Capital of Italy: Rome — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Italy is Rome. Italy sits in Europe, has a population of 59,037,474, and uses the EUR. Official languages include Italian.
Quick facts
- Capital: Rome
- Continent: Europe
- Population: ~59,037,474
- Area: 301,340 km²
- Population density: 196 people per km²
- Official language: Italian
- Currency: EUR
- ISO code: IT
How big is Italy?
By population, Italy ranks 25th in the world, holding roughly 0.74% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 71st.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Italy has 196 people per square kilometre, which is about 3.3 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Europe, Italy is the 5th most populous country of 46.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Italy in population are South Africa (59,893,885) and Myanmar (54,179,306).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Philippines (300,000 km²) and Oman (309,500 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Italian is spoken officially in 4 countries in this dataset, including San Marino, Switzerland and Vatican City.
The EUR is not unique to Italy — it is also used by Andorra, Austria, Belgium and Croatia, and 21 others. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
How to remember Italy
Rome is in the central-western part of the peninsula, along the River Tiber. Vatican City is an enclave inside it, so Rome holds a whole other country. For the flag, think of an Italian pizza: green basil, white mozzarella, red tomato.
The flag of Italy: green, white and red
🇮🇹 The flag is three vertical stripes of green, white and red, with green next to the flagpole. The colours combine the red and white of Milan with the green of the uniforms of the Milanese civic guard. The design was inspired by the French flag that Napoleon brought to Italy in 1797.
Region and neighbours
Italy is a country in Southern Europe, mostly a peninsula reaching into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern border and nearly 800 islands, including Sicily and Sardinia. It shares land borders with 6 countries: France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, San Marino and Vatican City. San Marino and Vatican City are enclaves surrounded completely by Italy.
- France 🇫🇷 — capital Paris
- Switzerland 🇨🇭 — capital Bern
- Austria 🇦🇹 — capital Vienna
- Slovenia 🇸🇮 — capital Ljubljana
- San Marino 🇸🇲 — capital San Marino
- Vatican City 🇻🇦 — capital Vatican City
Three facts about Italy
- Italy has the most World Heritage Sites of any country: 62.
- Mount Etna in Sicily is the largest active volcano in Europe.
- Venice and Florence are among the world's top 100 tourist destinations.
Sources: Wikipedia: Italy, Wikipedia: Flag of Italy, Wikipedia: Rome, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Italy
- European capitals quiz — match Italy to Rome
- European flags quiz — spot the Italy flag among its neighbours
Italy capital quiz
What is the capital of Italy 🇮🇹?
- Rome
- Sofia
- Ljubljana
- San Marino
Show answer
Rome
What is the capital of France 🇫🇷?
- Monaco
- Paris
- Luxembourg
- Sofia
Show answer
Paris
What is the capital of United Kingdom 🇬🇧?
- London
- Vaduz
- Prague
- Podgorica
Show answer
London
What is the capital of Spain 🇪🇸?
- Brussels
- Berlin
- Tallinn
- Madrid
Show answer
Madrid
What is the capital of Germany 🇩🇪?
- Oslo
- Belgrade
- Sarajevo
- Berlin
Show answer
Berlin
Italy in Europe
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Russia, Germany, United Kingdom and France.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Europe is the block Italy belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Italy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Italy?
The capital of Italy is Rome.
What is the population of Italy?
About 59,037,474, making it the 25th most populous country in the world.
How big is Italy?
301,340 square kilometres, ranking 71st by land area, at a density of 196 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Italy use?
The EUR, shared with 25 other countries.
What are the colours of the Italy flag?
The flag of Italy is three vertical stripes of green, white and red, with green next to the flagpole. The colours combine the red and white of Milan with the green of the uniforms of the Milanese civic guard. The design was inspired by the French flag that Napoleon brought to Italy in 1797.
Which countries border Italy?
Italy shares land borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, San Marino and Vatican City. San Marino and Vatican City are enclaves surrounded completely by Italy.
How can I remember the capital of Italy?
Rome is in the central-western part of the peninsula, along the River Tiber. Vatican City is an enclave inside it, so Rome holds a whole other country. For the flag, think of an Italian pizza: green basil, white mozzarella, red tomato.
More capitals to learn
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