking sector. Italy’s economy returned to modest growth in late 2014 for the first time since 2011. In 2015-16, Italy’s economy grew at about 1% each year, and in 2017 growth accelerated to 1.5% of GDP. In 2017, overall unemployment was 11.4%, but youth unemployment remained high at 37.1%. GDP growth is projected to slow slightly in 2018.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2,322,140,000,000 (2020 est.)

$2,548,190,000,000 (2019 est.)

$2,540,890,000,000 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 0.34% (2019 est.)

0.83% (2018 est.)

1.73% (2017 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $39,000 (2020 est.)

$42,700 (2019 est.)

$42,100 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $2,002,763,000,000 (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 0.6% (2019 est.)

1.1% (2018 est.)

1.2% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BBB- (2020)

Moody's rating: Baa3 (2018)

Standard & Poors rating: BBB (2017)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.1% (2017 est.)

industry: 23.9% (2017 est.)

services: 73.9% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 61% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 18.6% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 17.5% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: -0.2% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 31.4% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -28.3% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, grapes, wheat, maize, tomatoes, apples, olives, sugar beet, oranges, rice
Industries: tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics
Industrial production growth rate: 2.1% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 22.92 million (2020 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3.9%

industry: 28.3%

services: 67.8% (2011)
Unemployment rate: 9.88% (2019 est.)

10.63% (2018 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 29.4%

male: 27.9%

female: 31.8% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 20.1% (2018 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 35.9 (2017 est.)

27.3 (1995)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3%

highest 10%: 26.8% (2000)
Budget: revenues: 903.3 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 948.1 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -2.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 131.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

132% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: Italy reports its data on public debt according to guidelines set out in the Maastricht Treaty; general government gross debt is defined in the Maastricht Treaty as consolidated general government gross debt at nominal value, outstanding at the end of the year, in the following categories of government liabilities (as defined in ESA95): currency and deposits (AF.2), securities other than shares excluding financial derivatives (AF.3, excluding AF.34), and loans (AF.4); the general government sector comprises central, state, and local government and social security funds
Taxes and other revenues: 46.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: $59.517 billion (2019 est.)

$51.735 billion (2018 est.)
Exports: $558.26 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$636.01 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$656.06 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: Germany 12%, France 11%, United States 10%, United Kingdom 5%, Spain 5%, Switzerland 5% (2019)
Exports - commodities: packaged medicines, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, valves, trunks/cases, wine (2019)
Imports: $486.35 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$569.7 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$605.44 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: Germany 16%, France 9%, China 7%, Spain 5%, Netherlands 5%, Belgium 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, cars, packaged medicines, natural gas, refined petroleum (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $151.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$130.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
Debt - external: $2,463,208,000,000 (2019 est.)

$2,533,153,000,000 (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.82771 (2020 est.)

0.90338 (2019 est.)

0.87789 (2018 est.)

0.885 (2014 est.)

0.7634 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 121.442 million kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 286.375 billion kWh (2020 est.)

exports: 7.587 billion kWh (2020 est.)

imports: 39.787 billion kWh (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 17.702 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 55.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 9.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind: 6.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity: 17.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

biomass and waste: 8.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 1.456 million metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 9.335 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 368,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 8.235 million metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 17 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 107,700 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 1,255,100 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 10,100 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 1.253 million barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 497.9 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 1.607 million bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 615,900 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 422,500 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Natural gas: production: 3,888,491,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)

consumption: 74,313,109,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports: 314.656 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

imports: 70,908,014,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

proven reserves: 45.76 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 332.041 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 27.194 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 162.472 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 142.375 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 112.606 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 19,607,341 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 77,581,048 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Italy’s large telecom market has one of the most progressive fiber sectors in Europe, with regulatory measures encouraging network sharing; the incumbent telco continues to invest in fiber, despite its recent financial difficulties, while the Open Fiber wholesale provider now has a number of retail contracts which have greatly broadened competition in the sector; plans to merge Open Fiber with TIM’s fixed infrastructure are ongoing; regulatory measures have also been introduced to facilitate access to NGNs, and a number of deals have been brokered which enable the main telcos to provide bundled services to large numbers of the population; Italy’s vibrant mobile market has one of the highest subscription rates in Europe, though the number of subscribers has fallen in recent years as customers respond to attractive off-net pricing which has reduced the financial benefit of having SIM cards from different providers; the market underwent considerable changes following the merger of Wind and 3 Italia (becoming Wind Tre), which resulted in a new entrant in the form of Iliad; in mid-2019 Fastweb was recognized as an MNO in its own right, having been an MVNO for some 11 years; the company has secured frequencies in the 3.5GHz and 26GHz bands and has a ten-year deal with Wind Tre providing it with national roaming as well as a partner with which to develop a 5G network; network companies were among the first in Europe to trial services based on 5G; the high cost also encouraged the regulator in early 2021 to consider extending the licenses by an additional six years. (2021)

