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


US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to this country due to COVID-19. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country and during the length of their entire visit. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required.  A visa is not required; visitor permits granted upon arrival with return ticket.
US Embassy/Consulate: US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the US Ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles; +(230) 202-4400; EMER: +(230) 5253 3641; US Embassy Port Louis, 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis, Mauritius; PTLConsular@state.gov;

https://mu.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code: 248
Local Emergency Phone: 999
Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations.

http://www.who.int/
Climate: Tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)
Currency (Code): Seychelles rupees (SCR)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 240 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): G

Major Languages: Seychellois Creole, English, French
Major Religions: Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 10.5% (Anglican, Pentecostal Assembly, Seventh Day Adventist, other Protestant), other Christian 2.4%, Hindu 2.4%, Muslim 1.6%
Time Difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Left
Tourist Destinations: Aldabra Atoll; Morne Blanc; Moyenne Island; Victoria (includes Seychelles National Botanical Gardens, Victoria Market)
Major Sports: Basketball, water sports
Cultural Practices: When greeting someone for the first time, and when saying goodbye, shake hands with both men and women. Wearing swimwear is fine for the beaches; otherwise, modest clothing is advised.
Tipping Guidelines: Most hotels, restaurants, taxis, and porters already include a 5-10% service charge so tipping is not obligatory. However, as a reward for exceptional service, a nominal tip is sure to be appreciated.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.

World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.

US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.

To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)

How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444

Page last updated: Wednesday, January 12, 2022


Topic: Introduction
Background: Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost its indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands" were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900. It withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost its indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands" were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900. It withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.

Topic: Geography
Area: total: 747 sq km

land: 717 sq km

water: 30 sq km
Climate: tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Natural resources: arable land, fish

Topic: People and Society
Population: 105,517 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: Tongan 97%, part-Tongan 0.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified <0.1% (2016 est.)
Languages: Tongan and English 76.8%, Tongan, English, and other language 10.6%, Tongan only (official) 8.7%, English only (official) 0.7%, other 1.7%, none 2.2% (2016 est.)
Religions: Protestant 64.1% (includes Free Wesleyan Church 35%, Free Church of Tonga 11.9%, Church of Tonga 6.8%, Assembly of God 2.3%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.2%, Tokaikolo Christian Church 1.6%, other 4.3%), Church of Jesus Christ 18.6%, Roman Catholic 14.2%, other 2.4%, none 0.5%, unspecified 0.1% (2016 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.26% (2022 est.)

Topic: Government
Government type: constitutional monarchy
Capital: name: Nuku'alofa
Executive branch: chief of state: King TUPOU VI (since 18 March 2012); Heir Apparent Crown Prince Siaosi Manumataogo 'Alaivahamama'o 'Ahoeitu Konstantin Tuku'aho, son of the king (born 17 September 1985); note - on 18 March 2012, King George TUPOU V died and his brother, Crown Prince TUPOUTO'A Lavaka, assumed the throne as TUPOU VI

head of government: Prime Minister Siaosi SOVALENI (since 27 December 2021)
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (26 seats); 17 people's representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, and 9 indirectly elected by hereditary leaders; members serve 4-year terms)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: upper middle-income Pacific island economy; enormous diaspora and remittance reliance; key tourism and agricultural sectors; major fish exporter; rapidly growing Chinese infrastructure investments; rising methamphetamine hubupper middle-income Pacific island economy; enormous diaspora and remittance reliance; key tourism and agricultural sectors; major fish exporter; rapidly growing Chinese infrastructure investments; rising methamphetamine hub
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $670 million (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $6,400 (2019 est.)
Agricultural products: coconuts, gourds, cassava, sweet potatoes, vegetables, yams, taro, roots/tubers nes, plantains, lemons/limes
Industries: tourism, construction, fishing
Exports: $90 million (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: United States 38%, South Korea 18%, Australia 14%, New Zealand 14%, Japan 6%,  (2019)
Exports - commodities: squash, fish, various fruits and nuts, antiques, coral and shells (2019)
Imports: $300 million (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: Fiji 29%, New Zealand 23%, China 14%, United States 8%, Australia 6%, Japan 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, poultry meats, audio equipment, mutton, goat meat, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Exchange rates: pa'anga (TOP) per US dollar -Page last updated: Thursday, May 12, 2022


