17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870)
18 April 1980 (from UK)
Religions
Roman Catholic 90% (approximately; about one-third practicing), other 10% (includes mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community)
syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%
Languages
Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)
English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects
Exports
engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food, beverages and tobacco; minerals, and nonferrous metals
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6689 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Zimbabwean dollars (ZWD) per US dollar - NA (2008 est.), 30,000 (2007), 162.07 (2006), 77.965 (2005), 5.729 (2004) note: these are official exchange rates; non-official rates vary significantly
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.800%
3.800%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
28
4
Location
Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia
Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia
Area
301,340 km sq
390,757 km sq
Coastline
7,600 km
0 km
Climate
predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south
tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)
