Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
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, several United Nations organizations are headquartered in Rome, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Program (WFP), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Ahead of Venice, it is the most visited Italian city and is the only one that includes a sovereign state within its borders, Vatican City, the smallest country in the world. Since 1929, the Vatican has been the center of the Catholic Church, led by Pope Leo XIV since 2025.