Topic: Photos of Bangladesh

Topic: Introduction
Background: The huge delta region formed at the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra River systems - now referred to as Bangladesh - was a loosely incorporated outpost of various empires centered on the Gangetic plain for much of the first millennium A.D. Muslim conversions and settlement in the region began in the 10th century, primarily from Arab and Persian traders and preachers. Europeans established trading posts in the area in the 16th century. Eventually the area known as Bengal, primarily Hindu in the western section and mostly Muslim in the eastern half, became part of British India. Partition in 1947 resulted in an eastern wing of Pakistan in the Muslim-majority area, which became East Pakistan. Calls for greater autonomy and animosity between the eastern and western wings of Pakistan led to a Bengali independence movement. That movement, led by the Awami League (AL) and supported by India, won the independence war for Bangladesh in 1971. The post-independence AL government faced daunting challenges and in 1975 it was overthrown by the military, triggering a series of military coups that resulted in a military-backed government and subsequent creation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978. That government also ended in a coup in 1981, followed by military-backed rule until democratic elections occurred in 1991. The BNP and AL have alternated in power since 1991, with the exception of a military-backed, emergency caretaker regime that suspended parliamentary elections planned for January 2007 in an effort to reform the political system and root out corruption. That government returned the country to fully democratic rule in December 2008 with the election of the AL and Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA. In January 2014, the incumbent AL won the national election by an overwhelming majority after the BNP boycotted the election, which extended HASINA's term as prime minister. In December 2018, HASINA secured a third consecutive term (fourth overall) with the AL coalition securing 96% of available seats, amid widespread claims of election irregularities. With the help of international development assistance, Bangladesh has reduced the poverty rate from over half of the population to less than a third, achieved Millennium Development Goals for maternal and child health, and made great progress in food security since independence. The economy has grown at an annual average of about 6% for the last two decades. In 2021 the UN approved a resolution to allow Bangladesh to officially graduate from least-developed-country (LDC) status in 2026, based on World Bank criteria.The huge delta region formed at the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra River systems - now referred to as Bangladesh - was a loosely incorporated outpost of various empires centered on the Gangetic plain for much of the first millennium A.D. Muslim conversions and settlement in the region began in the 10th century, primarily from Arab and Persian traders and preachers. Europeans established trading posts in the area in the 16th century. Eventually the area known as Bengal, primarily Hindu in the western section and mostly Muslim in the eastern half, became part of British India. Partition in 1947 resulted in an eastern wing of Pakistan in the Muslim-majority area, which became East Pakistan. Calls for greater autonomy and animosity between the eastern and western wings of Pakistan led to a Bengali independence movement. That movement, led by the Awami League (AL) and supported by India, won the independence war for Bangladesh in 1971.The post-independence AL government faced daunting challenges and in 1975 it was overthrown by the military, triggering a series of military coups that resulted in a military-backed government and subsequent creation of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978. That government also ended in a coup in 1981, followed by military-backed rule until democratic elections occurred in 1991. The BNP and AL have alternated in power since 1991, with the exception of a military-backed, emergency caretaker regime that suspended parliamentary elections planned for January 2007 in an effort to reform the political system and root out corruption. That government returned the country to fully democratic rule in December 2008 with the election of the AL and Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA. In January 2014, the incumbent AL won the national election by an overwhelming majority after the BNP boycotted the election, which extended HASINA's term as prime minister. In December 2018, HASINA secured a third consecutive term (fourth overall) with the AL coalition securing 96% of available seats, amid widespread claims of election irregularities. With the help of international development assistance, Bangladesh has reduced the poverty rate from over half of the population to less than a third, achieved Millennium Development Goals for maternal and child health, and made great progress in food security since independence. The economy has grown at an annual average of about 6% for the last two decades. In 2021 the UN approved a resolution to allow Bangladesh to officially graduate from least-developed-country (LDC) status in 2026, based on World Bank criteria.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Geographic coordinates: 24 00 N, 90 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 148,460 sq km

land: 130,170 sq km

water: 18,290 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly larger than Pennsylvania and New Jersey combined; slightly smaller than Iowa
Land boundaries: total: 4,413 km

border countries (2): Burma 271 km; India 4,142 km
Coastline: 580 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 18 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: to the outer limits of the continental margin
Climate: tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast
Elevation: highest point: Mowdok Taung 1,060 m
note - the Factbook map is incorrect; it shows the wrong high elevation

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 85 m
Natural resources: natural gas, arable land, timber, coal
Land use: agricultural land: 70.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 59% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 6.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 4.6% (2018 est.)

forest: 11.1% (2018 est.)

other: 18.8% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 53,000 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Brahmaputra river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 3,969 km; Ganges river mouth (shared with India [s]) - 2,704 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km)
Major aquifers: Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin
Natural hazards: droughts; cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season
Geography - note: most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal
Map description: Bangladesh map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Bay of Bengal.Bangladesh map showing major cities as well as parts of surrounding countries and the Bay of Bengal.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 165,650,475 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bangladeshi(s)

adjective: Bangladeshi
Ethnic groups: Bengali at least 98%, other indigenous ethnic groups 1.1% (2011 est.)

note: Bangladesh's government recognizes 27 indigenous ethnic groups under the 2010 Cultural Institution for Small Anthropological Groups Act; other sources estimate there are about 75 ethnic groups; critics of the 2011 census claim that it underestimates the size of Bangladesh's ethnic population
Languages: Bangla 98.8% (official, also known as Bengali), other 1.2% (2011 est.)

major-language sample(s):
বিশ্ব ফ্যাক্টবুক, মৌলিক তথ্যের অপরিহার্য উৎস (Bangla)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
বিশ্ব ফ্যাক্টবুক, মৌলিক তথ্যের অপরিহার্য উৎস (Bangla)
Religions: Muslim 88.4%, other 11.6% (2020 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26.48% (male 21,918,651/female 21,158,574)

15-24 years: 18.56% (male 15,186,470/female 15,001,950)

25-54 years: 40.72% (male 31,694,267/female 34,535,643)

55-64 years: 7.41% (male 5,941,825/female 6,115,856)

65 years and over: 6.82% (2020 est.) (male 5,218,206/female 5,879,411)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 47

youth dependency ratio: 39.3

elderly dependency ratio: 7.7

potential support ratio: 13 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 27.9 years

male: 27.1 years

female: 28.6 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.93% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 17.69 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 5.47 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 39.7% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 2.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 22.478 million DHAKA (capital), 5.253 million Chittagong, 950,000 Khulna, 942,000 Rajshahi, 928,000 Sylhet, Bogra 864,000 (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female

total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 18.6 years (2017/18 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49
Maternal mortality ratio: 173 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 30.35 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 32.96 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 27.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.7 years

male: 72.52 years

female: 76.96 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.09 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 62.7% (2019)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 99% of population

rural: 98.7% of population

total: 98.9% of population

unimproved: urban: 1% of population

rural: 1.3% of population

total: 1.1% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 2.5% (2019)
Physicians density: 0.67 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 0.8 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 85.3% of population

rural: 73.5% of population

total: 78% of population

unimproved: urban: 14.7% of population

rural: 26.5% of population

total: 22% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: (2018 est.) <.1%
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 14,000 (2018 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2018 est.) <1000
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations

water contact diseases: leptospirosis

animal contact diseases: rabies

note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Bangladesh; as of 18 August 2022, Bangladesh has reported a total of 2,009,434 cases of COVID-19 or 1,220.13 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 29,314 cumulative deaths or a rate of 17.8 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 17 August 2022, 76.89% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 3.6% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 34.7% (2020 est.)

