Italy’s natural resources run from minerals to Mediterranean agriculture. The country is famous for the white marble of Carrara, in Tuscany, and for the olive tree. Which natural resources in Italy stand out most? Its forests cover 32.89% of the territory (World Bank, 2023) and it holds a freshwater reserve of 191.3 km³.
Italy, in southern Europe, has a wide variety of natural resources. Its Mediterranean coast and the Alps offer a broad range of ecosystems, from beaches to snow-covered mountains.
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Italy’s natural resources include minerals such as iron ore and marble, and a great deal of arable land producing olives, grapes and other crops. The country is also rich in plant and animal life, with species such as the Eurasian lynx and the European otter.
Which natural resources set Italy apart, and how do they compare worldwide? What is its natural wealth, and how does it compare globally? Which minerals are found in its territory? How much water does Italy have, and how does it generate energy? How diverse are its plants and wildlife?
Natural Resources
Natural resources are materials or energy sources provided by or found on Earth that are useful to humans. Every product we manufacture is made up of natural resources.
- Renewable resources: these can be restored by natural processes faster than the rate at which they are consumed. Examples include solar radiation, wind, hydroelectric power, water when used properly, and plant and animal life.
- Non-renewable resources: once extracted, these are depleted and cannot regenerate. Examples include hydrocarbons, metals and minerals.
Examples of Italy’s main natural resources
Italy: key environmental figures
A numerical summary of the state of the territory and its biological wealth.
| Forest cover | 32,9 % of the territory2023 |
|---|---|
| Forest area | 97,276 km²2023 |
| Annual change in forest area | +538 km² per year (2018–2023) |
| Protected land area | 21,5 % of the territory2025 |
| Threatened species | 222 mammals, birds, fish and plants2022 |
| Renewable fresh water per capita | 3,093 m³ per year2022 |
| Resource | Reserves / Production | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Oil | 81,060 barrels/day (2023, 44th) | The Global Economy 2023 |
| Natural gas | 5,785 M ft³ (49th) | EIA |
| Coal (reserves) | 18,739,270 t (2016) | USGS |
| Fresh water | 191.3 km³ (40th, 2020) | FAO |
| Average rainfall | 832 mm (88th) | World Bank |
| Forests | 32.89% (97,275 km², 2023) | World Bank |
Oil and gas resources in Italy
Italy produced around 81,060 barrels of oil per day in 2023, placing it forty-fourth in the global oil production ranking, according to The Global Economy. It also held oil reserves of 579,232,000 barrels as of 2022, placing it forty-seventh in the world ranking.
The main oil-producing region in Italy is Basilicata.
Italy is also a mid-sized gas producer, with annual output of 5,785 million cubic feet. The country sits forty-ninth (49th) in the world ranking.
Examples of Italy’s mineral resources
Italy holds a reserve of coal of 18,739,270 tonnes as of 2016. The main producing region for this resource in Italy is Sardinia, home to most of the country’s coal mines.
Italy is also one of the world’s leading producers of pumice, pozzolana and feldspar. Another mineral resource Italy is known for worldwide is marble, especially the famous white marble from the quarries of Carrara and Massa in Tuscany. This high-quality marble has been used throughout history in architectural masterpieces and sculpture, making Italy a benchmark in the natural stone industry.
Water resources of Italy
Italy holds a freshwater reserve of 191.3 km³, placing it fortieth in the global ranking of water reserves as of 2020. This European country has important freshwater sources, the Po and Tiber rivers being the most notable, along with Italy’s largest lake, Lake Garda.
Average rainfall and soils of Italy
Italy has average annual rainfall of 832 mm, placing it eighty-eighth worldwide. Italian soils vary with the country’s actual humidity.
Renewable electricity and hydropower production in Italy
Italy has substantial renewable electricity production, reaching a total of 289,768 GWh. Of that, hydropower stands out with a total of 44,257 GWh.
Italy’s main hydroelectric plant is Edolo, in Lombardy. It can generate up to 1,200 MW of electricity.
Forest resources of Italy
Italy has a substantial forest area, representing 32.89% of its land area, equivalent to 97,275 km² (World Bank, 2023). This natural wealth is a valuable resource for the country, contributing to biodiversity conservation and to sustainable economic activity.
Italy’s main forest region is the Apennines, in the center of the country. Worldwide, Italy ranks 51st for forest area.
