Updated
Overview
Italy has 5.8 times the population of Israel: 58.92 million people against 10.12 million (2025).
Italy's economy is 4.2 times the size of Israel's, at $2.55T versus $610.78B.
Per person, Israel is the wealthier of the two: $60,337 against $43,309 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Italy | Israel | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.55T | $610.78B | 2025 | $2.37T / $540.38B |
| GDP per capita | $43,309 | Higher: $60,337 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.5% | Higher: 2.9% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.5% | 3.0% | 2025 | 1.0% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 6.4% | Lower: 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 69 | 101 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $3,994 | $3,383 | 2025 / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | — | $1,589 | — / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $7.67 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 58.92 million | 10.12 million | 2025 | 60.92 million / 9.40 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 1.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 48.2 yrs | 29.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.21 | 2.75 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 70% | 92% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 89% | 88% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 301,336 km² | 20,770 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 195.5/km² | 487.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 302 Mt | Lower: 53 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 5.1 t | 5.6 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $37.96B | $46.51B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.6% | 8.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 338,000 | 178,000 | 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
Israel is growing faster: 2.9% annual GDP growth versus 0.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.5% in Italy and 3.0% in Israel.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Italy: a price level of 69 versus 101 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Italy: $3,994 against $3,383 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Israel is the far younger society: median age 29.2 versus 48.2 years.
Israel is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 70%.
Geography
By land area, Italy is 15 times the size of Israel: 301,336 km² versus 20,770 km².
Israel is far more densely settled: 487 people per km² against 196.
Military
Israel spends 22% more on defence than Italy: $46.51B versus $37.96B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Israel carries the heavier military burden: 8.8% of GDP versus 1.6%.
Italy fields the larger armed forces: 338,000 personnel against 178,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Italy bigger than Israel?
- Italy is larger by land area. Italy covers 301,336 km² while Israel covers 20,770 km², so Italy is 15 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Italy or Israel?
- Italy has the larger population: 58.92 million versus 10.12 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Italy richer than Israel?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Israel is richer: $60,337 against $43,309. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.55T for Italy versus $610.78B for Israel.
- Who spends more on their military, Italy or Israel?
- Israel spends more: $46.51B versus $37.96B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).