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Population
The population of Italy from the last official census taken in 1991 is 56.8 million. Italy has one of the highest population densities in Europe. Population Growth Rate: The population growth rate is 0.09% (2000 est.) The birth rate is 9.13 births/1,000 population (2000 est.) The death rate: 9.99 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
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Languages
Italian is the official language, although there are small areas where French, German and other languages are spoken. Literacy: 98% of the population, age 15 and over can read and write (1998)
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Italian National Holidays
Italian National Holidays
January 1, New Years Day (Capodanno) January 6, Epiphany (Epifania/La Befana) April 23, Easter Sunday (Pasqua) April 24, Easter Monday (Lunedì Santo) April 25, Liberation Day (Festa della Liberazione) May 1, May Day (Festa del Lavoro) August 15, Assumption (Ferragosto) November 1, All Saints Day (Ognissanti) December 8, Immaculate Conception (Immacolata Concezione) December 25, Christmas (Natale) December 26, St. Stephen (Santo Stefano)
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Climate
In general, Italy has a typical Mediterranean climate with mild rainy winters and hot dry summers. However, the climate is subject to local variations. The northern area has more severe winters whereas the central areas are more temperate. Southern Italy has hot, sunny summers with short cold winters.
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Natural hazards
Regional risks in Italy include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding and land subsidence in Venice.
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Area
The total area of Italy is 301,230 sq. km (116,273 sq. miles). Of that, 294,020 sq km is land and 7,210 sq. km is water. Italy is just a bit larger than Arizona.
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Ports and harbors
Italy´s ports and harbors include Augusta (Sicily), Bagnoli, Bari, Brindisi, Gela, Genoa, La Spezia, Livorno, Milazzo, Naples, Porto Foxi, Porto Torres (Sardigna), Salerno, Savona, Taranto, Trieste, and Venice.
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Ethnic groups
Ethnic groups: Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south)
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Location
Italy is located in Southern Europe. It is a boot shaped peninsula which extends south into the Mediterranean Sea, as well as Sicily, Sardinia, and some smaller islands - northeast of Tunisia.
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Independent States
Italy contains two independent states - Vatican City, where the Pope resides, and the Republic of San Marino.
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Longest River
The River Po is the longest river in Italy. It crosses the north, where the three largest lakes are also found (Maggiore, Como and Garda).
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Religions
Italy is predominately Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community
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Wine production
According to statistics for 1995, Italy produces 56,832,000 hectoliters of wine annually with every Italian region being a producer.
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Export and Import of Wines
Italian wines are exported abroad each year to the average quantity of 1,092,000 tons of which 840,000 tons go to countries of the European Union and the rest to countries outside this area. Italy imports 12,375 tons of wine every year, of which 10,519 tons come from countries in the European Union (with France in the lead) and the rest from countries outside.
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Flag description
Italy's flag has three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; similar to the flag of 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 note: inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797.
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Art - Florence
According to statistics produced by UNESCO, 60% of the world´s most important works of art are located in Italy and approximately half of these are in Florence.
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Exchange Controls
With the enactment of new foreign exchange regulations in 1988 and 1989, the principle of free economic and financial relationships with other countries was codified. Non-residents can invest in Italy without any limitation on the transfer of investment income and capital from liquidating investments.
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Telephone system
Italy has modern, well-developed, fast, fully automated telephone, telex, and data services. Domestic: high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks International: satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas - 3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and NA Eutelsat; 21 submarine cables
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Ferries
Ferries connect Italy with Greece, Turkey, Tunisia, Malta, Albania, Egypt and Spain. Ferries service Sicily from Naples, while Sardinia is reached from Genoa, Livorno and Naples.
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Terrain
Italy´s terrain is mostly rugged and mountainous. There are some plains, coastal lowlands as well. Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m Highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) 4,807 m
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Highways
Highways total: 654,676 km paved: 654,676 km (including 6,957 km of expressways) unpaved: 0 km (1998 est.)
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Shops and Services
The hours for shops and services vary from region to region. In general, the hours are from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with a lunch break from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Monday - Saturday). Banks are generally open from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Monday - Friday) and from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Monday - Thursday). Government offices are generally open to the public in the morning from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Monday - Saturday).
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Major Regional Holidays
Major Regional Holidays
April 25, Venice, San Marco June 24, Florence, Genoa & Turin, San Giovanni Battista June 29, Rome, San Pietro July 2 & August 16, Siena, Palio di Siena July 10 to 15, Palermo, Santa Rosalia September 19, Naples, San Gennaro October 4, Bologna, San Petronio October 30, Cagliari San Saturnino December 6, Bari, San Nicola December 7, Milan, Sant'Ambrogio
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Land boundaries and Coastline
Land boundaries Total: 1,932.2 km Border countries: Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 232 km, Switzerland 740 km
Coastline Italy´s coastline is 7,600 km long.
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Labor force
Italy´s labour force numbers 23.193 million By occupation: services 61%, industry 32%, agriculture 7% (1996)
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Industries
The main industries of Italy are tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, and ceramics.
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