The Human Truth Foundation

Italy (Italian Republic)

http://www.humantruth.info/italy.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#italy

Italy
Italian Republic
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index22nd best
CapitalRome
Land Area 294 140km21
LocationEurope, The Mediterranean
Population60.6m2
Life Expectancy82.85yrs (2017)3
GNI$42 840 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesIT, ITA, 3805
Internet Domain.it6
CurrencyEuro (EUR)7
Telephone+398

1. Overview

#germany

Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy is a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include sluggish economic growth, high youth and female unemployment, organized crime, corruption, and economic disparities between southern Italy and the more prosperous north.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverItaly is the ultimate dream date: impossibly good-looking, impeccably cultured and obscenely good in the kitchen. Endlessly inspiring and naturally flirtatious, it will leave you swooning. Italians really do know how to live well. Ever since the Etruscans came, liked what they saw and decided to stay and party, the locals have embraced the finer things in life. Here, family, faith, friendship, food and wine reign supreme, contributing to the famous Italian dolce vita (sweet life).

Travellers have been falling under Italy´s spell ever since the days of the 18th-century Grand Tour, enticed by its sun-kissed landscape, delectable cuisine and extraordinary art. This is the home of gently rolling Tuscan hills and postcard-perfect coastlines; the place where simple dishes such as pizza and pasta attain culinary perfection. It´s where Michelangelo shocked the establishment with his humanist sculptures and Caravaggio shocked everyone else with his criminal highjinks and darkly atmospheric paintings.

So make like Julius Caesar. Come and see - you´re sure to be conquered. If you get it right, travelling in the bel paese (beautiful country) is one of those rare experiences than cannot be overrated.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Italy National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
4Hong Kong0.952
5Australia0.951
...
27Spain0.905
28France0.903
29Cyprus0.896
30Italy0.895
31Estonia0.890
32Czechia0.889
Europe Avg0.87
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
4Luxembourg$84 649
5Ireland$76 169
...
27UK$45 225
28S. Korea$44 501
29New Zealand$44 057
30Italy$42 840
31Japan$42 274
32Israel$41 524
Europe Avg$40 512
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12,13
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12,13
1Taiwan28.6
2Norway29.4
3Denmark31.2
4Sweden32.2
5Finland32.6
...
19France43.0
20Ireland43.2
21S. Korea44.0
22Italy45.5
23Slovenia46.8
24Czechia48.5
Europe Avg57.3
World Avg86.1
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Italy's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Italy's population is predicted to rise to 60.85 million by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.47. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population (2018)2
Pos.
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
4Indonesia267.7m
5Pakistan212.2m
...
20Thailand69.4m
21UK67.1m
22France65.0m
23Italy60.6m
24S. Africa57.8m
25Tanzania56.3m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
9Norway83.2
10Spain83.0
11Sweden83.0
12Italy82.9
13Singapore82.8
14Iceland82.7
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
86Nicaragua2.52
87Belarus1.47
88Slovenia1.47
89Italy1.47
90Cyprus1.46
91Moldova1.46
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (2016)15
Pos.Lower is better
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3Chad04.7
4Burkina Faso04.7
5Sierra Leone04.8
...
180Finland43.3
181Hong Kong43.7
182Portugal44.7
183Germany47.7
184Italy48.6
185Japan53.1
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)16
Pos.
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
4Liechtenstein65.1%
5Monaco54.9%
...
56Belgium11.1%
57Greece10.9%
58Malta10.6%
59Italy10.0%
60Gambia9.8%
61Dominica9.2%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants (2010)17
Pos.
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
4Grenada65.5%
5St Kitts & Nevis61.1%
...
96Guatemala6.1%
97Brunei6.0%
98Netherlands6.0%
99Italy5.8%
100Benin5.8%
101Laos5.7%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #Italy #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)18,19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18,19
1Sweden9.2
2Norway14.7
3Denmark14.7
4Netherlands15.8
5New Zealand17.5
...
19Spain28.3
20Slovenia33.3
21Costa Rica36.7
22Italy37.3
23Czechia37.9
24Ireland38.5
Europe Avg50.3
World Avg87.7
q=199.

