Italy has been crowned 'Country of the Year' by The Economist, an annual honour awarded by the international newspaper. The prize is given "not to the biggest, the richest or the happiest, but to the one that in our view improved the most in 2021", says The Economist.

This global recognition was awarded to Italy "not for the prowess of its footballers, who won Europe's big trophy, nor its pop stars, who won the Eurovision Song Contest, but for its politics." Central to this honour is premier Mario Draghi who is described by The Economist as "a competent, internationally respected prime minister."