domestic: high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks; 32 per 100 for fixed-line and nearly 128 per 100 for mobile-cellular subscriptions (2020)

international: country code - 39; landing points for Italy-Monaco, Italy-Libya, Italy-Malta, Italy-Greece-1, Italy-Croatia, BlueMed, Janna, FEA, SeaMeWe-3 & 4 & 5, Trapani-Kelibia, Columbus-III, Didon, GO-1, HANNIBAL System, MENA, Bridge International, Malta-Italy Interconnector, Melita1, IMEWE, VMSCS, AAE-1, and OTEGLOBE, submarine cables that provide links to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia and US; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas - 3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean) (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress towards 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
Broadcast media: two Italian media giants dominate - the publicly owned Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI) with 3 national terrestrial stations and privately owned Mediaset with 3 national terrestrial stations; a large number of private stations and Sky Italia - a satellite TV network; RAI operates 3 AM/FM nationwide radio stations; about 1,300 commercial radio stations
Internet country code: .it
Internet users: total: 41,614,669 (2020 est.)

percent of population: 70% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 18,128,787 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 30 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 9 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 180

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 27,630,435 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.418 billion (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: I
Airports: total: 129 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 98

over 3,047 m: 9

2,438 to 3,047 m: 31

1,524 to 2,437 m: 18

914 to 1,523 m: 29

under 914 m: 11 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 31

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 10

under 914 m: 20 (2021)
Heliports: 5 (2021)
Pipelines: 20,223 km gas, 1,393 km oil, 1,574 km refined products (2013)
Railways: total: 18,892.4 km (2014)

standard gauge: 18,770.1 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge (12,893.6 km electrified)

narrow gauge: 122.3 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge (122.3 km electrified)

1289.3 0.950-mm gauge (151.3 km electrified)
Roadways: total: 487,700 km (2007)

paved: 487,700 km (2007) (includes 6,700 km of expressways)
Waterways: 2,400 km (2012) (used for commercial traffic; of limited overall value compared to road and rail)
Merchant marine: total: 1,296

by type: bulk carrier 36, container ship 7, general cargo 111, oil tanker 103, other 1,039 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Augusta, Cagliari, Genoa, Livorno, Taranto, Trieste, Venice

oil terminal(s): Melilli (Santa Panagia) oil terminal, Sarroch oil terminal

container port(s) (TEUs): Genoa (2,621,472), Gioia Tauro (2,523,000) (2019)

LNG terminal(s) (import): Panigaglia (La Spezia), Adriatic (Porto Levante), Oristano (Sardinia), Ravenna, Toscana (Livorno)

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Italian Armed Forces: Army (Esercito Italiano, EI), Navy (Marina Militare Italiana, MMI; includes aviation, marines), Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana, AMI); Carabinieri Corps (Arma dei Carabinieri, CC) (2022)

note 1: the Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie; for its civil police functions, the Carabinieri falls under the control of the Ministry of the Interior

note 2: the Financial Guard (Guardia di Finanza) under the Ministry of Economy and Finance is a force with military status and nationwide remit for financial crime investigations, including narcotics trafficking, smuggling, and illegal immigration
Military expenditures: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)

1.6% of GDP (2020)

1.2% of GDP (2019) (approximately $30.1 billion)

1.2% of GDP (2018) (approximately $31 billion)

1.2% of GDP (2017) (approximately $30.1 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 170,000 active personnel (100,000 Army; 30,000 Navy; 40,000 Air Force); approximately 108,000 Carabinieri (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Italian Armed Forces' inventory includes a mix of domestically-produced, jointly-produced, and imported weapons systems, mostly from Europe and the US; the US is the leading supplier of weapons to Italy since 2010, followed by Germany; the Italian defense industry is capable of producing equipment across all the military domains with particular strengths in naval vessels and aircraft; it also participates in joint development and production of advanced weapons systems with other European countries and the US (2021)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; women may serve in any military branch; Italian citizenship required; 1-year service obligation; conscription abolished 2004 (2021)

note: as of 2019, women made up about 6% of the military's full-time personnel
Military deployments: 120 Djibouti; 900 Middle East/Iraq/Kuwait (NATO, European Assistance Mission Iraq); 640 Kosovo (NATO/KFOR); 250 Latvia (NATO); 875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 400 Libya; 290 Niger; 250 Romania (NATO); 150 Somalia (EUTM) (2022)

note: in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, some NATO countries have sent additional troops and equipment to the battlegroups deployed in NATO territory in eastern Europe
Military - note: Italy is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949

