The population density in Italy saw no significant changes in 2022 in comparison to the previous year 2021 and remained at around 199.56 inhabitants per square kilometer. But still, the population density reached its lowest value of the observation period in 2022. Population density refers to the number of people living in a certain country or area, given as an average per square kilometer. It is calculated by dividing the total midyear population by the total land area.Find more key insights for the population density in countries like Greece.

Italy population density for 2021 was 199.97, a 0.51% decline from 2020.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Italy population density for 2020 was <strong>201.00</strong>, a <strong>0.49% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
<li>Italy population density for 2019 was <strong>201.98</strong>, a <strong>1.15% decline</strong> from 2018.</li>
<li>Italy population density for 2018 was <strong>204.32</strong>, a <strong>0.19% decline</strong> from 2017.</li>
</ul>Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.

Naples is the Italian city with the highest population density. As of 2024, the largest south Italian city counts 7,800 inhabitants per square kilometer. Milan followed with 7,600 residents per square kilometer, whereas Rome, the largest Italian city, registered a population density of only 2,100 people, 5,700 inhabitants per square kilometer less than Naples.

Population density (people per sq. km of land area) in Italy was reported at 200 sq. Km in 2022, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Italy - Population density (people per sq. km) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on June of 2025.

Italy IT: Population Density: People per Square Km data was reported at 205.859 Person/sq km in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 206.118 Person/sq km for 2016. Italy IT: Population Density: People per Square Km data is updated yearly, averaging 192.689 Person/sq km from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2017, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 206.667 Person/sq km in 2014 and a record low of 171.828 Person/sq km in 1961. Italy IT: Population Density: People per Square Km data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population density is midyear population divided by land area in square kilometers. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship--except for refugees not permanently settled in the country of asylum, who are generally considered part of the population of their country of origin. Land area is a country's total area, excluding area under inland water bodies, national claims to continental shelf, and exclusive economic zones. In most cases the definition of inland water bodies includes major rivers and lakes.; ; Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank population estimates.; Weighted average;

In 2025, Italy’s resident population is estimated to be almost 59 million inhabitants. About one-sixth of them lived in Lombardy, the most populous region in the country. Lazio and Campania followed, with roughly 5.7 million and 5.6 million inhabitants, respectively. These figures are mainly driven by Rome and Naples, the administrative capitals of these regions, and two of the largest metropolitan areas in the country. Which region has the oldest population? The population in Italy has become older and older over the last years. The average age in the country is equal to 46.8 years, but in some regions this figure is even higher. Liguria records an average age of 49.6 years and has one of the lowest birth rates in the country. Demographic trends for the future Liguria’s case, however, is not an outlier. Italy is already the country with the highest share of old people in Europe. At the same time, the very low number of new births means that, despite an always-increasing life expectancy, the Italian population is declining. Indeed, projections estimate that the country will have five million fewer inhabitants by 2050.

Rome is the largest Italian metropolitan area. As of 2024, the urban area of the capital city has a population of around 4.23 million people. Milan and Naples follow with 3.25 million and 2.97 million people, respectively. In terms of inhabitants per square kilometer, Naples, located in the south, has the highest population density. Rome, Milan, and Naples are also Italy's largest cities.

Historical dataset showing Italy population density by year from 1961 to 2022.

In 2025, **** million people lived in the Italian north-western regions, the most populated area of the Republic. Moreover, the south of Italy had **** million inhabitants, ranking second in the country. The islands had *** million inhabitants, representing the lowest population among the different macro-areas. Data about the age of the citizens show that ******* Italy has the oldest population, while the youngest Italians live in ******** regions.

Italy IT: Population Density: Inhabitants per sq km data was reported at 199.310 Person in 2022. This records a decrease from the previous number of 199.970 Person for 2021. Italy IT: Population Density: Inhabitants per sq km data is updated yearly, averaging 197.480 Person from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2022, with 33 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 203.980 Person in 2014 and a record low of 192.560 Person in 2000. Italy IT: Population Density: Inhabitants per sq km data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.OECD.GGI: Social: Demography: OECD Member: Annual.

Comprehensive socio-economic dataset for Italy including population demographics, economic indicators, geographic data, and social statistics. This dataset covers key metrics such as GDP, population density, area, capital city, and regional classifications.

