Italy: health and care

How much does Italy spend on health care?

Italy's current health spending was 8.4% of GDP in 2024, according to the World Bank's current health expenditure indicator, which draws on WHO data. It was 8.9% in 2022.

The figure covers public and private spending on health goods and services, excluding investment. Most health care in Italy is provided through the national health service, which is funded from taxes and run by the regions. The 2026 budget law adds €2.4 billion of health funding for 2026, according to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Official sources: World Bank: current health expenditure, Italy

How many doctors does Italy have?

Italy had 4.2 physicians per 1,000 people in 2022, according to the World Bank's physicians indicator, up from 4.0 in 2020.

The indicator counts practising doctors, both general practitioners and specialists, relative to the population. A high number of doctors per person does not by itself show how easy it is to see one, which also depends on where doctors work, their age and waiting times in each region.

Official sources: World Bank: physicians per 1,000 people, Italy

How many years do Italians live in good health?

Healthy life expectancy at birth in Italy was 59.1 years in 2025, 60.2 for men and 58.0 for women, according to Istat's 2026 SDGs report. It rose by almost a year compared with 2024.

Healthy life expectancy counts the years people can expect to live in good health, based on how people rate their own health in surveys. Women live longer than men but spend more years in poorer health. The same report puts the probability of dying between 30 and 69 from cancer, diabetes or cardiovascular disease at 8.0% in 2023.

Official sources: Istat: 2026 SDGs report (PDF)

How many Italians smoke?

18.6% of people aged 11 and over in Italy smoked in 2025, according to Istat's report on health risk factors of 1 April 2026. Use of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products almost doubled in four years, from 3.9% in 2021 to 7.4% in 2025.

The same report found that 15.1% of people aged 11 and over had at least one risky pattern of alcohol use, and that 30.8% of people aged 3 and over were sedentary, down 2.4 points.

Official sources: Istat: health risk factors 2025 (Italian, PDF)

How many Italians are overweight?

46.4% of adults in Italy were overweight or obese in 2025, a share that has been stable for three years, according to Istat's report on health risk factors. Among children and young people aged 3 to 17, 26.0% were overweight on average over 2024–2025, rising to 34.1% in the South.

Overweight is based on body mass index from self-reported height and weight. Istat notes that obesity rates in Italy are low by EU standards, while physical activity among adults is also low.

Official sources: Istat: health risk factors 2025 (Italian, PDF)

How many people die on Italian roads?

2,868 people died in road accidents in Italy in 2025, 5.3% fewer than in 2024, according to Istat's road accidents report of 24 July 2026. Injuries rose 1.7% to 237,822. The death rate fell from 51.4 to 48.7 per million inhabitants, against an EU average of 43.

Deaths fell among car occupants, motorcyclists and pedestrians, but rose among cyclists, e-bike and e-scooter users and heavy goods vehicle occupants. Deaths are counted within 30 days of the accident.

Official sources: Istat: road accidents 2025 (PDF)

What is the average life expectancy in Italy?

84.0 years: that is life expectancy at birth in Italy for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 79.5 years, and Italy placed 7th highest of 52. Worldwide: 9th of 193.

What is Italy's infant mortality rate?

The latest figure from the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, for 2024, is 2.3 per 1,000. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 3.4 per 1,000, and Italy placed 38th highest of 51. Worldwide: 176th of 192.

What is maternal mortality in Italy?

6.0 per 100,000: that is the maternal mortality ratio in Italy for 2023, according to the WHO. No year since 2005 has been lower. Europe & Central Asia median: 6.0 per 100,000; Italy is 26th highest of 51. Worldwide: 160th of 192.

What share of GDP does Italy spend on health care?

The WHO puts current health spending in Italy at 8.4% of GDP in 2024. Since 2005 it has ranged from 8.1% of GDP (2007) to 9.6% of GDP (2020). It is 12th highest of 17 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 9.4% of GDP.

What is out-of-pocket health spending in Italy?

The WHO puts out-of-pocket health spending in Italy at 22.3% in 2024. Since 2005 it has ranged from 20.5% (2010) to 24.1% (2017). Europe & Central Asia median: 14.1%; Italy is 3rd highest of 17.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Italy?

In 2022, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Italy was 4.2 per 1,000, according to the WHO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 17th highest of 42 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 3.7 per 1,000. Of 125 countries with 2022 data, 21st highest.

How many hospital beds does Italy have?

3.1 per 1,000: that is hospital beds per 1,000 people in Italy for 2022, according to the WHO. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 33rd highest of 42 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 4.3 per 1,000. World rank, highest first: 51st of 110.

How many children in Italy are vaccinated against measles?

WHO and UNICEF puts measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Italy at 95.0% in 2024. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 94.0%; Italy is 20th highest of 51. Of 191 countries with 2024 data, 60th highest.