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Austria vs Czechia
Australia vs Italy
Side-by-side comparison of Australia and Italy from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Australia
East Asia & Pacific · nation age 125 years
Italy
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,550 years
In short
Australia scores 77.1 in the NationsTree Index (10th in the world) and Italy scores 75.8 (19th), a gap of 1.2 points. Their trees are 30 m and 41 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Italy has 2.1 times the population of Australia. Australia is 26 times larger than Italy by land area. The economy of Italy is 86% larger than that of Australia (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Australia 27.6 million and Italy 58.9 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $71,934 in Australia and $62,803 in Italy (2025, international dollars). People in Italy live on average 0.9 years longer (84.0 vs 83.1 years).
Of 33 indicators reported by both countries, Australia ranks higher in the world on 25 and Italy on 8. Australia is clearly stronger in natural resources, institutions & safety and society & health. Italy is clearly stronger in main industries, tourism and military.
As a nation, Italy is the older of the two (statehood since 476, 1,550 years), compared with Australia (since 1901). Over the last five years Italy improved faster (direction score 76 vs 34 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Australia and Italy.
Australiabetter
51.9%
88th of 189
Italy
137.1%
182nd of 189
Secondary enrolmentSociety & health
Australiabetter
131.9%
8th of 173
Italy
100.7%
60th of 173
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Australiabetter
6.4
20th of 200
Italy
14.3
78th of 200
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Australiabetter
18,909
32nd of 183
Italy
3,093
82nd of 183
UnemploymentEconomy
Australiabetter
4.1%
69th of 187
Italy
6.4%
117th of 187
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Italy overtook Australia in life expectancy in 2023 and has stayed ahead since.
Australia overtook Italy in GDP per person (PPP) in 2002 and has stayed ahead since.
Australia overtook Italy in the NationsTree Index in 2000 and has stayed ahead since.
Italy has been ahead of Australia in GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
AustraliaItaly All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Australia | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 7,741,2206th/216 · 2024 | 302,07072nd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 7,688,2876th/216 · 2024 | 295,72073rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 27.6 m55th/217 · 2025 | 58.9 m25th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.53%69th/217 · 2025 | -0.06%174th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 3.5214th/216 · 2024 | 199.467th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 87.7%41st/217 · 2025 | 69.7%92nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 17.7%144th/217 · 2025 | 11.7%212th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 18.1%48th/217 · 2025 | 25.1%4th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $1.80 trn15th/210 · 2025 | $2.55 trn9th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $1.99 trn20th/199 · 2025 | $3.70 trn12th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $1.66 trn21st/199 · 2025 | $3.16 trn12th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $65,13019th/210 · 2025 | $43,30937th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $71,93428th/199 · 2025 | $62,80336th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $64,12016th/201 · 2025 | $42,08031st/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 1.4%163rd/210 · 2025 | 0.5%187th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.9%85th/180 · 2025 | 1.5%50th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 4.1%69th/187 · 2025 | 6.4%117th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 57.9%29th/55 · 2022 | 77.3%1992 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 51.9%88th/189 · 2025 | 137.1%182nd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -2.9%102nd/192 · 2025 | -3.1%110th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 2.3%144th/197 · 2025 | 2.1%145th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 23.9%100th/200 · 2025 | 22.6%108th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 5.3%149th/192 · 2025 | 15.0%42nd/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 67.5%44th/200 · 2025 | 64.5%57th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $418.06 bn23rd/182 · 2025 | $822.29 bn13th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $407.49 bn22nd/182 · 2025 | $773.02 bn11th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 23.2%130th/183 · 2025 | 32.2%102nd/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 22.7%159th/183 · 2025 | 30.3%132nd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 45.9%153rd/183 · 2025 | 62.5%123rd/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 26.9%31st/170 · 2025 | 2.6%91st/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 9.8%134th/171 · 2025 | 78.5%22nd/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 13.7%95th/171 · 2025 | 11.3%111th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 34.6%12th/171 · 2025 | 2.4%98th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 25.2%22nd/168 · 2024 | 11.9%56th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -2.6%107th/191 · 2025 | 1.1%67th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.1%97th/196 · 2025 | 0.0%175th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 13.4%37th/209 · 2021 | 0.1%156th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.26%69th/197 · 2021 | 0.08%79th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 1.72%25th/197 · 2021 | 