Lorenzo Macchi
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Italy
Rome - statistics & facts
With 2.75 million inhabitants and around 1,285 square kilometers, Rome is the largest Italian city, ahead of Milan and Naples. The Città eterna (Eternal city) has been the capital of the country since 1871, the seat of all major state institutions, and the main center of Lazio, the second most populous region in Italy. Moreover, it hosts the headquarters of several United Nations organizations and specialized agencies, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Program (WFP), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Most notably, Rome is the only city that includes a sovereign state within its borders, Vatican City, the smallest country in the world. Founded in 1929, the Vatican constitutes the continuation of the Papal States, which ruled Rome and most of central Italy for more than one millennium. With the iconic Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, it is the center of the Catholic Church, led by Pope Francis since 2013.
After the fall of the Empire in 476 CE, Rome gradually became the seat of power of the Catholic Church, whose influence and presence is evident from the numerous churches and religious monuments located in the city. Moreover, the Popes have been the main sponsors of various painters, sculptors, and architects. The masterpieces of Michelangelo Buonarroti, Raffaello Sanzio, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini attract millions of visitors every year and symbolize the notable power and influence that the Church held over the centuries.
Similarly to other Italian cities, the average age of Rome’s population is progressively increasing as the number of deaths significantly exceeds the number of births every year, life expectancy in Lazio has reached 85 years for women and 81 for men, and the country is facing a fertility crisis. However, the Città eterna’s population remains fairly stable due to both internal and external migration. In fact, in 2022 more than 100,000 new citizens registered their main residence in Rome.
Three millennia of history and art
Roma caput mundi, i.e, Rome capital of the world. This is how Roman historians described the greatness achieved by the city as the major political, economic, and cultural center of the Republic first and the Roman Empire after. According to legend, Rome was founded on April 21, 753 BCE by Romulus, a descendant of the Trojan hero Aeneas, who had been abandoned as a baby on the banks of the Tiber with his twin brother, Remus. The twins were rescued and raised by a she-wolf, which is now the symbol of the city. Over the next 1,000 years, the Romans seized control of and governed all the territories bordering the Mediterranean Sea, in Latin called Mare nostrum (Our sea). In 117 CE, under the emperor Trajan, the Empire reached its greatest extent, covering an area of around five million square kilometers, including Western Europe, North Africa, the Balkan peninsula, Anatolia, and the Middle East.After the fall of the Empire in 476 CE, Rome gradually became the seat of power of the Catholic Church, whose influence and presence is evident from the numerous churches and religious monuments located in the city. Moreover, the Popes have been the main sponsors of various painters, sculptors, and architects. The masterpieces of Michelangelo Buonarroti, Raffaello Sanzio, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini attract millions of visitors every year and symbolize the notable power and influence that the Church held over the centuries.
One of the largest cities in Europe
The population residing in Rome has gradually decreased in recent years, settling below three million inhabitants. Nevertheless, its urban area exceeds the municipality borders and comprises another 120 smaller cities and towns, included in the metropolitan city of Rome (Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale). Hence, Rome's agglomeration ranks among the largest metropolises of the European continent, with more than four million citizens. Despite being the most populous municipality in the country, the population distribution of the Italian capital is not highly concentrated. In fact, the density is significantly lower compared to other cities, such as Naples and Milan, with only 2,140 inhabitants per square meter. The amplitude of the municipal territory leaves space for numerous city parks and natural reserves, such as Villa Borghese, Monte Mario, and the Castelporziano Presidential Estate.Similarly to other Italian cities, the average age of Rome’s population is progressively increasing as the number of deaths significantly exceeds the number of births every year, life expectancy in Lazio has reached 85 years for women and 81 for men, and the country is facing a fertility crisis. However, the Città eterna’s population remains fairly stable due to both internal and external migration. In fact, in 2022 more than 100,000 new citizens registered their main residence in Rome.
A journey through the centuries
Tourism is a crucial resource for the city’s economy, with almost seven million international visitors recorded in 2023. Hence, Rome is the leading Italian touristic destination, ahead of Venice and Milan. Its city center was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980. Without doubt, the Colosseum, in Latin Amphitheatrus Flavius, stands as the city’s symbol, together with Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City. The Roman Forum was the heart of the political and social life of the ancient metropolis, as the venue of processions, commercial activities, public speeches and Senate assemblies. The Pantheon, built in 27 BCE as a temple to commemorate all deities, now hosts the graves of the kings of Italy. The Altare della Patria monument, a majestic construction, is dedicated to Victor Emanuel II, the sovereign who completed Italy’s unification. Two fountains belong to the city’s most important attractions for their extraordinary artistic value, the Trevi fountain and the Barcaccia fountain, the latter situated beneath the Spanish steps. In 2022, around one million tourists from the United States visited Rome to take in its beauty, followed by visitors from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Additionally, over three million Italians visit the capital every year.
