Italy
at a glance
Country
facts
Size of Italian
economy:
Population
61.2
Italy is the
world’s
€1,800
billion
million
9th
largest
Imports
€474 billion
economy
(GDP)
(13% of EU)
Exports
€482 billion
GDP by sector
Italy has the
services
industry
highest number of
world heritage sites
agriculture
74% 24% 2%
recognised by UNESCO
6 famous items invented by Italians
Thermometer
(Galileo)
Electric
Battery
(Galvani/
Volta)
Industry
facts
Piano
(Bartolomeo
Christofori)
Espresso
machine
(Luigi
Bezzera)
Italy is Europe’s
second largest
machine
manufacturer
(after Germany)
Automotive
The Italian automotive sector
has 3,200 companies, more
than 1 million employees
and some of the best brands
in the world
Banking
facts
There are some
900 banks
in Italy,
around 200 of which
are large, including
around 50 foreign banks
(mostly in Rome
and Milan)
Telephone
(Antonio
Meucci)
Nuclear
reactor
(Enrico Fermi)
Italy has a smaller number of
global multinational corporations
than other economies of
comparable size. However, small
and medium-sized enterprises
are widespread and they are the
backbone of Italian industry
Energy
Italy imports
over 73%
of its energy
Food
Italy exports more than
€40 billion
worth of goods in the food
and beverage industries
Italy is the
world’s 4th
largest producer
of gold and
silver jewellery
with 70% of its
production exported
Infrastructure
Italy is world leader in
the creation of major
infrastructures 1,000 construction
sites in 90 countries
More than their European counterparts,
Italian businesses are dependent on bank
credit. Main reasons:
Underdeveloped stock market
and corporate bond market
Relations between banks and firms
are very often on a fiduciary basis
Family-owned companies are
determined to keep shareholders out
Unicredit and
Intesa are the only
Italian banks with an
international
network