0.03%72nd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.79%8th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 10.47%11th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.12%108th/209 · 2021 | 0.01%154th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 4.1%145th/206 · 2024 | 23.5%43rd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 18,90932nd/183 · 2022 | 3,09382nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.8 m74th/194 · 2020 | 38.4 m6th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $26.23 bn5th/175 · 2020 | $20.46 bn7th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 8.7%65th/168 · 2020 | 3.7%95th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 2.8 m42nd/107 · 2020 | 21.4 m10th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 83.122nd/217 · 2024 | 84.011th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 3.625th/196 · 2024 | 2.714th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 4.0929th/174 · 2022 | 4.1926th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 3.82016 | 3.156th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 93%81st/193 · 2024 | 94%66th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 93.2%37th/153 · 2024 | 84.4%64th/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 131.9%8th/173 · 2024 | 100.7%60th/173 · 2023 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 28.2%48th/217 · 2025 | 39.7%5th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 10.4%25th/193 · 2023 | 8.4%53rd/193 · 2024 |
| Adult literacy % | — | 99.3%2019 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 108.4%8th/150 · 2024 | 75.9%40th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.9587th/193 · 2023 | 0.91529th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 33.82020 | 34.356th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.9%2020 | 0.9%48th/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 96.8%43rd/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 95.8%22nd/144 · 2024 | 78.2%53rd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 96.1%19th/186 · 2024 | 89.2%63rd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 113113th/210 · 2024 | 13352nd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 36.537th/208 · 2024 | 31.853rd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.109th/164 · 2022 | 3.8019th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | — | 17,30512th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 69.0 m17th/161 · 2023 | 20.3 m34th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 14.10192nd/203 · 2024 | 5.08152nd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 12.3%130th/212 · 2021 | 17.5%116th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 6.420th/200 · 2023 | 14.378th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 17.4%138th/214 · 2024 | 31.8%109th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 5,00016th/149 · 2024 | 2,24852nd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 88.211th/205 · 2025 | 71.342nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 85.110th/207 · 2025 | 59.860th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 82.720th/207 · 2025 | 68.359th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 79.360th/207 · 2025 | 73.682nd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 84.25th/205 · 2025 | 65.852nd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 83.715th/205 · 2025 | 77.634th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.934th/145 · 2023 | 0.615th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $35.33 bn17th/156 · 2025 | $48.14 bn12th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.9%68th/156 · 2025 | 1.9%71st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.9%82nd/154 · 2025 | 3.7%116th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 60,00064th/170 · 2020 | 338,00020th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.44%122nd/168 · 2020 | 1.35%46th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 826.0 m11th/163 · 2025 | 566.0 m18th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 108.0 m26th/65 · 2025 | 1.9 bn6th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.86%19th/110 · 2021 | 1.38%34th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 2,54218th/137 · 2024 | 9,12011th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 54,58915th/197 · 2023 | 82,7718th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Australia or Italy?
Italy has the larger population: 58.9 m (2025) compared with 27.6 m for Australia (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Australia or Italy?
Australia is larger: 7,741,220 km² (2024) compared with 302,070 km² for Italy (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Australia or Italy?
Italy has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $3.70 trn intl. (2025) compared with $1.99 trn intl. for Australia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Australia or Italy?
Australia has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $71,934 intl. (2025) compared with $62,803 intl. for Italy (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Australia or Italy?
Italy has the higher life expectancy at birth: 84.0 years (2024) compared with 83.1 years for Australia (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Australia or Italy?
Italy spends more on the military: $48.14 bn (2025) compared with $35.33 bn for Australia (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Australia or Italy?
Australia: 77.1 points (10th in the world); Italy: 75.8 points (19th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Argentina
Canada
Indonesia
Malaysia
Mexico
New Zealand
PhilippinesSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Australia vs Italy — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/australia-vs-italy. Data as of 26 October 2026.