Share of population living in urbanized areas in Italy
Italy: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 73.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
73.1%
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
72nd
of 202 countries
All-time high
73.1%
in 2025
All-time low
10.0%
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Italy, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Italy recorded 73.1% for share of population living in urbanized areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in Italy peaked at 73.1% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 10.0%, in 1000.
Italy ranks 72nd of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 108 years of available data.
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Italy, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 10.0% | — |
| 1100 | 10.0% | +0.0% |
| 1200 | 12.0% | +20.0% |
| 1300 | 21.4% | +78.4% |
| 1400 | 17.6% | -17.8% |
| 1500 | 21.0% | +19.3% |
| 1600 | 18.4% | -12.4% |
| 1700 | 16.9% | -8.2% |
| 1710 | 17.0% | +0.4% |
| 1720 | 17.0% | +0.4% |
| 1730 | 17.1% | +0.4% |
| 1740 | 17.1% | +0.4% |
| 1750 | 17.2% | +0.3% |
| 1760 | 17.3% | +0.3% |
| 1770 | 17.3% | +0.3% |
| 1780 | 17.4% | +0.3% |
| 1790 | 17.4% | +0.3% |
| 1800 | 17.5% | +0.3% |
| 1810 | 17.3% | -1.2% |
| 1820 | 17.1% | -1.3% |
| 1830 | 16.8% | -1.3% |
| 1840 | 16.6% | -1.3% |
| 1850 | 16.4% | -1.3% |
| 1860 | 16.2% | -1.3% |
| 1870 | 20.4% | +25.8% |
| 1880 | 24.6% | +20.5% |
| 1890 | 28.7% | +17.0% |
| 1900 | 32.9% | +14.5% |
| 1910 | 37.1% | +12.7% |
| 1920 | 41.3% | +11.3% |
| 1930 | 45.5% | +10.1% |
| 1940 | 49.6% | +9.2% |
| 1950 | 53.8% | +8.4% |
| 1951 | 54.5% | +1.2% |
| 1952 | 55.0% | +1.0% |
| 1953 | 55.5% | +0.9% |
| 1954 | 56.1% | +0.9% |
| 1955 | 56.6% | +0.9% |
| 1956 | 57.1% | +0.9% |
| 1957 | 57.6% | +0.9% |
| 1958 | 58.1% | +0.9% |
| 1959 | 58.6% | +0.9% |
| 1960 | 59.1% | +0.8% |
| 1961 | 59.6% | +0.8% |
| 1962 | 60.0% | +0.8% |
| 1963 | 60.5% | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 61.0% | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 61.5% | +0.8% |
| 1966 | 62.0% | +0.8% |
| 1967 | 62.5% | +0.8% |
| 1968 | 63.0% | +0.8% |
| 1969 | 63.5% | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 64.0% | +0.8% |
| 1971 | 64.6% | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 64.9% | +0.6% |
| 1973 | 65.2% | +0.4% |
| 1974 | 65.5% | +0.4% |
| 1975 | 65.7% | +0.3% |
| 1976 | 66.0% | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 66.2% | +0.4% |
| 1978 | 66.4% | +0.3% |
| 1979 | 66.6% | +0.3% |
| 1980 | 66.7% | +0.2% |
| 1981 | 67.0% | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 67.1% | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 67.0% | -0.0% |
| 1984 | 67.0% | -0.1% |
| 1985 | 66.9% | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 66.9% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 66.9% | -0.0% |
| 1988 | 66.9% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 66.9% | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 66.9% | -0.0% |
| 1991 | 66.9% | -0.0% |
| 1992 | 67.0% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 67.1% | +0.1% |
| 1994 | 67.1% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 67.2% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 67.2% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 67.2% | -0.0% |
| 1998 | 67.1% | -0.0% |
| 1999 | 67.2% | +0.1% |
| 2000 | 67.3% | +0.2% |
| 2001 | 67.4% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 67.5% | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 67.6% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 67.7% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 67.8% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 67.9% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 68.0% | +0.1% |
| 2008 | 68.1% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 68.2% | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 68.3% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 68.6% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 69.0% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 69.3% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 69.6% | +0.5% |
| 2015 | 70.0% | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 70.3% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 70.6% | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 70.9% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 71.3% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 71.6% | +0.5% |
| 2021 | 71.9% | +0.4% |
| 2022 | 72.2% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 72.5% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 72.8% | +0.4% |
| 2025 | 73.1% | +0.4% |
Italy compared with similar countries
- Italy's 73.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 78.9%, 93% of the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Italy's 73.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 72.5%, 1.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urbanized areas in Italy changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1300 | +78.4% | 12.0% | 21.4% |
| 1870 | +25.8% | 16.2% | 20.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 10.0% | 10.0% | 10.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 10.0% | 10.0% | 10.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 12.0% | 12.0% | 12.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 21.4% | 21.4% | 21.4% | 1 |
| 1400s | 17.6% | 17.6% | 17.6% | 1 |
| 1500s | 21.0% | 21.0% | 21.0% | 1 |
| 1600s | 18.4% | 18.4% | 18.4% | 1 |
| 1700s | 16.9% | 16.9% | 16.9% | 1 |
| 1710s | 17.0% | 17.0% | 17.0% | 1 |
| 1720s | 17.0% | 17.0% | 17.0% | 1 |
| 1730s | 17.1% | 17.1% | 17.1% | 1 |
| 1740s | 17.1% | 17.1% | 17.1% | 1 |
| 1750s | 17.2% | 17.2% | 17.2% | 1 |
| 1760s | 17.3% | 17.3% | 17.3% | 1 |
| 1770s | 17.3% | 17.3% | 17.3% | 1 |
| 1780s | 17.4% | 17.4% | 17.4% | 1 |
| 1790s | 17.4% | 17.4% | 17.4% | 1 |
| 1800s | 17.5% | 17.5% | 17.5% | 1 |
| 1810s | 17.3% | 17.3% | 17.3% | 1 |
| 1820s | 17.1% | 17.1% | 17.1% | 1 |
| 1830s | 16.8% | 16.8% | 16.8% | 1 |
| 1840s | 16.6% | 16.6% | 16.6% | 1 |
| 1850s | 16.4% | 16.4% | 16.4% | 1 |
| 1860s | 16.2% | 16.2% | 16.2% | 1 |
| 1870s | 20.4% | 20.4% | 20.4% | 1 |
| 1880s | 24.6% | 24.6% | 24.6% | 1 |
| 1890s | 28.7% | 28.7% | 28.7% | 1 |
| 1900s | 32.9% | 32.9% | 32.9% | 1 |
| 1910s | 37.1% | 37.1% | 37.1% | 1 |
| 1920s | 41.3% | 41.3% | 41.3% | 1 |
| 1930s | 45.5% | 45.5% | 45.5% | 1 |
| 1940s | 49.6% | 49.6% | 49.6% | 1 |
| 1950s | 56.3% | 53.8% | 58.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 61.3% | 59.1% | 63.5% | 10 |
| 1970s | 65.5% | 64.0% | 66.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 66.9% | 66.7% | 67.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 67.1% | 66.9% | 67.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.8% | 67.3% | 68.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.8% | 68.3% | 71.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.3% | 71.6% | 73.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More population data for Italy
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.6708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7397 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.6708 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.5615 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 52,250 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.3544 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3246 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 119.63 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.26 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in Italy?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in Italy was 73.1% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 73.1% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.0% in 1000.
- How does Italy rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- Italy ranks 72nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Italy data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.