Geography of Italy

Total Area: 301,230 sq km

Land Area: 294,020 sq km

Boundaries: 1,899.2 km (1,180 mi); Austria 430 km (267 mi), France 488 km (303 mi),
San Marino 39 km (24 mi), Slovenia 199 km (124 mi), Switzerland 740 km (460 mi),
Vatican City 3.2 km (2 mi)

Coastline: 4,996 km (3,105 mi)

Terrain: Mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands

Climate: Predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south

Natural Resources: Mercury, potash, marble, sulfur, dwindling natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, coal

Maritime Claims: Continental shelf: 200m (depth) or to depth of exploitation; Territorial sea: 12 nm

Land Use: Arable land 32%; permanent crops 10%; meadows and pastures 17%; forest and woodland 22%; other 19%; includes irrigated 10%

People of Italy

Population 1993: 57,837,000

Population Density: 510 person/sq mi

Urban population: 39,271,323

Urban percentage: 67.9% of total population

Population growth rate: 0.0% annually

Birth rate: 9.70 births per 1,000 children

Death rate: 9.50 per 1,000 population

Life Expectancy 76.5 years

Religious Affiliations: Virtually 100% Roman Catholic

Major Languages: Italian; parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German speaking; small French-speaking minority in Valle d' Aosta region; Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area