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Austria vs Czechia
Germany vs Italy
Side-by-side comparison of Germany and Italy from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Germany
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,183 years
Italy
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,550 years
In short
Germany scores 76.6 in the NationsTree Index (14th in the world) and Italy scores 75.8 (19th), a gap of 0.8 points. Their trees are 53 m and 41 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Germany has 42% more people than Italy. Germany has 18% more land area than Italy. The economy of Germany is 70% larger than that of Italy (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Germany 83.5 million and Italy 58.9 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $75,407 in Germany and $62,803 in Italy (2025, international dollars). People in Italy live on average 3.2 years longer (84.0 vs 80.8 years).
Of 37 indicators reported by both countries, Germany ranks higher in the world on 27 and Italy on 10. Germany is clearly stronger in infrastructure & digital, science & innovation and institutions & safety.
As a nation, Italy is the older of the two (statehood since 476, 1,550 years), compared with Germany (since 843). Over the last five years Italy improved faster (direction score 76 vs 26 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Germany and Italy.
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Germany has been ahead of Italy in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Germany has been ahead of Italy in GDP per person (PPP), GDP (PPP) and population in every year since 1990.
Italy has been ahead of Germany in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
GermanyItaly 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 | Germany | Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 357,68064th/216 · 2024 | 302,07072nd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 349,43064th/216 · 2024 | 295,72073rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 83.5 m19th/217 · 2025 | 58.9 m25th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | -0.03%170th/217 · 2025 | -0.06%174th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 239.058th/216 · 2024 | 199.467th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 82.1%52nd/217 · 2025 | 69.7%92nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 13.9%199th/217 · 2025 | 11.7%212th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 23.7%8th/217 · 2025 | 25.1%4th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $5.05 trn3rd/210 · 2025 | $2.55 trn9th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $6.30 trn6th/199 · 2025 | $3.70 trn12th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $5.25 trn6th/199 · 2025 | $3.16 trn12th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $60,49623rd/210 · 2025 | $43,30937th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $75,40723rd/199 · 2025 | $62,80336th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $60,20020th/201 · 2025 | $42,08031st/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 0.2%192nd/210 · 2025 | 0.5%187th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.2%64th/180 · 2025 | 1.5%50th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.7%63rd/187 · 2025 | 6.4%117th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 20.9%1990 | 77.3%1992 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 62.7%120th/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 | 0.9%173rd/197 · 2025 | 2.1%145th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 25.2%84th/200 · 2025 | 22.6%108th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 17.6%31st/192 · 2025 | 15.0%42nd/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 64.5%58th/200 · 2025 | 64.5%57th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $2.04 trn3rd/182 · 2025 | $822.29 bn13th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $1.92 trn3rd/182 · 2025 | $773.02 bn11th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 40.4%80th/183 · 2025 | 32.2%102nd/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 38.1%108th/183 · 2025 | 30.3%132nd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 78.5%100th/183 · 2025 | 62.5%123rd/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 1.9%101st/170 · 2025 | 2.6%91st/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 83.3%14th/171 · 2025 | 78.5%22nd/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 6.6%132nd/171 · 2025 | 11.3%111th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.9%88th/171 · 2025 | 2.4%98th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 18.0%38th/168 · 2024 | 11.9%56th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 4.5%42nd/191 · 2025 | 1.1%67th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.9%106th/196 · 2025 | 0.0%175th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.1%161st/209 · 2021 | 0.1%156th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.01%101st/197 · 2021 | 0.08%79th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.02%76th/197 · 2021 | 0.03%72nd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.01%48th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.03%136th/209 · 2021 | 0.01%154th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 33.4%22nd/206 · 2024 | 23.5%43rd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,286118th/183 · 2022 | 3,09382nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 12.4 m20th/194 · 2020 | 38.4 m6th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $58.37 bn2nd/175 · 2019 | $20.46 bn7th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 3.5%98th/168 · 2019 | 3.7%95th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 99.5 m1st/107 · 2019 | 21.4 m10th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 80.848th/217 · 2024 | 84.011th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 3.726th/196 · 2024 | 2.714th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 4.5315th/174 · 2022 | 4.1926th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 7.66th/145 · 2023 | 3.156th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 89%110th/193 · 2024 | 94%66th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 94.8%29th/153 · 2023 | 84.4%64th/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 100.2%62nd/173 · 2024 | 100.7%60th/173 · 2023 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 38.0%9th/217 · 2025 | 39.7%5th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 12.3%9th/193 · 2024 | 8.4%53rd/193 · 2024 |
| Adult literacy % | — | 99.3%2019 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 76.7%37th/150 · 2024 | 75.9%40th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.9595th/193 · 2023 | 0.91529th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 33.750th/108 · 2022 | 34.356th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.7%40th/108 · 2022 | 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 | 99.9%14th/150 · 2024 | 96.8%43rd/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 96.8%18th/144 · 2024 | 78.2%53rd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 93.5%38th/186 · 2024 | 89.2%63rd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12961st/210 · 2024 | 13352nd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 45.612th/208 · 2024 | 31.853rd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.303rd/164 · 2022 | 3.8019th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 33,4016th/82 · 2021 | 17,30512th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 80.2 m14th/161 · 2023 | 20.3 m34th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 6.94169th/203 · 2024 | 5.08152nd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 17.6%115th/212 · 2021 | 17.5%116th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 8.838th/200 · 2023 | 14.378th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 32.8%107th/214 · 2024 | 31.8%109th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 2,87439th/149 · 2024 | 2,24852nd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 82.821st/205 · 2025 | 71.342nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 81.913th/207 · 2025 | 59.860th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 85.113th/207 · 2025 | 68.359th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 69.397th/207 · 2025 | 73.682nd/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 76.421st/205 · 2025 | 65.852nd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 86.09th/205 · 2025 | 77.634th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.938th/145 · 2023 | 0.615th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $113.59 bn4th/156 · 2025 | $48.14 bn12th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 2.3%50th/156 · 2025 | 1.9%71st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.5%91st/154 · 2025 | 3.7%116th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 183,00035th/170 · 2020 | 338,00020th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.42%123rd/168 · 2020 | 1.35%46th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.6 bn6th/163 · 2025 | 566.0 m18th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 1.7 bn7th/65 · 2025 | 1.9 bn6th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 3.15%10th/110 · 2023 | 1.38%34th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 40,0856th/137 · 2024 | 9,12011th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 108,7824th/197 · 2023 | 82,7718th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Germany or Italy?
Germany has the larger population: 83.5 m (2025) compared with 58.9 m for Italy (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Germany or Italy?
Germany is larger: 357,680 km² (2024) compared with 302,070 km² for Italy (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Germany or Italy?
Germany has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $6.30 trn intl. (2025) compared with $3.70 trn intl. for Italy (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Germany or Italy?
Germany has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $75,407 intl. (2025) compared with $62,803 intl. for Italy (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Germany or Italy?
Italy has the higher life expectancy at birth: 84.0 years (2024) compared with 80.8 years for Germany (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Germany or Italy?
Germany spends more on the military: $113.59 bn (2025) compared with $48.14 bn for Italy (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Germany or Italy?
Germany: 76.6 points (14th 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
Australia
Canada
Indonesia
MexicoSources
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). Germany vs Italy — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/germany-vs-italy. Data as of 26 October 2026.