Italy is an active participant in EU, NATO, UN, and other multinational military, security, and humanitarian operations abroad; as of 2022, it hosted the headquarters for the EU’s Mediterranean naval operations force (EUNAVFOR-MED) in Rome and the US Navy’s 6th Fleet in Naples; Italy was admitted to the UN in 1955 and in 1960 participated in its first UN peacekeeping mission, the UN Operation in Congo (ONUC); since 1960, it has committed more than 60,000 troops to UN missions; since 2006, Italy has hosted a training center in Vicenza for police personnel destined for peacekeeping missions

Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Italy's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern Africa Italy-Austria-Switzerland: borders are shifting because glacier peaks that had served as a natural boundary are meltingItaly's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern AfricaItaly-Austria-Switzerland: borders are shifting because glacier peaks that had served as a natural boundary are melting
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 19,441 (Nigeria), 15,337 (Pakistan), 12,962 (Afghanistan), 10,609 (Mali), 7,901 (Somalia), 5,845 (Gambia), 5,079 (Iraq) (mid-year 2021); 157,309 (Ukraine) (as of 1 August 2022)

stateless persons: 3,000 (mid-year 2021)

note: 635,754 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-August 2022)
Illicit drugs: important gateway for drug trafficking; organized crime groups allied with Colombian and Spanish groups trafficking cocaine to Europe


This entry gives an estimate of all people (adults and children) alive at yearend with HIV infection, whether or not they have developed symptoms of AIDS.

Topic: Afghanistan12,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: AkrotiriNA

Topic: Albania1,400 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Algeria18,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: American SamoaNA

Topic: AndorraNA

Topic: Angola340,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: AnguillaNA

Topic: Antigua and Barbuda(2018) <1,000

Topic: Argentina140,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Armenia4,800 (2020 est.)

Topic: ArubaNA

Topic: Ashmore and Cartier IslandsNA

Topic: Australia30,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Austria7,400 (2017 est.)

Topic: Azerbaijan9,900 (2020 est.)

Topic: Bahamas, The4,700 (2020 est.)

Topic: Bahrain(2017 est.) <500

Topic: Bangladesh14,000 (2018 est.)

Topic: Barbados2,700 (2019 est.)

Topic: Belarus28,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: BelgiumNA

Topic: Belize3,800 (2020 est.)

Topic: Benin75,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: BermudaNA

Topic: Bhutan1,300 (2020)

Topic: Bolivia17,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina(2018) <500

Topic: Botswana370,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Bouvet IslandNA

Topic: Brazil930,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: British Indian Ocean TerritoryNA

Topic: British Virgin IslandsNA

Topic: BruneiNA

Topic: Bulgaria3,300 (2019 est.)

Topic: Burkina Faso97,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Burma240,000 (2019 est.)

Topic: Burundi83,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Cabo Verde2,400 (2020 est.)

Topic: Cambodia75,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Cameroon500,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: CanadaNA

Topic: Cayman IslandsNA

Topic: Central African Republic88,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Chad110,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Chile77,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: ChinaNA

Topic: Christmas IslandNA

Topic: Cocos (Keeling) IslandsNA

Topic: Colombia180,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Comoros(2020 est.) <200

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the510,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Congo, Republic of the110,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Cook IslandsNA

Topic: Coral Sea IslandsNA

Topic: Costa Rica16,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Cote d'Ivoire380,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Croatia1,700 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Cuba33,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: CuracaoNA

Topic: Cyprus(2017 est.) <1000

Topic: Czechia4,400 (2018 est.)

Topic: Denmark6,700 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: DhekeliaNA

Topic: Djibouti6,800 (2020 est.)

Topic: Dominica(2018) <500

Topic: Dominican Republic72,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Ecuador45,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Egypt24,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: El Salvador25,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Equatorial Guinea68,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Eritrea13,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Estonia7,100 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Eswatini200,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Ethiopia620,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: European Unionnote - see individual entries of member states

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)NA

Topic: Faroe IslandsNA

Topic: Fiji1,300 (2020 est.)

Topic: Finland4,000 (2018)

Topic: France190,000 (2019 est.)

Topic: French PolynesiaNA

Topic: French Southern and Antarctic LandsNA

Topic: Gabon46,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Gambia, The27,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Gaza StripNA

Topic: Georgia9,100 (2020 est.)

Topic: Germany93,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Ghana350,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: GibraltarNA

Topic: Greece17,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: GreenlandNA

Topic: Grenada(2018) <500

Topic: GuamNA

Topic: Guatemala33,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: GuernseyNA

Topic: Guinea110,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Guinea-Bissau37,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Guyana9,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Haiti150,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Heard Island and McDonald IslandsNA

Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)NA

Topic: Honduras22,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Hong KongNA

Topic: Hungary3,700 (2018 est.)

