Photo: Francisco Antunes · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Italy: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Italy is placed 6th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 83.72 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 2.702 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
6th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 2 of 4 key statistics
- 83.72Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 2.702Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- —Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024No reading for this country
- —Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Italy on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
83.72
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Italy: 83.72. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Southern Europe
- 85.71 San Marino
- Land neighbours
- Austria 81.96 · Switzerland 83.95 · France 83.33 · San Marino 85.71 · Slovenia 81.6 · Vatican City 82.98
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
2.702
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Italy: 2.702. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Southern Europe
- 1.26 San Marino
- Land neighbours
- Austria 3.322 · Switzerland 3.866 · France 4.343 · San Marino 1.26 · Slovenia 2.259
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
No reading
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) publishes no reading from 2014–2024 for Italy, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Southern Europe
- 1.458 Greece
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
FAO publishes no 2024 figure for Italy, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Southern Europe
- 0.6 Croatia and Slovenia
- Land neighbours
- Austria 1.7 · Switzerland 1.5 · France 3.3 · Slovenia 0.6
02Over time
Which way Italy is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
ItalyWorld median
Italy rose from 79.61 in 2000 to 83.72 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Italy World median 2023 83.716 74.630 2022 82.052 74.313 2021 82.865 72.433 2020 82.181 73.063 2019 83.342 74.196 2018 83.184 74.081 2017 82.726 74.029 2016 83.046 74.013 2015 82.521 73.783 2014 82.901 73.330 2013 82.652 73.386 2012 82.252 73.210 2011 82.228 73.003 2010 82.132 72.827 2009 81.762 72.426 2008 81.645 72.264 2007 81.500 72.113 2006 81.414 72.027 2005 81.020 71.876 2004 81.018 71.477 2003 80.191 71.409 2002 80.112 71.173 2001 79.885 70.926 2000 79.607 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
ItalyWorld median
Italy fell from 5.568 in 2000 to 2.702 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Italy World median 2024 2.70 14.5 2023 2.76 15.2 2022 2.81 14.7 2021 2.89 15.1 2020 2.97 15.3 2019 3.08 15.7 2018 3.20 16.3 2017 3.31 16.8 2016 3.42 17.5 2015 3.51 17.9 2014 3.60 18.3 2013 3.68 18.7 2012 3.77 18.8 2011 3.87 19.0 2010 3.96 19.2 2009 4.06 20.8 2008 4.14 20.7 2007 4.23 21.8 2006 4.34 22.8 2005 4.47 24.0 2004 4.64 25.9 2003 4.83 26.9 2002 5.06 28.0 2001 5.30 29.1 2000 5.57 30.4
03In context
Italy beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Italy and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 San Marino | 1st | 85.71 | 1.26 | — | — |
| Italy | 6th | 83.72 | 2.702 | — | — |
 Slovenia | 8th | 81.6 | 2.259 | — | 0.6 |
 Switzerland | 12th | 83.95 | 3.866 | — | 1.5 |
 Austria | 17th | 81.96 | 3.322 | — | 1.7 |
 France | 42nd | 83.33 | 4.343 | — | 3.3 |
 Vatican City | not placed | 82.98 | — | — | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Europe
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Italy in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Italy is ahead of the world, and behind
43 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median27
Statistics on which Italy does better than the middle country measured.
Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food InsecurityFAO · 2024 · world median 20.91.720.9No real change since 2021
Italy: 1.7 · world median 20.9 · Population in moderate or severe food insecurity (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 88.8; lower is better.
Position 132nd of 135 · derived, 1st = worst.
Dietary Energy SupplyFAO · 2024 · world median 2,9823,8072,982No real change since 2014
Italy: 3,807 · world median 2,982 · Dietary energy supply (kcal per person per day). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1,757 to 3,962; higher is better.
Position 5th of 155 · derived.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.999.996.9No earlier reading
Italy: 99.9 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.462.85227.46No real change since 2013
Italy: 2.852 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 207th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.745.86133.7No real change since 2013
Italy: 45.86 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 207th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3921.3116.39▼ Worsened since 2013
Italy: 21.31 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 16th of 222 · derived.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.262.29312.26No real change since 2014
Italy: 2.293 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 185th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric ConsumptionFAO · 2024 · world median 0.250.20.25▲ Improved since 2014
Italy: 0.2 · world median 0.25 · Coefficient of variation of habitual calorie consumption across the population (standard deviation ÷ mean). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.17 to 0.4; lower is better.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.0430.351No real change since 2013
Italy: 0.043 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 15th of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8580.8062.858▼ Worsened since 2014
Italy: 0.806 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 181st of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
INFORM Severity IndexACAPS · 2025 · world median 3.11.83.1No real change since 2021
Italy: 1.8 · world median 3.1 · INFORM Severity (1–5, most severe crisis). ACAPS, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.3 to 4.7; lower is better.
