Italy is a member of the European Union, the Eurozone, the OECD, the G7 and the G20. Italy is the eighth-largest exporter in the world with $514 billion exported in 2016. The country has a very high level of human development and is ranked sixth in the world for life expectancy. Italy plays a prominent role in regional and global economic, military, cultural and diplomatic affairs.

Italians have greatly influenced and contributed to the arts, sciences, politics, jurisprudence, sports and cuisine of Western civilisation.

Italy has a strong and vibrant economy that is the 8th largest in the world. The country is a member of the European Union and the Eurozone. Italy is also a founding member of the OECD, G7 and G20. The country has a very high level of human development and ranks 6th in the world for life expectancy.

Italy has historically played a very important role in the arts. From its earliest days, the country has been a major center for artistic activity and has produced some of the world’s most famous artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael.

Other famous Italian artists include:

It also has world-class art museums including the Uffizi in Florence and the Vatican Museums in Rome. More recently, Italy has been at the forefront of fashion and design, with brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Versace and Armani being some of the most famous in the world.

In addition to its contributions to the arts and design, Italy has also been very important in the development of science and technology. Italians Galileo Galilei and Enrico Fermi were both pioneer physicists who made significant contributions to the field of science.