Topic: Iceland(2020) <500

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: India2.3 million (2020 est.)

Topic: Indonesia540,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Iran54,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: IraqNA

Topic: Ireland7,800 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Isle of ManNA

Topic: Israel9,000 (2018)

Topic: Italy140,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Jamaica32,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Jan MayenNA

Topic: Japan30,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: JerseyNA

Topic: Jordan(2020 est.) <1,000

Topic: Kazakhstan35,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Kenya1.4 million (2020 est.)

Topic: KiribatiNA

Topic: Korea, NorthNA

Topic: Korea, SouthNA

Topic: KosovoNA

Topic: Kuwait(2018 est.) <1000

Topic: Kyrgyzstan9,200 (2020 est.)

Topic: Laos15,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Latvia5,600 (2019 est.)

Topic: Lebanon2,700 (2020 est.)

Topic: Lesotho280,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Liberia35,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Libya9,500 (2020)

Topic: LiechtensteinNA

Topic: Lithuania3,400 (2019 est.)

Topic: Luxembourg1,200 (2018 est.)

Topic: MacauNA

Topic: Madagascar42,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Malawi990,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Malaysia92,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: MaldivesNA

Topic: Mali110,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Malta(2016 est.) <500

Topic: Marshall IslandsNA

Topic: Mauritania8,500 (2020 est.)

Topic: Mauritius14,000 (2020)

Topic: Mexico340,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofNA

Topic: Moldova14,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: MonacoNA

Topic: Mongolia(2020 est.) <1,000

Topic: Montenegro(2020 est.) <500

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: MontserratNA

Topic: Morocco22,000 (2020 est.)

note: does not include data from the former Western Sahara

Topic: Mozambique2.1 million (2020 est.)

Topic: Namibia210,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: NauruNA

Topic: Navassa IslandNA

Topic: Nepal30,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Netherlands24,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: New CaledoniaNA

Topic: New Zealand3,600 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Nicaragua12,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Niger31,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Nigeria1.7 million (2020 est.)

Topic: NiueNA

Topic: Norfolk IslandNA

Topic: North Macedonia(2018 est.) <500

Topic: Northern Mariana IslandsNA

Topic: Norway5,800 (2018 est.)

Topic: Oman2,500 (2019)

Topic: Pakistan200,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: PalauNA

Topic: Panama31,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Papua New Guinea55,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Paracel IslandsNA

Topic: Paraguay19,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Peru91,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Philippines120,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Pitcairn IslandsNA

Topic: PolandNA

Topic: Portugal42,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Puerto RicoNA

Topic: Qatar(2020 est.) <200

Topic: Romania19,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Russia1 million (2017 est.)

Topic: Rwanda220,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Saint BarthelemyNA

Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da CunhaNA

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis(2018) <200

Topic: Saint Lucia(2018) <1,000

Topic: Saint MartinNA

Topic: Saint Pierre and MiquelonNA

Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines1,200 (2018)

Topic: SamoaNA

Topic: San MarinoNA

Topic: Sao Tome and Principe(2020) <1,000

Topic: Saudi Arabia12,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Senegal39,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Serbia3,300 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: SeychellesNA

Topic: Sierra Leone80,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Singapore8,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Sint MaartenNA

Topic: Slovakia1,200 (2018 est.)

Topic: Slovenia(2020 est.) <1,000

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Solomon IslandsNA

Topic: Somalia8,700 (2020 est.)

Topic: South Africa7.8 million (2020 est.)

Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich IslandsNA

Topic: South Sudan180,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Spain150,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Spratly IslandsNA

Topic: Sri Lanka3,700 (2020 est.)

Topic: Sudan49,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Suriname5,200 (2020 est.)

Topic: SvalbardNA

Topic: Sweden11,000 (2016 est.)

Topic: Switzerland17,000 (2020)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Syria(2020) <1,000

Topic: TaiwanNA

Topic: Tajikistan14,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Tanzania1.7 million (2020 est.)

Topic: Thailand500,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Timor-Leste1,200 (2020)

Topic: Togo110,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: TokelauNA

Topic: TongaNA

Topic: Trinidad and Tobago10,000 (2020 est.)

note: estimate does not include children

Topic: Tunisia4,500 (2020 est.)

Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)NA

Topic: TurkmenistanNA

Topic: Turks and Caicos IslandsNA

Topic: TuvaluNA

Topic: Uganda1.4 million (2020 est.)

