Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Italy
Italy: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 69.7% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Italy, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Italy stood at 69.7%. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Italy peaked at 69.7% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 54.6%, in 1950.
Italy ranks 106th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 56.4% | 54.6% | 58.7% | 10 |
| 1960s | 61.7% | 59.3% | 64.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 65.7% | 64.5% | 66.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 66.8% | 66.7% | 66.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 66.8% | 66.7% | 67.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.6% | 67.2% | 68.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 69.2% | 68.2% | 69.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.6% | 69.5% | 69.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Italy
More population data for Italy
- 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)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.18 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.18 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 312,849 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.18 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.2 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.19 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Italy?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Italy was 69.7% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 69.7% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 54.6% in 1950.
- How does Italy rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Italy ranks 106th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Italy data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.