GeoRealityMatch
Beautiful view of Ponte Sant'Angelo spanning the Tiber River in Rome, Italy under a clear sky.A stunning cityscape of Rome, Italy, captured at sunset, highlighting historic architecture.

Italy

Europe · Southern Europe

High safetyModerate cost of livingVery high development

People live long. Youth unemployment is high for Europe.

Digital NomadOffers a digital nomad visa and home internet at 114 Mbps.ExpatCombines very high development and high safety.
vs Spainvs Portugalvs Greece
Safety

35th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.712lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#35 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.6per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
52.7Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the European median

Median disposable income
€22,062per adult, a year, after tax and transfersModerate
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
20.5New York = 100ExpensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
8.3years of median income to buy a median flatAffordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 29% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 2% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$40K$80K$62,803 PPP$43,309Inflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $33,537 a person, $32,454 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2007, $37,826 a person, $34,108 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2008, $40,829 a person, $35,422 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2009, $37,100 a person, $34,502 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2010, $35,857 a person, $34,974 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2011, $38,432 a person, $36,392 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2012, $34,854 a person, $36,281 at PPP, inflation 3%2013, $35,702 a person, $36,459 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2014, $36,028 a person, $36,666 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2015, $30,640 a person, $37,384 at PPP2016, $31,392 a person, $40,483 at PPP2017, $32,844 a person, $42,142 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2018, $35,062 a person, $43,583 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2019, $33,813 a person, $46,662 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2020, $32,091 a person, $44,436 at PPP, inflation -0.1%2021, $36,853 a person, $49,825 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2022, $35,654 a person, $57,261 at PPP, inflation 8.2%2023, $39,280 a person, $60,350 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2024, $40,430 a person, $62,293 at PPP, inflation 1%2025, $43,309 a person, $62,803 at PPP, inflation 1.5%$0$40K$80KInflation, % a year10%0200620102015202020252006, $33,537 a person, $32,454 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2007, $37,826 a person, $34,108 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2008, $40,829 a person, $35,422 at PPP, inflation 3.3%2009, $37,100 a person, $34,502 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2010, $35,857 a person, $34,974 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2011, $38,432 a person, $36,392 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2012, $34,854 a person, $36,281 at PPP, inflation 3%2013, $35,702 a person, $36,459 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2014, $36,028 a person, $36,666 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2015, $30,640 a person, $37,384 at PPP2016, $31,392 a person, $40,483 at PPP2017, $32,844 a person, $42,142 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2018, $35,062 a person, $43,583 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2019, $33,813 a person, $46,662 at PPP, inflation 0.6%2020, $32,091 a person, $44,436 at PPP, inflation -0.1%2021, $36,853 a person, $49,825 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2022, $35,654 a person, $57,261 at PPP, inflation 8.2%2023, $39,280 a person, $60,350 at PPP, inflation 5.6%2024, $40,430 a person, $62,293 at PPP, inflation 1%2025, $43,309 a person, $62,803 at PPP, inflation 1.5%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
84.0years, at birthVery high
#8 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
82WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100HighWHO · 2023
Air pollution
13.3PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Higher youth unemployment than most of Europe

Youth unemployment
20.6%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceHigh
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
114 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
513EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet114 MbpsVery fast
Mobile93 MbpsModerate

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Visas and moving

Digital nomad visaHard

Minimum income
$2,300 a month
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Yes
Application fee
Varies
  • Tax treatmentLocal rates apply
  • Processing timeAbout 30 days
  • Health insuranceRequired
  • DependantsAllowed
  • Apply onlineIn person or at a consulate
  • Path to residencyYes
  • NationalitiesSome are restricted
Official page
A stunning cityscape of Rome, Italy, captured at sunset, highlighting historic architecture.
How it changed

Italy's Human Development Index

0.915Very high human development

29th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 20th of 44 in Europe.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #28Spain0.918
  2. #29Czechia0.915
  3. #29Italy0.915
  4. #29San Marino0.915
  5. #32Andorra0.913
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.787 in 1990 to 0.915 in 2023.

0.750.850.950.91519902000201020231990: 0.7871991: 0.7921992: 0.8001993: 0.8061994: 0.8161995: 0.8231996: 0.8291997: 0.8361998: 0.8401999: 0.8452000: 0.8492001: 0.8562002: 0.8622003: 0.8662004: 0.8742005: 0.8762006: 0.8812007: 0.8852008: 0.8852009: 0.8842010: 0.8872011: 0.8902012: 0.8872013: 0.8872014: 0.8902015: 0.8892016: 0.8942017: 0.8972018: 0.9022019: 0.9062020: 0.8992021: 0.9082022: 0.9052023: 0.9150.750.850.9519902000201020231990: 0.7871991: 0.7921992: 0.8001993: 0.8061994: 0.8161995: 0.8231996: 0.8291997: 0.8361998: 0.8401999: 0.8452000: 0.8492001: 0.8562002: 0.8622003: 0.8662004: 0.8742005: 0.8762006: 0.8812007: 0.8852008: 0.8852009: 0.8842010: 0.8872011: 0.8902012: 0.8872013: 0.8872014: 0.8902015: 0.8892016: 0.8942017: 0.8972018: 0.9022019: 0.9062020: 0.8992021: 0.9082022: 0.9052023: 0.915

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
84 years2024at birthUp 3.2 years from 80.8 years in 2005
Internet users
89%2024of people onlineUp 51 points from 38% in 2006
Urban population
70%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 2 points from 68% in 2006
Births per woman
1.182024births per womanDown 0.15 from 1.33 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
18%2021of energy usedUp 12 points from 6% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
22024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 2 from 4 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
5.1 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 3.4 t from 8.5 t in 2005
Forest area
33%2023of land under forestUp 4 points from 29% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Unmatched food and history; slower economy and heavy bureaucracy, but daily life is hard to beat. The case for living here is long lives. The case against is high youth unemployment for Europe.

About Italy

Italy is a country that needs little introduction but never disappoints, a place where extraordinary art and architecture in Florence, Rome, and Venice coexist with a way of daily life centred on good food, coffee, and the pleasure of slowing down. Every region has its own dialect, cuisine, and character, from the Alps in the north to the sun-bleached baroque towns of Sicily. Those who can surrender to Italian time, rather than fighting it, will find it one of the most satisfying places on earth.

Practical facts

  • CapitalRome
  • LanguagesItalian
  • Currencyeuro (EUR)
  • Area295,720 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F/L
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Italy's Human Development Index?

Italy's Human Development Index is 0.915 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #29 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Italy safe?

Italy scores 1.71 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #35 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Italy?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Italy at 61.4 (New York = 100); that is #119 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Italy?

Life expectancy at birth in Italy is 84.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #8 of 195 countries.

What is the quality of life in Italy?

Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Italy at 152.9, ranked #39 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.