Italy performs very well in ensuring human rights and freedom compared to most other countries. Italy comes in the best 20 when it comes to commentary in Human Rights Watch reports20, its nominal commitment to Human Rights21, opposing gender inequality22 and in the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)23. It does better than average for its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice24, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms25, speed of uptake of HR treaties26, LGBT equality27 and in supporting press freedom28 (but bad for Europe). Italy doesn't do so well in other areas. Italy does worse than average in freethought29. In 2017, "parliament adopted a law finally making torture a crime, but with a definition and statute of limitations that do not meet international standards"30. The United Nations made specific recommendations in 2017 that Italy creates "stronger measures against gender-based violence [and stronger] anti-trafficking mechanisms"30.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Italy's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #Italy #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Europe (2020)31,32
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31,32
1Monaco13.0
2Norway61.0
3Finland65.3
4Switzerland65.6
5Italy67.5
6Spain69.6
7Portugal72.3
8Luxembourg72.9
9Denmark74.3
10Germany74.4
11Austria74.5
12Sweden75.6
13Iceland76.9
Europe Avg82.5
q=46.
Health (2020)31,32
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31,32
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
4Singapore42.6
5Japan51.0
...
18Switzerland65.6
19Bangladesh66.8
20Kuwait67.1
21Italy67.5
22Uzbekistan68.4
23Saudi Arabia69.3
24Spain69.6
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives31. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau31.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean31, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa31.

For more, see:

Health:

Italy does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Italy comes in the best 20 in its average life expectancy11, its adolescent birth rate22 and in its fertility rate14. It does better than average for its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance33, its suicide rate34 and in its immunizations take-up35. Italy does not succeed in everything, however. Italy does worse than average in terms of its alcohol consumption rate36 (still low for Europe) and in its smoking rate37. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years.

Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
9Norway83.2
10Spain83.0
11Sweden83.0
12Italy82.9
13Singapore82.8
14Iceland82.7
Europe Avg78.36
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption (2016)36
Pos.Lower is better
Per Capita36
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
4Mauritania0.0
5Somalia0.0
...
109Mongolia7.4
110Albania7.5
111Burundi7.5
112Italy7.5
113Norway7.5
114Kazakhstan7.7
Europe Avg10.3
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
86Nicaragua2.52
87Belarus1.47
88Slovenia1.47
89Italy1.47
90Cyprus1.46
91Moldova1.46
Europe Avg1.61
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates (2014)37
Pos.Higher is worse37
182Montenegro4 125
181Belarus3 831
180Lebanon3 023
179Macedonia2 732
178Russia2 690
...
152Kuwait1 517
151Bulgaria1 505
150Germany1 480
149Italy1 443
148Poland1 396
147Netherlands1 396
Europe Avg1 648
World Avg 819
q=182.
Suicide Rate (2013)34
Pos.
Per 100k34
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
4Jordan0.2
5Maldives0.7
...
33Panama10.9
34Nicaragua11.6
35Costa Rica12.1
36Italy12.8
37Macedonia13.5
38Mauritius13.7
Europe Avg26.99
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance (2017)33
Pos.Lower is better
Rank33
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
4UK4
5Norway5
...
21Japan21
22Spain22
23France23
24Italy24
25Qatar25
26Oman26
Europe Avg47.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults (2016)38
Pos.Lower is better
%38
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
4Ethiopia20.9
5Nepal21.0
...
124Poland58.3
125Ukraine58.4
126Cuba58.5
127Italy58.5
128Luxembourg58.7
129Panama58.8
Europe Avg58.5
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate (2015)22
Pos.Lower is better
Per 100022
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
4Hong Kong3.2
5Slovenia3.8
...
11Sweden5.7
12Norway5.9
13Luxembourg5.9
14Italy6.0
15Iceland6.1
16Libya6.2
Europe Avg14.6
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)35
Pos.Higher is better
Avg %35
1Hungary99.0
2China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
4Niue98.8
5Mongolia98.7
...
83Lithuania93.9
84Estonia93.9
85N. Korea93.8
86Italy93.8
87Austria93.8
88Argentina93.7
Europe Avg92.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Italy's Modernity and Learning

