Rural population in Italy
Italy: Rural population was 27.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Rural population in Italy, 1970–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in % of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for rural population in Italy is 27.7%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 9.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population in Italy peaked at 35.7% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 27.7%, in 2024.
Italy ranks 131st of 214 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 55 years of available data.
Rural population in Italy, year by year
| Year | % of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 35.7% | — |
| 1971 | 35.2% | -1.3% |
| 1972 | 35.0% | -0.8% |
| 1973 | 34.8% | -0.6% |
| 1974 | 34.6% | -0.6% |
| 1975 | 34.4% | -0.6% |
| 1976 | 34.2% | -0.6% |
| 1977 | 34.0% | -0.6% |
| 1978 | 33.8% | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 33.6% | -0.6% |
| 1980 | 33.4% | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 33.2% | -0.6% |
| 1982 | 33.1% | -0.1% |
| 1983 | 33.1% | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 33.2% | +0.1% |
| 1985 | 33.2% | +0.1% |
| 1986 | 33.2% | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 33.2% | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 33.2% | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 33.3% | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 33.3% | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 33.3% | +0.1% |
| 1992 | 33.3% | -0.1% |
| 1993 | 33.2% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 33.1% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 33.1% | -0.2% |
| 1996 | 33.0% | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 33.0% | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 32.9% | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 32.8% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 32.8% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 32.7% | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 32.6% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 32.5% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 32.4% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 32.3% | -0.4% |
| 2006 | 32.1% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 32.0% | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 31.9% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 31.8% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 31.7% | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 31.6% | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 31.3% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 31.0% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 30.7% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 30.4% | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 30.1% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 29.9% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 29.6% | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 29.3% | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 29.0% | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 28.7% | -1.1% |
| 2022 | 28.3% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 28.0% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 27.7% | -1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 34.5% | 33.6% | 35.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 33.2% | 33.1% | 33.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 33.1% | 32.8% | 33.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | 32.3% | 31.8% | 32.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 30.6% | 29.3% | 31.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.3% | 27.7% | 29.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More population data for Italy
- 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)
- Population growth rate -0.676 (2100)
- Population density 119.63 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 1.26 million (2100)
- Population growth rate by level of development -0.676 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population in Italy?
- Rural population in Italy was 27.7% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest rural population recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 35.7% in 1970.
- What is the lowest rural population recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 27.7% in 2024.
- How does Italy rank for rural population?
- Italy ranks 131st out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is rural population rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Italy data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Rural population (% of total population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release