male: 52.2% (2020 est.)

female: 17.1% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 22.6% (2019)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 15.5%

women married by age 18: 51.4% (2019 est.)
Education expenditures: 1.3% of GDP (2019 est.)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 74.9%

male: 77.8%

female: 72% (2020)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years

male: 12 years

female: 13 years (2020)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.8%

male: 10.8%

female: 16.8% (2017 est.)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; waterborne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; destruction of wetlands; severe overpopulation with noise pollution
Environment - international agreements: party to: 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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 58.33 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 84.25 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 59.3 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)
Land use: agricultural land: 70.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 59% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 6.5% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 4.6% (2018 est.)

forest: 11.1% (2018 est.)

other: 18.8% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 39.7% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 2.88% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 0.08% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0.02% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations

water contact diseases: leptospirosis

animal contact diseases: rabies

note: widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring throughout Bangladesh; as of 18 August 2022, Bangladesh has reported a total of 2,009,434 cases of COVID-19 or 1,220.13 cumulative cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 population with a total of 29,314 cumulative deaths or a rate of 17.8 cumulative deaths per 100,000 population; as of 17 August 2022, 76.89% of the population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine
Food insecurity: severe localized food insecurity: due to economic constraints -  losses in income and remittances caused by the COVID‑19 pandemic and its containment measures led to an increase in poverty; the high prices of rice and other important food items, including edible oils (soybean oil and loose palm oil), have severely constrained the purchasing power for food for a large section of the vulnerable population above the poverty line (2022)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 14,778,497 tons (2012 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km): Brahmaputra river mouth (shared with China [s] and India) - 3,969 km; Ganges river mouth (shared with India [s]) - 2,704 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km)
Major aquifers: Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 3.6 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 770 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 31.5 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 1,227,032,000,000 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh

conventional short form: Bangladesh

local long form: Gana Prajatantri Bangladesh

local short form: Bangladesh

former: East Bengal, East Pakistan

etymology: the name - a compound of the Bengali words "Bangla" (Bengal) and "desh" (country) - means "Country of Bengal"
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Dhaka

geographic coordinates: 23 43 N, 90 24 E

time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: the origins of the name are unclear, but some sources state that the city's site was originally called "dhakka," meaning "watchtower," and that the area served as a watch-station for Bengal rulers
Administrative divisions: 8 divisions; Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet
Independence: 16 December 1971 (from Pakistan)
National holiday: Independence Day, 26 March (1971); Victory Day, 16 December (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of the Awami League's declaration of an independent Bangladesh, and 16 December (Victory Day) memorializes the military victory over Pakistan and the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Constitution: history: previous 1935, 1956, 1962 (preindependence); latest enacted 4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended March 1982, restored November 1986

amendments: proposed by the House of the Nation; approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the House membership and assent of the president of the republic; amended many times, last in 2018
Legal system: mixed legal system of mostly English common law and Islamic law
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no

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

dual citizenship recognized: yes, but limited to select countries

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: President Abdul HAMID (since 24 April 2013); note - Abdul HAMID served as acting president following the death of Zillur RAHMAN in March 2013; HAMID was subsequently indirectly elected by the National Parliament and sworn in 24 April 2013

head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA Wazed (since 6 January 2009)

cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister, appointed by the president

