Italians

Italians are people associated with the nation of Italy, including citizens of Italy and individuals of Italian descent abroad. The term covers both an ethnolinguistic group native to the Italian Peninsula and the diverse communities formed through centuries of migration and assimilation in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania. The Italian population within Italy is distributed across the 20 regions, with regional identities that have developed around historical kingdoms, city-states, and rural communities.

As of recent decades, Italy has roughly 60 to 65 million residents. In addition, large Italian-speaking communities exist in Argentina, Brazil, the United States, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, and other countries, forming a substantial global diaspora.

Language is a central marker of Italian identity: standard Italian is the official language, based on the Tuscan dialect, while numerous regional languages and dialects such as Sicilian, Neapolitan, Venetian, Sardinian, and Friulian are still spoken. In some border areas, minority languages such as German, Slovene, and French are recognized.

The modern Italian state emerged from unification in the 19th century and became a republic in 1946. Italian identity is shaped by cultural, linguistic, and regional diversity, with shared traditions in art, literature, music, cuisine, and social customs. Italy has made lasting contributions to Western civilization, notably during the Renaissance, as well as in fields such as science, design, architecture, and cinema. The Italian diaspora has influenced global culture and cuisine, while maintaining ties to regional roots.