Position 73rd of 81 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1341.8038.134No real change since 2014
Italy: 1.803 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 179th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1632.5588.163▼ Worsened since 2013
Italy: 2.558 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 176th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.9150.762No real change since 2013
Italy: 0.915 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 29th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.7280.564No real change since 2010
Italy: 0.728 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 30th of 172 · derived.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.656.4846.65No real change since 2013
Italy: 6.48 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 162nd of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
Prevalence of UndernourishmentFAO · 2023 · world median 5.22.55.2▼ Worsened since 2013
Italy: 2.5 · world median 5.2 · Population undernourished (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 54.2; lower is better.
Position 104th of 104 · derived, 1st = worst.
Births Attended by Skilled Health StaffUNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance) · 2023 · world median 99.399.999.3▼ Worsened since 2013
Italy: 99.9 · world median 99.3 · Births attended by skilled health staff (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 60.9 to 100; higher is better.
Position 15th of 84 · derived.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.83121.1184.83▼ Worsened since 2013
Italy: 121.11 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 413141▼ Worsened since 2012
Italy: 31 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.217.21110.21No real change since 2010
Italy: 7.211 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 117th of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.48.426.4▼ Worsened since 2017
Italy: 8.4 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 107th of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909590▲ Improved since 2015
Italy: 95 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919591▲ Improved since 2015
Italy: 95 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2575.971.25▲ Improved since 2013
Italy: 75.9 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 71st of 196 · derived.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.69120.49102.69▼ Worsened since 2013
Italy: 120.49 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4513.314.45▲ Improved since 2013
Italy: 13.3 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 120th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median6
Statistics on which Italy does worse than the middle country measured.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.483.523.48No real change since 2015
Italy: 3.52 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Fatal Occupational InjuriesILO · 2023 · world median 2.0052.012.005▼ Worsened since 2013
Italy: 2.01 · world median 2.005 · Fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.12 to 8.409; lower is better.
Agreement That Vaccines Are SafeWellcome Trust · 2018 · world median 77.6575.6977.65No earlier reading
Italy: 75.69 · world median 77.65 · People aged 15+ who agree that vaccines are safe (% of those who had heard of vaccines). Wellcome Trust, 2018 edition, data for 2018.
Published values in that edition run from 29.29 to 97.91; higher is better.
Position 80th of 144 · derived.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.55165.5▲ Improved since 2018
Italy: 51 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8168.181No earlier reading
Italy: 68.1 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 104th of 153 · derived.
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.35452.7272.35No earlier reading
Italy: 452.7 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.
No better end10
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.255941.25No real change since 2013
Italy: 59 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6539.720.65No earlier reading
Italy: 39.7 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.1729.3916.17Moved since 2013
Italy: 29.39 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.448.735.4No real change since 2013
Italy: 48.7 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8371.257.83Moved since 2013
Italy: 71.2 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.734.291.73Moved since 2014
Italy: 4.29 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 60th of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.889.2916.88No earlier reading
Italy: 9.291 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.554.554.55Moved since 2017
Italy: 4.55 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry OnWellcome Trust · 2020 · world median 20.0516.9820.05No earlier reading
Italy: 16.98 · world median 20.05 · People aged 15+ who have ever been too anxious or depressed to continue their usual activities for two weeks or more (%). Wellcome Trust, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.934 to 49.35.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8933.938.89Moved since 2015
Italy: 33.9 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 143rd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Italy
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of Pneumonia, Children with Functional Difficulties, Early Initiation of Breastfeeding, Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Overweight Prevalence in Children Under Five, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, Violent Discipline of Children and Wasting Prevalence in Children Under Five. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among Italy’s 16 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Italy’s 2nd best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Gender & Equality3rd of 1834/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing6th of 2002/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation20th of 1764/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture26th of 1844/4 keys
- Development & Human Capitaljoint 32nd of 1963/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions34th of 1944/4 keys
- Digital & Technology37th of 1984/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade34th of 1774/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge46th of 1983/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties50th of 1984/4 keys
- Energyjoint 47th of 1653/3 keys
- Peace & Security55th of 1774/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience70th of 1934/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality63rd of 1593/3 keys
- Work & Labour86th of 1824/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 115th of 1864/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Italy can most readily be measured against.
1San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Europe
San Marino1st2/4 keysThis page
Italy6th2/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Italy and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Italy on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Italy rank on health & wellbeing?
Italy is placed 6th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 2 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth and Under-Five Mortality Rate). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Italy?
83.72 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Italy?
2.702 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Italy compare with France on health & wellbeing?
France is placed 42nd of 200, and Italy 6th. Life Expectancy at Birth: France 83.33, Italy 83.72; Under-Five Mortality Rate: France 4.343, Italy 2.702.
How have Italy’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 79.61 in 2000 to 83.72 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 5.568 in 2000 to 2.702 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Italy?
No current reading is published for Italy on Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of Pneumonia, Children with Functional Difficulties, Early Initiation of Breastfeeding, Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six Months, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, Global Report on Food Crises, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with Diarrhoea, Overweight Prevalence in Children Under Five, Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two Days, Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 Months, Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, Violent Discipline of Children and Wasting Prevalence in Children Under Five. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 43 statistics on this page come from 16 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Italy’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Italy (banner) — Francisco Antunes, CC BY 2.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Italy: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/italy/health