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 February 2018 (next to be held by 2023); the president appoints as prime minister the majority party leader in the National Parliament

election results: President Abdul HAMID (AL) reelected by the National Parliament unopposed for a second term; Sheikh HASINA reappointed prime minister as leader of the majority AL party following parliamentary elections in 2018
Legislative branch: description: unicameral House of the Nation or Jatiya Sangsad (350 seats; 300 members in single-seat territorial constituencies directly elected by simple majority vote; 50 members - reserved for women only - indirectly elected by the elected members by proportional representation vote using single transferable vote; all members serve 5-year terms)

elections: last held on 30 December 2018 (next to be held in December 2023)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party as of February 2022 - AL 299, JP 27, BNP 7, other 10, independent 4; composition - men 277, women 73, percent of women 20.9%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Bangladesh (organized into the Appellate Division with 7 justices and the High Court Division with 99 justices)

judge selection and term of office: chief justice and justices appointed by the president; justices serve until retirement at age 67

subordinate courts: civil courts include: Assistant Judge's Court; Joint District Judge's Court; Additional District Judge's Court; District Judge's Court; criminal courts include: Court of Sessions; Court of Metropolitan Sessions; Metropolitan Magistrate Courts; Magistrate Court; special courts/tribunals
Political parties and leaders: Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]
Bangladesh Jamaat-i-Islami or JIB [Shafiqur RAHMAN]
Bangladesh Nationalist Front or BNF [S. M. Abul Kalam AZAD]
Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Tarique RAHMAN, acting chairperson; Khaleda ZIA]
Bangladesh Tariqat Federation or BTF [Syed Nozibul Bashar MAIZBHANDARI]
Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Rowshan ERSHAD]
Jatiya Party or JP (Manju faction) [Anwar Hossain MANJU]
Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Oli AHMED]
National Socialist Party or JSD [KHALEQUZZAMAN]
Workers Party or WP [Rashed Khan MENON]
International organization participation: ADB, ARF, BIMSTEC, C, CD, CICA (observer), CP, D-8, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador M Shahidul ISLAM (since 17 February 2021)

chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183

FAX: [1] (202) 244-2771; [1] (202) 244 7830

email address and website:
mission.washington@mofa.gov.bd

http://www.bdembassyusa.org/

consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Peter HAAS (since 15 March 2022)

embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka - 1212

mailing address: 6120 Dhaka Place, Washington DC  20521-6120

telephone: [880] (2) 5566-2000

FAX: [880] (2) 5566-2907

email address and website:
DhakaACS@state.gov

https://bd.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: green field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the hoist side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush vegetation of Bangladesh
National symbol(s): Bengal tiger, water lily; national colors: green, red
National anthem: name: "Amar Shonar Bangla" (My Golden Bengal)

lyrics/music: Rabindranath TAGORE

note: adopted 1971; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote India's national anthem
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Bagerhat Historic Mosque (c); Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur (c); Sundarbans (n)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Bangladesh's economy has grown roughly 6% per year since 2005 despite prolonged periods of political instability, poor infrastructure, endemic corruption, insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the services sector, almost half of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single-most-important product.   Garments, the backbone of Bangladesh's industrial sector, accounted for more than 80% of total exports in FY 2016-17. The industrial sector continues to grow, despite the need for improvements in factory safety conditions. Steady export growth in the garment sector, combined with $13 billion in remittances from overseas Bangladeshis, contributed to Bangladesh's rising foreign exchange reserves in FY 2016-17. Recent improvements to energy infrastructure, including the start of liquefied natural gas imports in 2018, represent a major step forward in resolving a key growth bottleneck.Bangladesh's economy has grown roughly 6% per year since 2005 despite prolonged periods of political instability, poor infrastructure, endemic corruption, insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Although more than half of GDP is generated through the services sector, almost half of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single-most-important product. Garments, the backbone of Bangladesh's industrial sector, accounted for more than 80% of total exports in FY 2016-17. The industrial sector continues to grow, despite the need for improvements in factory safety conditions. Steady export growth in the garment sector, combined with $13 billion in remittances from overseas Bangladeshis, contributed to Bangladesh's rising foreign exchange reserves in FY 2016-17. Recent improvements to energy infrastructure, including the start of liquefied natural gas imports in 2018, represent a major step forward in resolving a key growth bottleneck.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $793.49 billion (2020 est.)

