Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Italy
Italy: Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas was 13.93 million people in 2020. ▬ Flat
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Italy, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Italy is 13.93 million people, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 2.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Italy peaked at 14.55 million people in 1980 and was at its lowest, 13.72 million people, in 1950.
That places Italy 22nd out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Italy, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 13.72 million people | — |
| 1955 | 13.86 million people | +1.0% |
| 1960 | 13.99 million people | +1.0% |
| 1965 | 14.18 million people | +1.3% |
| 1970 | 14.33 million people | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 14.50 million people | +1.2% |
| 1980 | 14.55 million people | +0.4% |
| 1985 | 14.55 million people | -0.0% |
| 1990 | 14.53 million people | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 14.52 million people | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 14.42 million people | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 14.41 million people | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 14.33 million people | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 14.17 million people | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 13.93 million people | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13.79 million people | 13.72 million people | 13.86 million people | 2 |
| 1960s | 14.08 million people | 13.99 million people | 14.18 million people | 2 |
| 1970s | 14.41 million people | 14.33 million people | 14.50 million people | 2 |
| 1980s | 14.55 million people | 14.55 million people | 14.55 million people | 2 |
| 1990s | 14.53 million people | 14.52 million people | 14.53 million people | 2 |
| 2000s | 14.41 million people | 14.41 million people | 14.42 million people | 2 |
| 2010s | 14.25 million people | 14.17 million people | 14.33 million people | 2 |
| 2020s | 13.93 million people | 13.93 million people | 13.93 million people | 1 |
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 number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Italy?
- Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Italy was 13.93 million people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 14.55 million people in 1980.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.72 million people in 1950.
- How does Italy rank for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Italy ranks 22nd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Italy data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of people living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.