Topic: Ukraine260,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: United Arab Emirates(2020) <1,000

Topic: United KingdomNA

Topic: United StatesNA

Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife RefugesNA

Topic: Uruguay12,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Uzbekistan58,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: VanuatuNA

Topic: Venezuela100,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Vietnam250,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Virgin IslandsNA

Topic: Wake IslandNA

Topic: Wallis and FutunaNA

Topic: West BankNA

Topic: World37.7 million (2020 est.)

Topic: Yemen11,000 (2020 est.)

Topic: Zambia1.5 million (2020 est.)

Topic: Zimbabwe1.3 million (2020 est.)


For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. For a number of countries, the establishment of statehood was a lengthy evolutionary process occurring over decades or even centuries. In such cases, several significant dates are cited. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. Also see the Terminology note.

Topic: Afghanistan19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)

Topic: Albania28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)

Topic: Algeria5 July 1962 (from France)

Topic: American Samoanone (territory of the US)

Topic: Andorra1278 (formed under the joint sovereignty of the French Count of Foix and the Spanish Bishop of Urgell)

Topic: Angola11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Topic: Anguillanone (overseas territory of the UK)

Topic: Antigua and Barbuda1 November 1981 (from the UK)

Topic: Argentina9 July 1816 (from Spain)

Topic: Armenia21 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 321 B.C. (Kingdom of Armenia established under the Orontid Dynasty), A.D. 884 (Armenian Kingdom reestablished under the Bagratid Dynasty); 1198 (Cilician Kingdom established); 28 May 1918 (Democratic Republic of Armenia declared)

Topic: Arubanone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Topic: Australia1 January 1901 (from the federation of UK colonies)

Topic: Austriano official date of independence: 976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 6 January 1453 (Archduchy of Austria acknowledged); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established); 12 November 1918 (First Republic proclaimed); 27 April 1945 (Second Republic proclaimed)

Topic: Azerbaijan30 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 18 October 1991 (adopted by the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan)

Topic: Bahamas, The10 July 1973 (from the UK)

Topic: Bahrain15 August 1971 (from the UK)

Topic: Bangladesh16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)

Topic: Barbados30 November 1966 (from the UK)

Topic: Belarus25 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Topic: Belgium4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)

Topic: Belize21 September 1981 (from the UK)

Topic: Benin1 August 1960 (from France)

Topic: Bermudanone (overseas territory of the UK)

Topic: Bhutan17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 August 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence)

Topic: Bolivia6 August 1825 (from Spain)

Topic: Bosnia and Herzegovina1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia); note - referendum for independence completed on 1 March 1992; independence declared on 3 March 1992

Topic: Botswana30 September 1966 (from the UK)

Topic: Brazil7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

Topic: British Virgin Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK)

Topic: Brunei1 January 1984 (from the UK)

Topic: Bulgaria3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)

Topic: Burkina Faso5 August 1960 (from France)

Topic: Burma4 January 1948 (from the UK)

Topic: Burundi1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

Topic: Cabo Verde5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Topic: Cambodia9 November 1953 (from France)

Topic: Cameroon1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

Topic: Canada1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (recognized by UK per Statute of Westminster)

Topic: Cayman Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK)

Topic: Central African Republic13 August 1960 (from France)

Topic: Chad11 August 1960 (from France)

Topic: Chile18 September 1810 (from Spain)

Topic: China1 October 1949 (People's Republic of China established); notable earlier dates: 221 B.C. (unification under the Qin Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Qing Dynasty replaced by the Republic of China)

Topic: Christmas Islandnone (territory of Australia)

Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsnone (territory of Australia)

Topic: Colombia20 July 1810 (from Spain)

Topic: Comoros6 July 1975 (from France)

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of the30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

Topic: Congo, Republic of the15 August 1960 (from France)

Topic: Cook Islandsnone (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 with the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)

Topic: Costa Rica15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Topic: Cote d'Ivoire7 August 1960 (from France)

Topic: Croatia25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia); note - 25 June 1991 was the day the Croatian parliament voted for independence; following a three-month moratorium to allow the European Community to solve the Yugoslav crisis peacefully, parliament adopted a decision on 8 October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia; notable earlier dates: ca. 925 (Kingdom of Croatia established); 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) established)

Topic: Cuba20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as a day of independence

Topic: Curacaonone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Topic: Cyprus16 August 1960 (from the UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are recognized only by Turkey

Topic: Czechia1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia); note - although 1 January is the day the Czech Republic came into being, the Czechs commemorate 28 October 1918, the day the former Czechoslovakia declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, as their independence day

Topic: Denmarkca. 965 (unified and Christianized under HARALD I Gormsson); 5 June 1849 (became a parliamentary constitutional monarchy)

Topic: Djibouti27 June 1977 (from France)

Topic: Dominica3 November 1978 (from the UK)

Topic: Dominican Republic27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

Topic: Ecuador24 May 1822 (from Spain)

Topic: Egypt28 February 1922 (from UK protectorate status; the military-led revolution that began on 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953 and all British troops withdrawn on 18 June 1956); note - it was ca. 3200 B.C. that the Two Lands of Upper (southern) and Lower (northern) Egypt were first united politically

Topic: El Salvador15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Topic: Equatorial Guinea12 October 1968 (from Spain)

Topic: Eritrea24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)

Topic: Estonia24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

Topic: Eswatini6 September 1968 (from the UK)

Topic: Ethiopiaoldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years (may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which coalesced in the first century B.C.)