$775.08 billion (2019 est.)

$716.65 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 7.4% (2017 est.)

7.2% (2016 est.)

6.8% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $4,800 (2020 est.)

$4,800 (2019 est.)

$4,400 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $329.545 billion (2020 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.5% (2019 est.)

5.5% (2018 est.)

5.6% (2017 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BB- (2014)

Moody's rating: Ba3 (2012)

Standard & Poors rating: BB- (2010)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 14.2% (2017 est.)

industry: 29.3% (2017 est.)

services: 56.5% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 68.7% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 6% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 30.5% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 1% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 15% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -20.3% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: rice, potatoes, maize, sugar cane, milk, vegetables, onions, jute, mangoes/guavas, wheat
Industries: jute, cotton, garments, paper, leather, fertilizer, iron and steel, cement, petroleum products, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, tea, salt, sugar, edible oils, soap and detergent, fabricated metal products, electricity, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate: 10.2% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 66.64 million (2017 est.)

note: extensive migration of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 42.7%

industry: 20.5%

services: 36.9% (2016 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.4% (2017 est.)

4.4% (2016 est.)

note: about 40% of the population is underemployed; many persons counted as employed work only a few hours a week and at low wages
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 12.8%

male: 10.8%

female: 16.8% (2017 est.)
Population below poverty line: 24.3% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 32.4 (2016 est.)

33.2 (2005)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4%

highest 10%: 27% (2010 est.)
Budget: revenues: 25.1 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 33.5 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -3.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 33.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

33.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 9.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Current account balance: -$5.322 billion (2017 est.)

$1.391 billion (2016 est.)
Exports: $38.78 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$44.96 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$44.13 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: United States 15%, Germany 14%, United Kingdom 8%, Spain 7%, France 7% (2019)
Exports - commodities: clothing, knitwear, leather footwear (2019)
Imports: $57.26 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$64.23 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$65.59 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: China 31%, India 15%, Singapore 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, cotton, natural gas, scrap iron, wheat (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $33.42 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$32.28 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $50.26 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$41.85 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates: taka (BDT) per US dollar -

84.75 (2020 est.)

85 (2019 est.)

83.715 (2018 est.)

77.947 (2014 est.)

77.614 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 83% (2019)

electrification - urban areas: 93% (2019)

electrification - rural areas: 77% (2019)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 18.461 million kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 76,849,877,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)

imports: 6.786 billion kWh (2019 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 9.537 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 98.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

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

solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

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

hydroelectricity: 0.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

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

biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal: production: 1.016 million metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 9.345 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 8.329 million metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 293 million metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 13,500 bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 122,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 21,600 barrels/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 28 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 26,280 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 901 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 81,570 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas: production: 28,629,927,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

consumption: 31,268,968,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports: 2,639,041,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

proven reserves: 126.293 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 96.18 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 16.538 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 18.535 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 61.107 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: 9.917 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 1,390,048 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 176,279,465 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: Bangladesh’s economic resurgence over the last decade took a battering in 2020 and 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; the country had been on track to move off the United Nation’s Least Developed Countries list by 2026, however the crisis may have pushed that back a few years; the telecommunications sector experienced a set of challenges, with mobile data usage exploding at the same time as many consumers were being forced to curb their spending in other areas; the demand on data grew so large and so rapidly that Bangladesh came close to running out of bandwidth; at the start of 2020, Bangladesh was consuming around 900Gb/s on average, well below the 2,642GB/s capacity of its submarine cables; this ballooned to over 2,300Gb/s during the pandemic; Bangladesh was looking forward to adding 7,200Gb/s capacity when the SEA-ME-WE-6 submarine cable goes into service in mid-2024, but the sudden upsurge in downloads is forcing state-run company Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Limited (BSCCL) to scramble to find alternatives before the country’s internet supply is maxed out; the increased demand during the Covid-19 crisis also put pressure on the country’s existing mobile networks, already under strain as a result of strong growth in the mobile broadband market coupled with significant untapped potential for mobile services in general across the country; this led to premium prices being paid at auction for spectrum in the 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands, most of which will be used to enhance and expand LTE services; a 5G spectrum auction had been anticipated for 2020, but low interest from the MNOs in going down that path when there are still so many areas waiting for LTE access means that 5G rollouts will likely be deferred until 2023. (2021)

