Italy does not have "states" in the way countries like the United States or Germany do — its top-level administrative divisions are 20 regions, comprising 15 ordinary regions and 5 autonomous regions with special statutes. So when people ask how many states are in Italy, the accurate answer is 20 regions. Italy is a unitary republic, not a federation, so these regions are devolved divisions of a single national state rather than sovereign member states.
Why Italy Has "Regions," Not States
The English word "state" can be misleading. In federal countries, states are constituent members that pool sovereignty. Italy, by contrast, is a single unitary state whose constitution divides the national territory into regioni (regions) for administrative and legislative purposes. Power flows outward from Rome rather than upward from member states. The current arrangement dates largely to the 1948 Constitution, though ordinary regions only became fully operational in 1970, and a major constitutional reform in 2001 transferred significant additional powers to regional governments.
Beneath the 20 regions, Italy is further subdivided into 107 provinces and metropolitan cities, and roughly 7,900 comuni (municipalities). This three-tier structure — region, province, municipality — is how nearly all public administration, from healthcare to local roads, is organised.
The 20 Regions at a Glance
The regions are commonly grouped by geography. Five carry special autonomous status (marked below with an asterisk), usually because of linguistic minorities or island geography:
- Northern Italy: Valle d'Aosta*, Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige*, Veneto, Friuli Venezia Giulia*, Emilia-Romagna
- Central Italy: Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, Lazio (home to Rome, the national capital)
- Southern Italy: Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria
- Islands: Sicily*, Sardinia*
Lombardy, with the financial capital Milan, is the most populous region at over 10 million residents, while Valle d'Aosta in the Alpine northwest is the smallest with around 125,000 people. You can explore where each region sits on the map and learn more in our italy country guide.
What Makes the Autonomous Regions Different
The five autonomous regions hold special statutes that grant them greater self-government than ordinary regions, particularly over language, culture, education, and finance. Each has a distinct reason for its status:
- Valle d'Aosta — the only region where French is an official co-language alongside Italian.
- Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol — its northern province, South Tyrol, has a German-speaking majority and was Austrian territory until 1919.
- Friuli Venezia Giulia — home to a recognised Slovenian-speaking minority near the eastern border.
- Sicily and Sardinia — Italy's two largest islands, granted autonomy partly due to their distinct island identities and geography.
These regions retain a larger share of taxes collected within their borders, which is why provinces like Trento and Bolzano fund unusually generous local services.
How Regional Government Works
Each region elects its own president and a regional council. Ordinary regions can pass laws on matters not exclusively reserved to the national state — areas such as local transport, agriculture, and large parts of healthcare. The autonomous regions legislate over an even wider range of subjects. This devolved structure reflects Italy's deep internal diversity, but it also mirrors the country's long-standing economic split between a wealthier industrial north and a less-developed south. Lombardy alone generates roughly 22% of national GDP, and its GDP per capita is close to double that of Calabria in the far south.
Key Numbers to Remember
- 20 regions in total (15 ordinary + 5 autonomous)
- 107 provinces and metropolitan cities
- About 7,900 municipalities (comuni)
- Lombardy is the most populous region; Valle d'Aosta the least
- Molise ranks among the smallest regions by both area and population
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Italy have states or regions?
Italy has regions, not states. As a unitary republic, its 20 regions are administrative subdivisions of a single national state rather than sovereign members of a federation, which is the key difference from countries like the United States.
How many regions in Italy are autonomous?
Five: Valle d'Aosta, Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sicily, and Sardinia. Each holds a special statute granting expanded control over language, finance, and local affairs.
What is the largest and most populous region in Italy?
By population, Lombardy is largest with over 10 million people and the city of Milan. By land area, Sicily is the biggest region and also the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
What are Italy's smaller divisions called?
Below the regions, Italy is divided into 107 provinces and metropolitan cities, which are themselves split into roughly 7,900 municipalities, or comuni — the most local level of government.