Topic: European Union7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed establishing the European Union); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered into force)

note: the Treaties of Rome, signed on 25 March 1957 and subsequently entered into force on 1 January 1958, created the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community; a series of subsequent treaties have been adopted to increase efficiency and transparency, to prepare for new member states, and to introduce new areas of cooperation - such as a single currency; the Treaty of Lisbon, signed on 13 December 2007 and entered into force on 1 December 2009 is the most recent of these treaties and is intended to make the EU more democratic, more efficient, and better able to address global problems with one voice

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Topic: Faroe Islandsnone (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Topic: Fiji10 October 1970 (from the UK)

Topic: Finland6 December 1917 (from Russia)

Topic: Franceno official date of independence: 486 (Frankish tribes unified under Merovingian kingship); 10 August 843 (Western Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 14 July 1789 (French monarchy overthrown); 22 September 1792 (First French Republic founded); 4 October 1958 (Fifth French Republic established)

Topic: French Polynesianone (overseas land of France)

Topic: Gabon17 August 1960 (from France)

Topic: Gambia, The18 February 1965 (from the UK)

Topic: Georgia9 April 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier date: A.D. 1008 (Georgia unified under King BAGRAT III)

Topic: Germany18 January 1871 (establishment of the German Empire); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed on 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed on 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; West Germany and East Germany unified on 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights on 15 March 1991; notable earlier dates: 10 August 843 (Eastern Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 2 February 962 (crowning of OTTO I, recognized as the first Holy Roman Emperor)

Topic: Ghana6 March 1957 (from the UK)

Topic: Gibraltarnone (overseas territory of the UK)

Topic: Greece3 February 1830 (from the Ottoman Empire); note - 25 March 1821, outbreak of the national revolt against the Ottomans; 3 February 1830, signing of the London Protocol recognizing Greek independence by Great Britain, France, and Russia

Topic: Greenlandnone (extensive self-rule as part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland)

Topic: Grenada7 February 1974 (from the UK)

Topic: Guamnone (territory of the US)

Topic: Guatemala15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Topic: Guernseynone (British Crown dependency)

Topic: Guinea2 October 1958 (from France)

Topic: Guinea-Bissau24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)

Topic: Guyana26 May 1966 (from the UK)

Topic: Haiti1 January 1804 (from France)

Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)11 February 1929; note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Holy See and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over centuries varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to A.D. 754

Topic: Honduras15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Topic: Hong Kongnone (special administrative region of China)

Topic: Hungary16 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 25 December 1000 (crowning of King STEPHEN I, traditional founding date); 30 March 1867 (Austro-Hungarian dual monarchy established)

Topic: Iceland1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark; birthday of Jon SIGURDSSON, leader of Iceland's 19th Century independence movement)

Topic: India15 August 1947 (from the UK)

Topic: Indonesia17 August 1945 (declared independence from the Netherlands)

Topic: Iran1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed); notable earlier dates: ca. 550 B.C. (Achaemenid (Persian) Empire established); A.D. 1501 (Iran reunified under the Safavid Dynasty); 1794 (beginning of Qajar Dynasty); 12 December 1925 (modern Iran established under the PAHLAVI Dynasty)

Topic: Iraq3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government

Topic: Ireland6 December 1921 (from the UK by the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which ended British rule); 6 December 1922 (Irish Free State established); 18 April 1949 (Republic of Ireland Act enabled)

Topic: Isle of Mannone (British Crown dependency)

Topic: Israel14 May 1948 (following League of Nations mandate under British administration)

Topic: Italy17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1871)

Topic: Jamaica6 August 1962 (from the UK)

Topic: Japan3 May 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to Meiji Constitution); notable earlier dates: 11 February 660 B.C. (mythological date of the founding of the nation by Emperor JIMMU); 29 November 1890 (Meiji Constitution provides for constitutional monarchy)

Topic: Jerseynone (British Crown dependency)

Topic: Jordan25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

Topic: Kazakhstan16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Topic: Kenya12 December 1963 (from the UK)

Topic: Kiribati12 July 1979 (from the UK)

Topic: Korea, North15 August 1945 (from Japan)

