Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Italy
Italy: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 41.21 million people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Number of people 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 people.
Analysis
In 2025, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Italy stood at 41.21 million people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 2.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Italy peaked at 42.21 million people in 2014 and was at its lowest, 25.33 million people, in 1950.
Italy ranks 25th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 27.03 million people | 25.33 million people | 28.91 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 31.64 million people | 29.36 million people | 33.98 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 36.08 million people | 34.41 million people | 37.47 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 37.95 million people | 37.71 million people | 38.02 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 38.23 million people | 38.05 million people | 38.41 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 39.45 million people | 38.48 million people | 40.76 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.81 million people | 41.04 million people | 42.21 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 41.41 million people | 41.21 million people | 41.65 million people | 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 number of people living in urban and rural areas in Italy?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Italy was 41.21 million people 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 number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Italy?
- The highest recorded value was 42.21 million people in 2014.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Italy?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.33 million people in 1950.
- How does Italy rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Italy ranks 25th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Italy?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.3%. 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 Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.