#education #english #intelligence #it_security #maths #modernity #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Europe (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Finland8.4
2Switzerland15.1
3Estonia15.8
4Denmark16.0
5Belgium16.1
...
21Poland34.6
22Lithuania35.0
23Spain37.1
24Italy38.5
25Slovakia39.5
26Portugal40.1
27Greece40.9
Europe Avg41.2
q=49.
Modernity and Learning (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
4Estonia15.8
5Denmark16.0
...
31Poland34.6
32Lithuania35.0
33Spain37.1
34Italy38.5
35Slovakia39.5
36Portugal40.1
37Russia40.6
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research and Development (2016)
Pos.Higher is better
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2939
2Israel4.1139
3Japan3.5839
4Finland3.1739
5Sweden3.1639
...
23Ireland1.5239
24Estonia1.4339
25Hungary1.3739
26Italy1.2939
27Portugal1.2839
28Luxembourg1.2639
Europe Avg1.32
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education (2018)40
Pos.Higher is better40
1Luxembourg100.0%
2Estonia100.0%
3Austria100.0%
4Canada100.0%
5Finland100.0%
...
58Malaysia80.8%
59Cyprus80.3%
60Singapore79.6%
61Italy79.6%
62Hong Kong79.4%
63Chile79.3%
Europe Avg88.3%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling (2021)41
Pos.Higher is better
Years41
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
4Belgium19.6
5Sweden19.4
...
29Bahrain16.3
30Lithuania16.3
31USA16.3
32Italy16.2
33Czechia16.2
34Latvia16.2
Europe Avg16.1
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours (2017)33
Pos.Lower is better
Rank33
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
4Denmark4
5UK5
...
38USA38
39Portugal39
40Spain40
41Italy41
42Slovakia42
43Marshall Islands43
Europe Avg31.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Maths, Science & Reading (2015)42
Pos.Higher is better
Score42
1Singapore1655
2Hong Kong1598
3Japan1586
4Macau1582
5Estonia1573
...
30Czechia1472
31USA1463
32Latvia1460
33Italy1456
34Luxembourg1450
35Iceland1443
Europe Avg1417
World Avg1389
q=70.
Religiosity (2018)43
Pos.Lower is better
%43
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4Switzerland9
5Denmark9
...
22Bulgaria19
23Norway19
24Netherlands20
25Italy21
26Belarus21
27Ireland22
Europe Avg25.8
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ (2006)44
Pos.Higher is better44
1Hong Kong108
2Singapore108
3S. Korea106
4Japan105
5Taiwan105
6China105
7Italy102
8Iceland101
9Switzerland101
10Mongolia101
11Netherlands100
12Norway100
Europe Avg96.6
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users (2016)45
Pos.Higher is better45
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
4Bermuda97%
5Andorra97%
...
64Brazil66%
65St Kitts & Nevis66%
66Dominica66%
67Italy66%
68Uruguay65%
69Antigua & Barbuda65%
Europe Avg76.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
Freedom On The Internet (2012)46
Pos.Lower is better46
1Estonia10
2USA12
3Germany15
4Australia18
5Hungary19
6Philippines23
7Italy23
8UK25
9S. Africa26
10Argentina26
11Ukraine27
12Brazil27
Europe Avg31.4
World Avg46.7
q=47.
IT Security (2013)47
Pos.Lower is better47
1Ireland0.11
2Luxembourg0.11
3Belize0.11
4Hong Kong0.12
5Mexico0.16
...
47British Virgin Islands1.08
48Mali1.12
49France1.13
50Italy1.15
51Vietnam1.15
52Nigeria1.18
Europe Avg0.80
World Avg0.98
q=81.
IPv6 Uptake (2017)48
Pos.Higher is better
Ratio48
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
4USA35.0
5Greece33.5
...
41Sri Lanka2.9
42Latvia2.2
43Israel1.8
44Italy1.7
45Argentina1.4
46Faroe Islands1.4
Europe Avg8.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

7. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

On the Corruption Index, Italy scored on average 43.8 over the 2012-2016 period. Over the 10 years since then, it improved by 12.2 points.

World Giving Index (2013-2021)49
Pos.Lower is better49
1Myanmar (Burma)2.7
2New Zealand4.0
3USA4.7
4Australia4.9
5Indonesia9.0
...
83Mauritius70.8
84S. Korea71.8
85Guinea71.8
86Italy73.9
87Botswana74.2
88Namibia75.0
Europe Avg75.2
World Avg67.9
q=160.
Corruption (2022)50
Pos.Higher is better
Points50
1Denmark90.0
2Finland87.0
3New Zealand87.0
4Norway84.0
5Singapore83.0
...
40Qatar58.0
41Czechia56.0
42Georgia56.0
43Italy56.0
44Slovenia56.0
45Dominica55.0
Europe Avg57.61
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Happiness (2018)51
Pos.Higher is better51
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
4Iceland7.5
5Switzerland7.5
...
44Uzbekistan6.1
45Kuwait6.1
46Thailand6.1
47Italy6.0
48Ecuador6.0
49Belize6.0
Europe Avg6.06
World Avg5.38
q=156.
Creativity and Culture (2017)33
Pos.Lower is better
Rank33
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
4Switzerland4
5Sweden5
...
23Lithuania23
24St Lucia24
25Canada25
26Italy26
27Mauritius27
28Malta28
Europe Avg35.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid and Development (2017)33
Pos.Lower is better
Rank33
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
4Netherlands4
5Switzerland5
...
33Mongolia33
34Spain34
35UK35
36Italy36
37Estonia37
38Cyprus38
Europe Avg42.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.

8. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index (2021)52
Pos.Lower is better52
1Iceland1.10
2New Zealand1.25
3Denmark1.26
4Portugal1.27
5Slovenia1.32
...
29Qatar1.61
30Estonia1.61
31Spain1.62
32Italy1.65
33UK1.66
34Taiwan1.66
Europe Avg1.69
World Avg2.08
q=163.
Peacekeeping and Security (2017)33
Pos.Lower is better
Rank33
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
4Egypt4
5Nigeria5
...
52Finland52
53France53
54Australia54
55Italy55
56Mauritius56
57Zambia57
Europe Avg84.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees and UN Treaties (2017)33
Pos.Lower is better
Rank33
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
4Sweden4
5Malta5
...
11Canada11
12UK12
13Belgium13
14Italy14
15Spain15
16France16
Europe Avg37.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism (2019)53
Pos.Lower is better
Score53
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
4Equatorial Guinea0.00
5Cambodia0.00
...
85Rwanda2.95
86Nicaragua2.95
87Jordan3.09
88Italy3.11
89Paraguay3.12
90Bahrain3.20
Europe Avg1.62
World Avg2.78
q=150.

9. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 (2015)54
Pos.Higher is better
%54
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
4Kuwait+81.2
5Dominican Rep.+79.5
...
24Greece+22.9
25Philippines+22.7
26Lesotho+22.5
27Italy+22.5
28Turkey+21.8
29Iran+17.8
Europe Avg+15.0
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance (2018)55
Pos.Higher is better55
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
4Malta80.9
5Sweden80.5
...
13Germany78.4
14Norway77.5
15Belgium77.4
16Italy77.0
17New Zealand76.0
18Netherlands75.5
Europe Avg69.6
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency (2014)56
Pos.Higher is better56
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
4Colombia17.54
5Ireland17.54
...
16Philippines13.51
17Luxembourg13.33
18Bangladesh13.16
19Italy13.16
20Cyprus12.99
21Morocco12.66
Europe Avg09.80
World Avg09.29
q=119.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Pos.Earlier is better
Signed
1China1993 Dec 29
2Guinea1993 Dec 29
3Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
4Vanuatu1993 Dec 29
5Papua New Guinea1993 Dec 29
...
53Sri Lanka1994 Jun 21
54Ethiopia1994 Jul 04
55Dominica1994 Jul 05
56Italy1994 Jul 14
57Bangladesh1994 Aug 01
58Luxembourg1994 Aug 07
Europe Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment (2011)57
Pos.Higher is better
%57
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
4Trinidad & Tobago74.5%
5Costa Rica74.2%
...
39Burkina Faso50.5%
40Dominican Rep.50.2%
41Thailand49.9%
42Italy49.6%
43Vietnam49.1%
44Honduras48.1%
Europe Avg33.6%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy (2019)58
Pos.Higher is worse58
184Chad40.90
183Central African Rep.40.10
182Sierra Leone39.00
181Somalia38.90
180Nigeria37.10
...
16Ireland3.40
15Luxembourg3.40
14Israel3.30
13Italy3.10
12Netherlands3.10
11Spain3.00
Europe Avg4.86
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) (2017)59
Pos.Lower is better
%59
1Ukraine25.0
2Belarus25.4
3Slovenia25.4
4Czechia25.9
5Moldova25.9
...
58Burkina Faso35.3
59Liberia35.3
60Sudan35.4
61Italy35.4
62Portugal35.5
63Macedonia35.6
Europe Avg31.5
World Avg38.1
q=152.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#afterlife #belief #buddhism #christianity #god #heaven #hell #hinduism #islam #italy #judaism #religion #religion_in_italy #religiosity #secularisation #universalism

Religiosity (2018)43
Pos.Lower is better
%43
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4Switzerland9
5Denmark9
...
22Bulgaria19
23Norway19
24Netherlands20
25Italy21
26Belarus21
27Ireland22
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)60
Pos.Higher is better
%60
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
4Czechia61
5Estonia49
...
46Kyrgyzstan7
47Cambodia7
48Moldova6
49Italy6
50Laos5
51Ireland5
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below61:

Christian83.3%
Muslim3.7%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.2%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jew0.1%
Unaffiliated12.4%

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 87.5% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 21% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Christian 80% (overwhelming Roman Catholic with very small groups of Jehova Witnesses and Protestants), Muslims NEGL (about 700,000 but growing), Atheists and Agnostics 20%62.

The Afterlife: Ipsos-NA in 2011 gathered some statistics on Italy63. Despite the large numbers of Christians, not many have traditional beliefs in the afterlife - just 21%. More people don't know what to believe (25%). Some believe that upon death, you simply cease to exist (24%). Also, 2% specifically believe in heaven but not in hell (which is nice - making them possible "universalists"). 4% believe in reincarnation.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: Italian law has a definite bias towards Catholic Christianity64. Although the constitution protects freedom of religion and belief, blasphemy laws are specifically used to the favour of Christians, and the education system is somewhat biased - all classrooms in state schools must display crucifixes, for example64, which can only ever entrench prejudice and discrimination at the social level.

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