This statistic shows the ten largest cities in Italy in 2025. In 2025, around 2.75 million people lived in Rome, making it the largest city in Italy. Population of Italy Italy has high population figures and a high population density in comparison to other European countries. A vast majority of Italians lives in urban areas and in the metropolises (as can be seen in this statistic), while other areas, such as the island Sardinia, are rather sparsely inhabited. After an increase a few years ago, Italy’s fertility rate, i.e. the average amount of children born to a woman of childbearing age, is now on a slow decline; however, it is still high enough to offset any significant effect the decrease might have on the country’s number of inhabitants. The median age of Italy’s population has been increasing rapidly over the past 50 years – which mirrors a lower mortality rate – and Italy is now among the countries with the highest life expectancy worldwide, only surpassed by two Asian countries, namely Japan and Hong Kong. Currently, the average life expectancy at birth in Italy is at about 83 years. Most of Italy’s population is of Roman Catholic faith. The country actually boasts one of the largest numbers of Catholics worldwide; other such countries include Brazil, Mexico and the United States. The central government of the Roman Catholic Church, the Holy See, is located in Vatican City in the heart of Italy’s capital and ruled by the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. Officially, Vatican City does not belong to Italy, but is a sovereign state with its own legislation and jurisdiction. It has about 600 inhabitants, who are almost exclusively members of the clergy or government officials.

PM2.5 and PM10 distribution during 2019 and 2020.

The share of urban population in Italy saw no significant changes in 2023 in comparison to the previous year 2022 and remained at around 71.97 percent. Still, the share reached its highest value in the observed period in 2023. A population may be defined as urban depending on the size (population or area) or population density of the village, town, or city. The urbanization rate then refers to the share of the total population who live in an urban setting. International comparisons may be inconsistent due to differing parameters for what constitutes an urban center.Find more key insights for the share of urban population in countries like Greece and Malta.

We reported a 13-year (2009-2022) dataset of legacy POPs (DDTtot and sumPCB14, from 2016 also isomers and congeners concentrations are reported) in the zooplankton of Lake Maggiore (≥450 µm size fraction). The data were collected seasonally in the framework of a research program, funded by CIPAIS (Commissione Italiana per la Protezione delle Acque Italo-Svizzere), aimed at monitoring the presence of pollutants in the lake biota, particularly in the zooplankton size fraction directly linked to fish consumption. The dataset provides also the Standing Stock Density (SSD) and Standing Stock Biomass (SSB) of pelagic zooplankton organisms belonging to the size fraction ≥450 µm. 

Lake Maggiore is a deep subalpine lake well studied since last century thanks to a monitoring program funded by the International Commission for the protection of Italian-Swiss Waters. The monitoring program includes both abiotic and biotic parameters, including zooplankton pelagic organism. With this contribution we present a dataset of 15563 records of population densities and standing stock biomass of zooplankton pelagic taxa recorded in 43 years (1981-2023), useful to trace the changes in trophic conditions experienced by the lake in the last century (eutrophication and its reversal) and the impact of global warming. The estimation of zooplankton taxa abundance and their standing stock biomass is also crucial to quantify the flux of matter, energy and pollutants to the upper trophic levels of the food web. In addition, we also provide information about the ecological role of zooplankton taxa, grouping them in microphagus, primary and secondary consumers, making data eligible also for food web analysis.

Results of the Wilcoxon Mann Whitney test on ARPA data.

Sites of National Interest (SIN) are large portions of the national territory, of particular environmental value in the various environmental matrices (including any surface water bodies and their sediments), identified by law, for reclamation purposes, on the basis of characteristics (of contamination and others) that entail a high health and ecological risk due to population density or the extension of the site itself, as well as a significant socio-economic impact and a risk for assets of historical and cultural interest. The layer contains the perimeter at sea of coastal Sites of National Interest in Italy.

Multivariate linear mixed effects model regression: Variation in terms of PM2.5 and PM10 between 2019 and 2020 accounting for confounders.

Rome, Milan, and Naples are Italy's major urban areas, respectively in the Center, North, and South of the country. In 2021, Rome had an urban area of about 4.3 million people, followed by Milan with 3.1 million and Naples with 2.2 million. In terms of population density, however, Naples is the most densely populated Italian city.