domestic: fixed-line teledensity remains less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone subscribership has been increasing rapidly and now exceeds 103 telephones per 100 persons; mobile subscriber growth is anticipated over the next five years to 2023; strong local competition (2020)

international: country code - 880; landing points for the SeaMeWe-4 and SeaMeWe-5 fiber-optic submarine cable system that provides links to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 6; international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (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: state-owned Bangladesh Television (BTV) broadcasts throughout the country. Some channels, such as BTV World, operate via satellite. The government also owns a medium wave radio channel and some private FM radio broadcast news channels. Of the 41 Bangladesh approved TV stations, 26 are currently being used to broadcast. Of those, 23 operate under private management via cable distribution. Collectively, TV channels can reach more than 50 million people across the country.
Internet country code: .bd
Internet users: total: 41,172,346 (2020 est.)

percent of population: 25% (2020 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 10,052,819 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 30

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,984,155 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 63.82 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: S2
Airports: total: 18 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 16

over 3,047 m: 2

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 6

914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 5 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2021)
Heliports: 3 (2021)
Pipelines: 2,950 km gas (2013)
Railways: total: 2,460 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 1,801 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

broad gauge: 659 km (2014) 1.676-m gauge
Roadways: total: 369,105 km (2018)

paved: 110,311 km (2018)

unpaved: 258,794 km (2018)
Waterways: 8,370 km (2011) (includes up to 3,060 km of main cargo routes; network reduced to 5,200 km in the dry season)
Merchant marine: total: 468

by type: bulk carrier 48, container ship 6, general cargo 140, oil tanker 144, other 130 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Chattogram (Chittagong)

container port(s) (TEUs): Chattogram (Chittagong) (3,088,187) (2019)

river port(s): Mongla Port (Sela River)

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Bangladesh (aka Bangladesh Defense Force): Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy, Bangladesh Air Force; Ministry of Home Affairs: Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladesh Coast Guard, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Ansars, Village Defense Party (VDP) (2022)

note 1: the Armed Forces of Bangladesh are jointly administered by the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the Armed Forces Division (AFD), both under the Prime Minister's Office; the AFD has ministerial status and parallel functions with MOD; the AFD is a joint coordinating headquarters for the three services and also functions as a joint command center during wartime; to coordinate policy, the prime minister and the president are advised by a six-member board, which includes the three service chiefs of staff, the principal staff officer of the AFD, and the military secretaries to the prime minister and president

note 2: the RAB, Ansars, and VDP are paramilitary organizations for internal security; the RAB is a joint task force founded in 2004 and composed of members of the police, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Border Guards seconded to the RAB from their respective units; its mandate includes internal security, intelligence gathering related to criminal activities, and government-directed investigations
Military expenditures: 1.2% of GDP (2021 est.)

1.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

1.4% of GDP (2019) (approximately $5.12 billion)

1.4% of GDP (2018) (approximately $4.57 billion)

