Italy covers just 0.5% of the Earth’s surface but is home to 0.83% of the global population.
Its unique bio-climatic conditions make it the world’s leading country for biodiversity:
- 7,000 plant species (compared to 3,000 in Brazil).
- 58,000 animal species (compared to 20,000 in China).
- 1,800 wild grape varieties (compared to 200 in France).
- 997 apple varieties (out of 1,227 globally).
- 140 wheat varieties (compared to 6 in the USA).
Italy also holds 70% of the world’s artistic and cultural heritage, with the remaining 30% spread across the rest of the globe.
In essence, Italy is a modern-day Garden of Eden, though it is often underappreciated and undervalued by its own people.