Germany vs Italy

Every indicator for Germany and Italy side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.

Indicator comparison
IndicatorGermanyItalyDifference
Population (2025) (people)83,491,24958,915,656+41.7%
GDP (nominal) (billion $)5,0512,552+97.9%
GDP per capita ($)60,49643,309+39.7%
Life expectancy (years)80.884.0—
Area (km²)357,680302,070+18.4%
Population density (people/km²)233195+19.7%
Median age (years)46.748.4—
Internet usage (%)93.589.2—
Unemployment rate (%)3.76.4—
Inflation (%)2.21.5—
Urban population (%)82.169.7—
Military expenditure (2024) (million $)88,45837,965+133.0%
Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%)1.891.61+17.4%
Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%)3.933.18+23.6%
Military expenditure per capita ($)1,059644+64.4%
Armed forces personnel (2020) (people)183,000338,000−45.9%
Armed forces per 1,000 people (people)2.25.7−61.8%
Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%)0.421.35−68.9%

The difference column shows the percentage gap of Germany relative to Italy; a positive value favors Germany. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.

At a glance

Germany is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Italy leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in armed forces as a share of the labor force, about 3.2 times; they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.

Key differences

  • Italy's armed forces as a share of the labor force (1.35) is about 3.2 times Germany's (0.42).
  • Italy's armed forces per 1,000 people (5.7) is about 2.6 times Germany's (2.2).
  • Germany's military expenditure (2024) (88,458) is about 2.3 times Italy's (37,965).
  • On gdp (nominal), Germany is %98 higher than Italy: 5,051 against 2,552.
  • On armed forces personnel (2020), Italy is %85 higher than Germany: 338,000 against 183,000.

Frequently asked questions

Where do Germany and Italy differ most?
In armed forces as a share of the labor force. Italy records 1.35 against Germany's 0.42 — a ratio of roughly 3.2 to one.
Where are Germany and Italy most alike?
In military expenditure as a share of gdp, at 1.89 and 1.61 — a gap of only %17.
On how many indicators is Germany ahead of Italy?
Germany is higher on 9 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Italy on 3. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
Germany and Italy — core indicators
020 M40 M60 M80 M100 MPopulation (2025)GDP (nominal)GDP per capitaAreaPopulation (2025) — Germany: 83,491,249GDP (nominal) — Germany: 5,051GDP per capita — Germany: 60,496Area — Germany: 357,680Population (2025) — Italy: 58,915,656GDP (nominal) — Italy: 2,552GDP per capita — Italy: 43,309Area — Italy: 302,070
GermanyItaly

The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.

Other comparisons involving Germany or Italy.

Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI