While preparing a global outreach for my foundation’s WorldCast 23 environmental studies broadcast for high school students, I pondered the vast settlement of Italians worldwide, the Italian diaspora. Americans, particularly Italian Americans, are barely aware of the dimensions of the Italian diaspora. People of Italian heritage have played major roles and have significant presence in a number of countries outside Europe.

A brief listing culled from various sources shows that: 1. For reference, Italy has 60 million people. 2. Brazil has 32 million of Italian heritage, or 15% of its total population. 3. Argentina has 25 million, a whopping 62.5% of its total population. 4. The United States has an estimated 17 million, about 6%. But the National Italian American Foundation claims the number could be as high as 25 million, since the census department stopped asking about Italian ethnicity in this century. 5, Venezuela, 1.7 million or 6%. 6. Canada, 1.5 million, or 4.5%. 7. and 8. Australia, 1 million or 4.4% and Uruguay 1 million -- but 40%.