Topic: Korea, South15 August 1945 (from Japan)

Topic: Kosovo17 February 2008 (from Serbia)

Topic: Kuwait19 June 1961 (from the UK)

Topic: Kyrgyzstan31 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Topic: Laos19 July 1949 (from France by the Franco-Lao General Convention); 22 October 1953 (Franco-Lao Treaty recognizes full independence)

Topic: Latvia18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 4 May 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

Topic: Lebanon22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

Topic: Lesotho4 October 1966 (from the UK)

Topic: Liberia26 July 1847

Topic: Libya24 December 1951 (from UN trusteeship)

Topic: Liechtenstein23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire); 24 August 1866 (independence from the German Confederation)

Topic: Lithuania16 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia and Germany); 11 March 1990 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: 6 July 1253 (coronation of MINDAUGAS, traditional founding date); 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)

Topic: Luxembourg1839 (from the Netherlands)

Topic: Macaunone (special administrative region of China)

Topic: Madagascar26 June 1960 (from France)

Topic: Malawi6 July 1964 (from the UK)

Topic: Malaysia31 August 1957 (from the UK)

Topic: Maldives26 July 1965 (from the UK)

Topic: Mali22 September 1960 (from France)

Topic: Malta21 September 1964 (from the UK)

Topic: Marshall Islands21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

Topic: Mauritania28 November 1960 (from France)

Topic: Mauritius12 March 1968 (from the UK)

Topic: Mexico16 September 1810 (declared independence from Spain); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain)

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States of3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

Topic: Moldova27 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Topic: Monaco1419 (beginning of permanent rule by the House of GRIMALDI)

Topic: Mongolia29 December 1911 (independence declared from China; in actuality, autonomy attained); 11 July 1921 (from China)

Topic: Montenegro3 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro); notable earlier dates: 13 March 1852 (Principality of Montenegro established); 13 July 1878 (Congress of Berlin recognizes Montenegrin independence); 28 August 1910 (Kingdom of Montenegro established)

Topic: Montserratnone (overseas territory of the UK)

Topic: Morocco2 March 1956 (from France)

Topic: Mozambique25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

Topic: Namibia21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

Topic: Nauru31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)

Topic: Nepal1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)

Topic: Netherlands23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581, they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)

Topic: New Caledonianone (overseas collectivity of France); note - in three independence referenda, on 4 November 2018, 4 October 2020, and 12 December 2021, the majority voted to reject independence in favor of maintaining the status quo; an 18-month transition period is now in place (ending 30 June 2023), during which a referendum on the new status of New Caledonia within France will take place

Topic: New Zealand26 September 1907 (from the UK)

Topic: Nicaragua15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Topic: Niger3 August 1960 (from France)

Topic: Nigeria1 October 1960 (from the UK)

Topic: Niue19 October 1974 (Niue became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand)

Topic: Norfolk Islandnone (territory of Australia)

Topic: North Macedonia8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsed independence from Yugoslavia)

Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsnone (commonwealth in political union with the US)

Topic: Norway7 June 1905 (declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union); notable earlier dates: ca. 872 (traditional unification of petty Norwegian kingdoms by HARALD Fairhair); 1397 (Kalmar Union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden); 1524 (Denmark-Norway); 17 May 1814 (Norwegian constitution adopted); 4 November 1814 (Sweden-Norway union confirmed)

Topic: Oman1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

Topic: Pakistan14 August 1947 (from British India)

Topic: Palau1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

Topic: Panama3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain on 28 November 1821)

Topic: Papua New Guinea16 September 1975 (from the Australia-administered UN trusteeship)

Topic: Paraguay14-15 May 1811 (from Spain); note - the uprising against Spanish authorities took place during the night of 14-15 May 1811 and both days are celebrated in Paraguay

Topic: Peru28 July 1821 (from Spain)

Topic: Philippines4 July 1946 (from the US)

Topic: Pitcairn Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK)

Topic: Poland11 November 1918 (republic proclaimed); notable earlier dates: 14 April 966 (adoption of Christianity, traditional founding date), 1 July 1569 (Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth created)

Topic: Portugal1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 1 December 1640 (independence reestablished following 60 years of Spanish rule); 5 October 1910 (republic proclaimed)

Topic: Puerto Riconone (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Topic: Qatar3 September 1971 (from the UK)

Topic: Romania9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; 13 July 1878 (independence recognized by the Treaty of Berlin); 26 March 1881 (kingdom proclaimed); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)

Topic: Russia25 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union; Russian SFSR renamed Russian Federation); notable earlier dates: 1157 (Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal created); 16 January 1547 (Tsardom of Muscovy established); 22 October 1721 (Russian Empire proclaimed); 30 December 1922 (Soviet Union established)

