Italy Facts

Interesting Facts for Kids

Italy facts: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Venice carnival, Rome colosseum

Here are some interesting Italy Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

italy outline in national colours
  • Population: About 61 million people live in Italy (2023)
  • Capital: Roma (Rome) with 4.3 million inhabitants
  • Name: Repubblica Italiana (Italian Republic) or simply: Italia, Nickname: ‘Bel Paese‘ which means beautiful country
  • Government: Democracy, Republic
  • Language: Italian. Official minority languages are German, French and Ladin in some regions in Northern Italy
  • Literacy: More than 98% can read and write
  • Religion: mainly Christians (80%, of theses most are Roman Catholics)
  • Currency: 1 Euro = 100 cents, before 2001: Italian Lira
  • History: Rome was founded in 753 BC by the twins Romulus and Remus. The Roman Empire was founded in 27 BC and Augustus Caesar proclaimed himself emperor of Rome in 31 BC. After the Roman Empire broke down in 395 AD, there were many separate kingdoms and city states. Italy became one nation only in 1861. Since then the country also includes the islands of Sicily and Sardegna. The ‘Kingdom of Italy’ lasted from 1861 until 1946. During the Second World War, Italy’s Prime Minister Benito Mussolini sided with the German Nazi regime. The Italian Republic was formed in 1946.
  • Prime Minister: Giorgia Meloni (since 2022)
  • National Day: 2 June (Festa della Repubblica)
  • National Symbols: Italian grey wolf (national animal), red rose or white lily (national flowers) and the white five-pointed star with a thin red border line
  • Flag: ‘Tricolore’ with green, white and red coloured vertical bands. The flag colours are said to represent these virtues: hope (green), faith (white), and charity (red)