In Italy the culture and creative-industries sector is not simply surviving the financial headwinds – it is thriving and proving to be a cornerstone of the national economy. According to recent data, the value added by cultural activities reached about 112.6 billion euros in 2024, marking a 2.1 percent increase from the previous year and a total growth of roughly 19 percent since 2021. When the indirect effects of related industries are included, the total impact rises to nearly 303 billion euros – about 15.5 percent of the country’s GDP.
Behind these impressive figures stands an ecosystem employing more than 1.5 million people across more than 289,000 creative and cultural companies, with a 1.8 percent increase in one year, and over 27,000 nonprofit organizations.