Topic: Rwanda1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)

Topic: Saint Barthelemynone (overseas collectivity of France)

Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhanone (overseas territory of the UK)

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevis19 September 1983 (from the UK)

Topic: Saint Lucia22 February 1979 (from the UK)

Topic: Saint Martinnone (overseas collectivity of France)

Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonnone (overseas collectivity collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)

Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines27 October 1979 (from the UK)

Topic: Samoa1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)

Topic: San Marino3 September 301 (traditional founding date)

Topic: Sao Tome and Principe12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

Topic: Saudi Arabia23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)

Topic: Senegal4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960

Topic: Serbia5 June 2006 (from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro); notable earlier dates: 1217 (Serbian Kingdom established); 16 April 1346 (Serbian Empire established); 13 July 1878 (Congress of Berlin recognizes Serbian independence); 1 December 1918 (Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia) established)

Topic: Seychelles29 June 1976 (from the UK)

Topic: Sierra Leone27 April 1961 (from the UK)

Topic: Singapore9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

Topic: Sint Maartennone (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Topic: Slovakia1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)

Topic: Slovenia25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

Topic: Solomon Islands7 July 1978 (from the UK)

Topic: Somalia1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960 to form the Somali Republic)

Topic: South Africa31 May 1910 (Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State); 22 August 1934 (Status of the Union Act); 31 May 1961 (republic declared); 27 April 1994 (majority rule)

Topic: South Sudan9 July 2011 (from Sudan)

Topic: Spain1492; the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain

Topic: Sri Lanka4 February 1948 (from the UK)

Topic: Sudan1 January 1956 (from Egypt and the UK)

Topic: Suriname25 November 1975 (from the Netherlands)

Topic: Svalbardnone (territory of Norway)

Topic: Sweden6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king of Sweden, marking the abolishment of the Kalmar Union between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden)

Topic: Switzerland1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)

Topic: Syria17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

Topic: Tajikistan9 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Topic: Tanzania26 April 1964 (Tanganyika united with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar); 29 October 1964 (renamed United Republic of Tanzania); notable earlier dates: 9 December 1961 (Tanganyika became independent from UK-administered UN trusteeship); 10 December 1963 (Zanzibar became independent from UK)

Topic: Thailand1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

Topic: Timor-Leste20 May 2002 (from Indonesia); note - 28 November 1975 was the date independence was proclaimed from Portugal; 20 May 2002 was the date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia

Topic: Togo27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

Topic: Tokelaunone (territory of New Zealand)

Topic: Tonga4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate status)

Topic: Trinidad and Tobago31 August 1962 (from the UK)

Topic: Tunisia20 March 1956 (from France)

Topic: Turkey (Turkiye)29 October 1923 (republic proclaimed, succeeding the Ottoman Empire)

Topic: Turkmenistan27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsnone (overseas territory of the UK)

Topic: Tuvalu1 October 1978 (from the UK)

Topic: Uganda9 October 1962 (from the UK)

Topic: Ukraine24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union); notable earlier dates: ca. 982 (VOLODYMYR I consolidates Kyivan Rus); 1199 (Principality (later Kingdom) of Ruthenia formed); 1648 (establishment of the Cossack Hetmanate); 22 January 1918 (from Soviet Russia)

Topic: United Arab Emirates2 December 1971 (from the UK)

Topic: United Kingdomno official date of independence: 927 (minor English kingdoms unite); 3 March 1284 (enactment of the Statute of Rhuddlan uniting England and Wales); 1536 (Act of Union formally incorporates England and Wales); 1 May 1707 (Acts of Union formally unite England, Scotland, and Wales as Great Britain); 1 January 1801 (Acts of Union formally unite Great Britain and Ireland as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland); 6 December 1921 (Anglo-Irish Treaty formalizes partition of Ireland; six counties remain part of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland); 12 April 1927 (Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act establishes current name of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)

Topic: United States4 July 1776 (declared independence from Great Britain); 3 September 1783 (recognized by Great Britain)

Topic: Uruguay25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

Topic: Uzbekistan1 September 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Topic: Vanuatu30 July 1980 (from France and the UK)

Topic: Venezuela5 July 1811 (from Spain)

Topic: Vietnam2 September 1945 (from France)

Topic: Virgin Islandsnone (territory of the US)

Topic: Wake Islandnone (territory of the US)

Topic: Wallis and Futunanone (overseas collectivity of France)

Topic: Yemen22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen was established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); notable earlier dates: North Yemen became independent on 1 November 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and became a republic with the overthrow of the theocratic Imamate on 27 September 1962; South Yemen became independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)

Topic: Zambia24 October 1964 (from the UK)

Topic: Zimbabwe18 April 1980 (from the UK)