Environmental performance and protection of Italy’s natural resources
Italy has an Environmental Performance Index (2024) score of 60.3 and ranks twenty-ninth (29th) on the index. It also has protected land and marine areas covering 13.95% of its total territorial area, showing its commitment to conserving natural resources. To learn more about the Environmental Performance Index, see the Environmental Performance Index 2024 results (Yale University).
Natural parks of Italy: the hidden wealth of natural resources
Biodiversity: animal and plant resources of Italy
Birds of Italy
Italy has impressive bird diversity, with a total of 484 recorded species (data current to 2024).
However, 17 of those species are endangered. Among the most notable is the red kite, one of the country’s largest and most emblematic birds of prey.
Fish and amphibians of Italy
Italy has great diversity of amphibian and fish species, the flagship amphibian being the salamander and the flagship fish the bluefin tuna. According to data current to 2024, the country recorded 48 amphibian species and 664 fish species .
Mammals of Italy
Italy has a total of 127 mammal species (data current to 2024), of which 8 are endangered. In the world ranking for number of mammal species, Italy sits 69th.
The country also has 4 endemic mammal species, placing it 44th in the world ranking.
Reptiles of Italy
Italy has a diversity of 62 reptile species (data current to 2024), notably the Italian wall lizard.
Plants of Italy
Italy has great vascular plant diversity, with a total of 5,590 species recorded in 2020, placing it 40th worldwide. Among the most notable is the olive tree, an emblematic plant used to produce olive oil.
Organizations that protect or study Italy’s natural resources
- WWF Italy – Protects biodiversity and promotes sustainability in Italy.
- Greenpeace Italy – Campaigns against pollution and climate change in Italy.
- Legambiente – Promotes environmental protection and sustainability in Italy.
- Fondazione Cariplo – Funds environmental protection and sustainability projects in Italy.
- ISPRA – Carries out environmental research and monitoring in Italy.
- Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica (MASE) – The ministry responsible for environmental protection and sustainability in Italy.
Italy stands out not for hydrocarbon deposits but for refined, distinctive resources. Its signature is Carrara marble, which places it among the world’s three largest exporters of cut marble, at $124.2 million in 2023 World Bank (WITS), 2023. Added to that is a historic milestone: Larderello, the birthplace of geothermal energy worldwide.
Carrara marble: the flagship mineral export
Marble is the country’s most recognizable extractive resource. In world trade in cut marble and travertine, Italy ranked third by value in 2023, behind Turkey and the European Union as a whole World Bank (WITS), 2023. Its advantage lies in quality and finish, not in raw extracted volume.
Larderello: the world’s pioneering geothermal site
The first geothermal plant on the planet was built at Larderello, Tuscany, in 1904 Power Technology, 2024. Enel operates the world’s oldest geothermal complex there, with some 1,100 megawatts installed and close to 6 terawatt-hours a year, around 5% of national green electricity Enel, 2025.
Wine: the world’s second-largest exporter
In agri-food terms, wine leads the country’s international profile. Italy was the world’s second-largest wine exporter, at $8.79 billion World’s Top Exports (UN Comtrade data), 2025. Olives and other products round out an agricultural basket with a strong Mediterranean identity.
Frequently asked questions
What is Italy’s main natural resource? Its strength is not hydrocarbons but ornamental stone and geothermal energy. Marble places it third among world exporters of cut marble World Bank (WITS), 2023.
How does Italy perform environmentally? It scored 60.3 points and ranked 29th worldwide on the Environmental Performance Index Yale EPI, 2024.
Sources used
- Annex: Countries by mineral production – Wikipedia
- Economic data by country – The Global Economy
- Forest area (km²) – World Bank
- Forest area as a percentage – World Bank
- Oil reserves – The Global Economy
- Coal reserves – Worldometers
- Water and agriculture statistics – FAO
- Precipitation (mm) – World Bank
- Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy — Environmental Performance Index 2024 (accessed June 15, 2026)
- Bird species – Mongabay
- Amphibian species by country – Mongabay
- Mammal species – Mongabay
- Endemic mammal species – Our World in Data
- Plant species – Mongabay
- Reptile species by country – Mongabay
- Endemic bird species by country – Our World in Data
According to Enerdata, renewables covered 42% of Italy’s electricity demand in 2024, an all-time high driven by strong growth in solar power.
Last updated: July 25, 2026
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