1.3% of GDP (2017) (approximately $4.21 billion)
Military and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 165,000 total active personnel (135,000 Army; 15,000 Navy; 15,000 Air Force) (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: much of the military's inventory is comprised of Chinese- and Russian-origin equipment, with a smaller mix from a variety of other suppliers; since 2010, China is the leading provider of arms to Bangladesh; as of 2022, Bangladesh was undertaking a large defense modernization program, with a focus on naval acquisitions (2022)
Military service age and obligation: 16-21 years of age for voluntary military service; Bangladeshi nationality and 10th grade education required; officers: 17-21 years of age, Bangladeshi nationality, and 12th grade education required (2022)
Military deployments: 1,375 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,625 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO; plus about 190 police); 120 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 1,100 Mali (MINUSMA; plus about 280 police); 1,600 South Sudan (UNMISS); 180 Sudan (UNISFA) (May 2022)
Military - note: the military’s chief areas of focus are border, economic exclusion zone, and domestic security; the Army maintains a large domestic security presence in the Chittagong Hills area where it conducted counterinsurgency operations against tribal guerrillas from the 1970s until the late 1990s; since 2009, the military has been in a force-wide expansion and modernization program known as Forces Goal 2030 (2022)
Maritime threats: the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial waters of Bangladesh remain a risk for armed robbery against ships; there were no attacks reported in 2021 as opposed to four ships that were boarded in 2020

Topic: Terrorism
Terrorist group(s): Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Bangladesh; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham in Bangladesh (ISB); al-Qa'ida; al-Qa'ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS)

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: Bangladesh-Burma: Burmese border authorities are constructing a 200 km (124 mi) wire fence designed to deter illegal cross-border transit and tensions from the military build-up along border.

Bangladesh-India: Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Indian Prime Minister Singh's September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over un-demarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented.Bangladesh-Burma: Burmese border authorities are constructing a 200 km (124 mi) wire fence designed to deter illegal cross-border transit and tensions from the military build-up along border.

Bangladesh-India: Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Indian Prime Minister Singh's September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over un-demarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented.
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 925,380 (Burma) (2022) (includes an estimated 773,972 Rohingya refugees who have fled conflict since 25 August 2017)

IDPs: 427,000 (conflict, development, human rights violations, religious persecution, natural disasters) (2021)

stateless persons: 889,704 (mid-year 2021)
Illicit drugs: transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries; does not manufacture precursor chemicals with the exception of sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and toluenetransit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries; does not manufacture precursor chemicals with the exception of sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and toluene


US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens exercise normal precautions in Thailand. Some areas have increased risk. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws, and special circumstances in this country.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after they enter the country even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required as long as you do not stay more than 30 days.
US Embassy/Consulate: [66] (2) 205-4000; US Embassy Bangkok, 95 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; acsbkk@state.gov;

https://th.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code: 66
Local Emergency Phone: Ambulance: 191; Fire: 199; Police: 191
Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations.

http://www.who.int/
Climate: Tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid
Currency (Code): Baht (THB)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): A, B, C, O

Major Languages: Thai, Malay, Burmese
Major Religions: Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.3%, Christian 1%
Time Difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Left
Tourist Destinations: Bangkok (includes Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew & Wat Pho, Prasart Museum); Railay Beach; Koh Phi Phi; Sunday Walking Street; Khao Yai National Park; Ban Chiang; Chang Mai
Major Sports: Muay thai (Thai boxing), soccer, badminton, golf, tennis
Cultural Practices: Marigolds and carnations are associated with funerals and thus make poor gifts.
Tipping Guidelines: A 10% tip is adequate in restaurants, but check to see if a service charge has been added; if so, leave behind some loose change. It is common to round up the fare to the nearest bill in taxi cabs. Most hotels include a 10% service charge in the bill, but you can tip bellhops $1-2 (USD) for carrying bags to a room. Leave housekeeping 20 baht under your pillow.
Souvenirs: Buddha statues, silk harem pants and other fabric items, Hill Tribe bags, spices and sauces
Traditional Cuisine: Pad Thai — stir-fried rice noodles with scrambled eggs, fish sauce, dried shrimp, tamarind pulp, bean sprouts, roasted crushed peanuts, and tofu; if meat is added it is typically chicken or porkPlease visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.

World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.

US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.

To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)

How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444

Page last updated: Wednesday, July 20, 2022