Metropolitan City of Naples

Geography

The city is the 96th out of 110 Italian provinces and metropolitan cities by landmass, with an area (1,178.93 square kilometres (455.19 sq mi) including islands) that is smaller than the municipality of Rome (1,287.36 square kilometres (497.05 sq mi)). Naples is, however, Italy's third largest metropolitan city by population, making it one of the most densely populated areas in Europe; the metropolitan region also includes the municipality of Casavatore, the highest-density municipality in Italy (at 12,000 inhabitants/km2). While it contains more than half of Campania's population, it only occupies 8.6% of Campania's landmass (13,590 km2), creating a strong demographic and territorial imbalance with the other four provinces in Campania.

Municipalities (comune) in the Metropolitan City vary in size, ranging from 1.62 km2 (0.63 sq mi) (Casavatore) to 117.27 km2 (45.28 sq mi) (Naples); 60% of the municipalities are small (less than or equal to 10 km2 (3.9 sq mi)), 36% of medium-sized (> 10 km2 and ≤ 25 km2), the rest (11%) more than 25 km2 (9.7 sq mi) and, of this, only two municipalities (Acerra and Giugliano) are between 50 and 100 km2 (39 sq mi) and only the municipality of Naples exceeds 100 km2 (39 sq mi).

Because of its proximity to Vesuvius and Phlegraean Fields, the city is vulnerable to seismic and volcanic activity.

Government

Metropolitan Council

Metropolitan Cities give large urban areas the administrative powers of a province, a system designed to improve local administration, create efficiency in spending, and better coordinate basic services (including transport, school and social programs) and environment protection. The Mayor of Naples thus also has powers as Metropolitan Mayor, presiding over a Metropolitan Council formed by 24 mayors of municipalities (comune) within the Metropolitan City.

The first Metropolitan Council of the City was elected on 28 September 2014.The current Metropolitan Council of the City was elected on 13 March 2022:

Municipalities

The metropolitan city has 92 municipalities:

Demographics

As of 2026, the population is 2,954,847, of which 48.7% are male, and 51.3% are female. Minors make up 16.9% of the population, and seniors make up 21%.

Immigration

As of 2025, of the known countries of birth of 2,916,975 residents, the most numerous are: Italy (2,812,459 – 96.4%).

Economy

Naples, within its administrative limits, is Italy's fourth-largest economy after Milan, Rome and Turin, and is the world's 103rd-largest urban economy by purchasing power, with an estimated 2024 GDP of €28.4 billion, equivalent to €30.804 per capita. Naples is a major cargo terminal, and the port of Naples is one of the Mediterranean's largest and busiest. The city has experienced significant economic growth since World War II, but joblessness remains a major problem,

Naples is, with Florence, Rome, Venice and Milan, one of the main Italian tourist destinations. With 20,000,000 visitors in 2025, the city has completely emerged from the strong tourist depression of past decades (due primarily to the unilateral destination of an industrial city but also due to the damage to the city's image caused by the Italian media, from the 1980 Irpinia earthquake and the waste crisis, in favour of the coastal centres of its metropolitan area).

Tourism

The area is particularly fruitful for tourism, both national and international. Pompeii, the excavated Roman city which was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD is among the most popular destinations in all of Italy. Three islands in the Gulf of Naples are also prominent destinations; Ischia, Procida, part of the Phlegrean Islands, and Capri. Together they are also known as the Campanian Archipelago. On Capri, there is the famous Blue Grotto; inside the grotto the sea seems to be lit from underwater, it is a magnificent blue colour, hence its name.

The Sorrentine Peninsula (and its main town Sorrento) has long been a popular destination for tourism, it is well known for the drink Limoncello and its luxurious sea cliffs. It is rich with villas, castles, guard towers, churches, and in Vico Equense ancient farmhouses.

Sport

The most popular sport in the metropolitan city is football. This area was one of the first in Southern Italy to start playing sports, when English sailors brought them in during the early 1900s. The most successful club from the province are by far SSC Napoli, who have won Serie A (the Italian Championship) four times and the UEFA Cup while Diego Maradona was with the club.

At present there are four professional football clubs playing within the Italian leagues from the province; in Serie A there is SSC Napoli, while in Lega Pro the province is represented by SS Ischia Isolaverde, SS Juve Stabia and AC Savoia.