The population density in Italy amounted to 199.56 people in 2022. Between 1961 and 2022, the population density rose by 27.73 people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Naples is the Italian city with the highest population density. As of 2025, the largest south Italian city counts 7,780 inhabitants per square kilometer. Milan followed with around 7,500 residents per square kilometer, whereas Rome, the largest Italian city, registered a population density of only 2,135 people, 5,645 inhabitants per square kilometer less than Naples.

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

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 September 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;

View yearly updates and historical trends for Italy Population Density. Source: World Bank. Track economic data with YCharts analytics.

In the past years, the share of people aged over 65 years grew constantly in Italy. Estimates for 2025 report that **** percent of the Italian inhabitants are aged 65 years and older. Moreover, **** percent of the residents are aged between 15 and 64 years and only **** percent are 14 years old and younger. In 2025, the Italian region with the highest share of kids up to 14 years old was Trentino-South Tyrol, with **** percent. On the other hand, **** percent of the people in Liguria were over 65 years, making it the region with the highest share of elderly among its residents. Causes of an aging population The growing share of old people in Italy is due to two main factors. First, the birth rate in the country decreased over the last years. In 2024, less than ***** children were born per 1,000 inhabitants, 2 fewer infants than in 2002. Second, life expectancy increased over the same period. A 65-year-old Italian woman could expect to have almost ** more years of life ahead in 2002, while by 2024 this number reached ****. The increase for men was even greater, with male life expectancy at 65 growing from around ** years in 2002 to **** years in 2024. Future demographic trends The aging trend in the Italian population is not expected to change in the upcoming years. Projections suggest that the country's population is going to sensibly decrease in numbers. Population forecasts for 2050 account for slightly less than ** million citizens, around * million fewer compared to 2020.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Italy - Distribution of population by household types: Single person was 15.80% in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Italy - Distribution of population by household types: Single person - last updated from the EUROSTAT on October of 2025. Historically, Italy - Distribution of population by household types: Single person reached a record high of 16.10% in December of 2022 and a record low of 12.30% in December of 2009.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Italy population by age cohorts (Children: Under 18 years; Working population: 18-64 years; Senior population: 65 years or more). It lists the population in each age cohort group along with its percentage relative to the total population of Italy. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution across children, working population and senior population for dependency ratio, housing requirements, ageing, migration patterns etc.

Key observations

The largest age group was 18 to 64 years with a poulation of 1,141 (46.38% of the total population). Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Age cohorts:

• Under 18 years
• 18 to 64 years
• 65 years and over

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age cohort for the Italy population analysis. Total expected values are 3 groups ( Children, Working Population and Senior Population).
• Population: The population for the age cohort in Italy is shown in the following column.
• Percent of Total Population: The population as a percent of total population of the Italy is shown in the following column.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Italy Population by Age. You can refer the same here

In 2025, Liguria was the region with the largest share of the population aged 65 years or older. By contrast, 21 percent of inhabitants in Campania belonged to this age group, the lowest percentage nationwide. Data showing the age distribution by macro-region reveal that the north-west of Italy had the oldest population, while people living in the southern regions were the youngest nationwide.

In the first fifteen years of the twenty-first century, the age structure of the Italian population has changed. The proportion of people over 45 years of age increased, whereas the share of younger generations dropped. As a matter of fact, the average age of the population in 2018 was 45.2 years, about two years higher than in 2011. Italians are getting older and the tendency is predicted to continue in the following years.

Less births every year

One of the factors influencing changes in the age group distribution is the decrease in the number of births. In 2017, 458 thousand babies were born in Italy, which was roughly 106 thousand less in comparison with the number of infants born a decade earlier.

Italian population one of the oldest in the world

With 23 percent of the population older than 65 years, Italy placed third in the worldwide ranking of countries with the largest share of elderly citizens. The only two countries ahead were Japan and Monaco, where the proportion of individuals older than 65 years reached 28 and 26 percent, respectively.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the population of Italy by race. It includes the population of Italy across racial categories (excluding ethnicity) as identified by the Census Bureau. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution of Italy across relevant racial categories.

Key observations

The percent distribution of Italy population by race (across all racial categories recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau): 65.35% are white, 15.63% are Black or African American, 0.60% are American Indian and Alaska Native, 10.39% are some other race and 8.03% are multiracial.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2018-2022 5-Year Estimates.

Racial categories include:

• White
• Black or African American
• American Indian and Alaska Native
• Asian
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
• Some other race
• Two or more races (multiracial)

Variables / Data Columns

• Race: This column displays the racial categories (excluding ethnicity) for the Italy
• Population: The population of the racial category (excluding ethnicity) in the Italy is shown in this column.
• % of Total Population: This column displays the percentage distribution of each race as a proportion of Italy total population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Italy Population by Race & Ethnicity. You can refer the same here

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the population of Italy town by gender, including both male and female populations. This dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution of Italy town across both sexes and to determine which sex constitutes the majority.

Key observations

There is a majority of male population, with 54.07% of total population being male. Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Scope of gender :

Please note that American Community Survey asks a question about the respondents current sex, but not about gender, sexual orientation, or sex at birth. The question is intended to capture data for biological sex, not gender. Respondents are supposed to respond with the answer as either of Male or Female. Our research and this dataset mirrors the data reported as Male and Female for gender distribution analysis. No further analysis is done on the data reported from the Census Bureau.

Variables / Data Columns

• Gender: This column displays the Gender (Male / Female)
• Population: The population of the gender in the Italy town is shown in this column.
• % of Total Population: This column displays the percentage distribution of each gender as a proportion of Italy town total population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Italy town Population by Race & Ethnicity. You can refer the same here

Rome is the largest Italian metropolitan area. As of 2025, the urban area of the capital city has a population of around 4.22 million people. Milan and Naples follow with 3.25 million and 2.96 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.

Projections estimate that the population in Italy will decrease in the following years. In January 2025, the Italian population added up to 59 million people, but in 2030 Italians will be 58 million individuals. Twenty years later, the population will be around 52 million people. Low birth rate and old population The birth rate in Italy has constantly dropped in the last years. In 2023, 6.4 children were born per 1,000 inhabitants, three babies less than in 2002. Nationwide, the highest number of births was registered in the southern regions, whereas central Italy had the lowest number of children born every 1,000 people. More specifically, the birth rate in the south stood at 7 infants, while in the center it was equal to 5.9 births. Consequently, the population in Italy has aged over the last decade. Between 2002 and 2024, the age distribution of the Italian population showed a growing share of people aged 65 years and older. As a result, the share of young people decreased. The European exception Similarly, the population in Europe is estimated to decrease in the coming years. In 2024, there were 740 million people living in Europe. In 2100, the figure is expected to drop to 586 million inhabitants. However, projections of the world population suggest that Europe might be the only continent experiencing a population decrease. For instance, the population in Africa could grow from 1.41 billion people in 2022 to 3.92 billion individuals in 2100, the fastest population growth worldwide.

In 2025, the central regions of Italy have the oldest population, with one fourth of the inhabitants over 65 years and older. By contrast, the largest share of individuals aged up to 14 years lives in the south. Regional data on births show the southern regions have the highest birth rate in the country.