Updated
Overview
Italy has 2.1 times the population of Australia: 58.92 million people against 27.61 million (2025).
Italy's economy is about 40% larger than Australia's, at $2.55T versus $1.80T.
Per person, Australia is the wealthier of the two: $65,130 against $43,309 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Italy | Australia | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.55T | $1.80T | 2025 | $2.37T / $1.75T |
| GDP per capita | $43,309 | Higher: $65,130 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.5% | Higher: 1.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.5% | 2.9% | 2025 | 1.0% / 3.2% |
| Unemployment | 6.4% | Lower: 4.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 69 | 90 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $3,994 | Higher: $4,436 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | — | $2,655 | — / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $5.95 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 58.92 million | 27.61 million | 2025 | 60.92 million / 27.49 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 48.2 yrs | 38.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.21 | 1.64 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 83.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 70% | 88% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 96% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 301,336 km² | 7,692,024 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 195.5/km² | 3.6/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 302 Mt | 387 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 5.1 t | 14.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $37.96B | $33.82B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.6% | 1.9% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 338,000 | 60,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Australia is growing faster: 1.4% annual GDP growth versus 0.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.5% in Italy and 2.9% in Australia.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Italy: a price level of 69 versus 90 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Australia: $4,436 against $3,994 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Australia is the far younger society: median age 38.3 versus 48.2 years.
Australia is considerably more urbanized: 88% of people live in cities, against 70%.
Geography
By land area, Italy is only about 1/26 the size of Australia: 301,336 km² versus 7,692,024 km².
Italy is far more densely settled: 196 people per km² against 4.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $37.96B (Italy) and $33.82B (Australia).
Italy fields the larger armed forces: 338,000 personnel against 60,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Italy bigger than Australia?
- Australia is larger by land area. Italy covers 301,336 km² while Australia covers 7,692,024 km², so Australia is 26 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Italy or Australia?
- Italy has the larger population: 58.92 million versus 27.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Italy richer than Australia?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Australia is richer: $65,130 against $43,309. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.55T for Italy versus $1.80T for Australia.
- Who spends more on their military, Italy or Australia?
- Italy spends more: $37.96B versus $33.82B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).