17 January marks World Pizza Day, a celebration of a dish with more than 2,000 years of history. From Neapolitan and Roman styles to Margherita, diavola, and even potato-topped variations, there are few places left in the world which don’t honour this iconic culinary tradition.

In 2017, UNESCO recognised “the art of Neapolitan pizza makers” as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, highlighting its cultural significance on a global scale.

As for the date, it wasn’t chosen randomly: 17 January coincides with the feast of St. Anthony Abbot, the patron saint of fire and related trades, including machinists, blacksmiths, and, fittingly, pizza makers.

Where is pizza eaten the most in the world? And in Europe?

In Italy, four out of ten families are expected to prepare pizza at home in 2025, according to data from Coldiretti-Ixé. Meanwhile, global pizza turnover in 2024 is projected to reach a record €160 billion, with Italy contributing €15 billion to this figure.

Pizza is a major economic driver in Italy, generating 100,000 jobs nationwide – a number that doubles to 200,000 on weekends. Each year, Italy produces 2.7 billion pizzas, equating to about 46 pizzas per person annually, a figure that includes all age groups, from infants to the elderly.

Italians’ preferences differ significantly from those of the global market. According to Coldiretti, Italians prioritize higher-quality ingredients and are willing to pay a premium for them.

Interestingly, while pizza is an Italian staple, the world’s largest per capita consumers are Americans, who eat an average of 13 kilograms of pizza per year.

In Europe, on the other hand, Italy is in first place with 7.8 kilos per year, followed by Spain’s 4.3kg, and France and Germany’s 4.2kg and in fifth position the United Kingdom with 4kg.

The rise of food delivery has significantly boosted this already thriving sector: some apps speak of ‘an order every two seconds’. Others point to year-on-year growth in turnover of 20 per cent between 2024 and 2025.

The most and least popular pizzas in the world

According to data from the food web portal TasteAtlas, the Margherita reigns as the most popular pizza in the world, followed by the Montanara and calzones. In sixth place is American-style pizza topped with cheese, vegetables, and tomato sauce. Following that is pepperoni pizza (where ‘pepperoni’ in the US refers to a type of salami) and the iconic ‘New York-style’ pizza, before circling back to fried pizza.

In last place is an Italian pizza: the ‘Mimosa pizza,’ topped with corn and cooked ham. Just above it are the Cuban pizza, the Scottish fried pizza, the Quad City-style pizza (a grilled variation popular in the US), and Canada’s unique pizza-ghetti, which features spaghetti as an additional topping.

How much does pizza cost in Italy?

Pizza has always been a popular dish in the Bel Paese, and this has never changed. On the other hand, inflation and the push for higher quality ingredients have increased the price in Italy and across Europe.

A survey by Altroconsumo calculated the average cost of a pizza, a soft drink, and service in various Italian cities. Sassari tops the list as the most expensive city (€14.67), followed by Bolzano, Milan, and Venice. On the more affordable end are Livorno (€8.67), Pescara (€9.18), Naples (€9.63), and Bari (€9.63).

Whatever pizza you love, with or without pineapple, happy World Pizza day.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has refuted circulating rumors of an impending increase in petrol prices nationwide.

The association assured the public that local refineries are now operational, a development that will contribute to a reduction in fuel prices.

In an interview with the Voice of America, Bashir Salisu Tahir, Chairman of IPMAN’s Northwest Chapter, dismissed claims of any plans to hike petrol prices.

He emphasized that none of their members had increased the price of petrol across the country.

Tahir explained, “The market now determines prices, and there is no truth to the rumors of an increase in petrol prices. While diesel prices have risen recently due to market dynamics, they will naturally fall when market conditions improve.”

He added that the resumption of operations at the nation’s refineries is expected to further stabilize and reduce petrol prices.

Beijing on Wednesday said it “firmly opposes” a US move to effectively bar Chinese technology from smart cars in the American market, saying alleged risks to national security were “without any factual basis”.

“Such actions disrupt economic and commercial cooperation between enterprises… and represent typical protectionism and economic coercion,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, adding: “China firmly opposes this.”

Tuesday’s announcement in the United States, which also pertains to Russian technology, came as outgoing President Joe Biden wrapped up efforts to step up curbs on China, and after a months-long regulatory process.

The rule follows an announcement this month that Washington is mulling new restrictions to address risks posed by drones with tech from adversaries such as China and Russia.

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said that modern vehicles contain cameras, microphones, GPS tracking and other technologies connected to the internet.

“Cars today aren’t just steel on wheels — they’re computers,” she said.

“This is a targeted approach to ensure we keep PRC and Russian-manufactured technologies off American roads,” she added, referring to the People’s Republic of China.

But Guo slammed the move, telling journalists in Beijing that China would “take necessary measures” to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.

“What I want to say is that the US, citing so-called national security, has restricted the use of Chinese connected vehicle software, hardware, and entire vehicles in the United States without any factual basis,” he told a regular press conference.

“China urges the US to stop the erroneous practice of overgeneralising national security and to stop its unreasonable suppression of Chinese companies.”

‘Trying to dominate’

The final US rule currently applies just to passenger vehicles under 10,001 pounds (about 4.5 tonnes), the Commerce Department said.

It plans, however, to issue separate rulemaking aimed at tech in commercial vehicles like trucks and buses “in the near future”.

For now, Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, for example, has a facility in California producing buses and other vehicles.

National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard added that “China is trying to dominate the future of the auto industry”.

But she said connected vehicles containing software and hardware systems linked to foreign rivals could result in misuse of sensitive data or interference.

Under the latest rule, even if a passenger car were US-made, manufacturers with “a sufficient nexus” to China or Russia would not be allowed to sell such new vehicles incorporating hardware and software for external connectivity and autonomous driving.

This prohibition on sales takes effect for model year 2027, and also bans the import of the hardware and software if they are linked to Beijing or Moscow.