Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Italy
Italy: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 34.3% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population 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 %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Italy is 34.3%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Italy peaked at 34.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 26.1%, in 1950.
Italy ranks 125th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Italy, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 26.1% | — |
| 1955 | 27.5% | +5.5% |
| 1960 | 29.4% | +6.9% |
| 1965 | 30.7% | +4.4% |
| 1970 | 31.8% | +3.8% |
| 1975 | 32.8% | +3.0% |
| 1980 | 33.3% | +1.7% |
| 1985 | 33.9% | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 33.8% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 33.7% | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 33.6% | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 33.3% | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 33.3% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 33.2% | -0.2% |
| 2020 | 34.3% | +3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 26.8% | 26.1% | 27.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 30.0% | 29.4% | 30.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 32.3% | 31.8% | 32.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 33.6% | 33.3% | 33.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 33.7% | 33.7% | 33.8% | 2 |
| 2000s | 33.4% | 33.3% | 33.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 33.3% | 33.2% | 33.3% | 2 |
| 2020s | 34.3% | 34.3% | 34.3% | 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 share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Italy?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Italy was 34.3% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 34.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 26.1% in 1950.
- How does Italy rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Italy ranks 125th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.