Socio-economic environment: Italy

Italy has over 57 million inhabitants or 191 inhabitants per square kilometre. The level of urbanisation is 67%; low, comparable with countries like Austria, Finland and Portugal.

Italy has a GDP of over 1.100 billion Euro, 19.450 Euro per inhabitant. The GDP per head in PPP is a little below average to European countries. Economically, Italy has some potential to invest in stimulation of IST, on a National level, but the prospective opportunities are on an individual level.

The national Italian ICT and Telecom industry is well developed. Also the penetration of PC's at home is good. ISDN infrastructure is leaking behind a little bit. From a commercial and infrastructural perspective, Italy can compete in the IST market. Rates of (mobile) telephony are average in Italy. also the penetration of PC's at home is average. In potential, the market is ready to introduce IST services successfully on a lager scale.

The wealth of an individual elderly person is average in Italy. Continuous education by 54-64 year old people is low compared to other countries. Related to the average penetration of PC's this could imply insufficient knowledge of elderly people in the current supply of IST services.