Italy
300,338 km² · 71st largest of 193
Land borders
Nearest countries
- San Marino · 180 km
- Liechtenstein · 250 km
- Monaco · 320 km
- Switzerland · 320 km
- Slovenia · 330 km
- Austria · 370 km
Size
Facts that mention Italy
How many countries in the world are entirely surrounded by just one other country?
Three
Lesotho sits inside South Africa, and San Marino and the Vatican both sit inside Italy. Every other landlocked country touches at least two neighbours.
Which two countries share the shortest international land border?
Vatican City and Italy
The Vatican's entire perimeter is its border with Italy, roughly 3.4 km. Monaco's border with France is about 6 km, the next shortest.
Which city is split between two countries and shares a single name?
Nicosia, between Cyprus and the north
Nicosia has been divided since 1974. Other split cities such as Frankfurt an der Oder and Slubice sit either side of a river under different names.
When did tomatoes reach Italy?
After 1500
Tomatoes are American in origin and arrived in Europe in the sixteenth century. They were grown as ornamentals for decades before anyone ate them widely.
Which country eats the most rice per person?
Bangladesh
Bangladesh consumes well over 200 kg per person a year, among the highest anywhere. China produces the most in total but eats less per head.
Which country receives the most international tourists?
France
France has led for decades with roughly 90 million arrivals a year, helped by being a transit country for travellers heading elsewhere in Europe.
How many countries are entirely surrounded by a single other country?
Three
Lesotho sits inside South Africa; San Marino and the Vatican both sit inside Italy. There are no others.
Which country's capital is on an island while most of the country is not?
Equatorial Guinea, with Malabo
Malabo sits on Bioko island, about 200 km from the mainland where most Equatoguineans live. A new mainland capital, Ciudad de la Paz, has been under construction for years.
