Italy

Today, Italy is a highly-developed country with the 7th-highest GDP and the 17th-highest Human Development Index rating in the world. It is a member of the G8 and a founding member of what is now the European Union (having signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957), of the Council of Europe and of the Western European Union. It is considered by some as a great power. Starting from January 1, 2007, Italy is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Inhabitants of Italy are referred to as Italians.