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Population density: Canada vs Italy compared

Updated on by Georank team

Canada has a population density of 12.4 people per square mile compared to 513 people in Italy. Canada has 2,602,997 sq ft of land per person vs 55,153 sq ft in Italy. Canada and Italy rank 189th and 55th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Canada has 0.51% of the world's population and 5.9% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.73% of the population and 0.2% of the land area for Italy, making the population density in Canada 97.6% lower than in Italy.

Population density by year

Canada
Italy

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Canada Italy
2026 12.4 513
2025 12.3 515
2024 12.2 516
2023 11.8 517
2022 11.5 517
2021 11.3 518
2020 11 521
2019 10.9 523
2018 10.7 527
2017 10.6 526
2016 10.4 527
2015 10.3 528
2014 10.2 528
2013 10.1 528
2012 10 527
2011 9.92 526
2010 9.82 524
2009 9.72 522
2008 9.6 519
2007 9.5 515
2006 9.41 511
2005 9.31 509
2004 9.23 506
2003 9.14 503
2002 9.06 500
2001 8.96 499
2000 8.86 499
1999 8.78 501
1998 8.71 501
1997 8.64 501
1996 8.55 501
1995 8.46 501
1994 8.38 501
1993 8.29 500
1992 8.2 500
1991 8.1 500
1990 8 499
1989 7.88 499
1988 7.74 499
1987 7.64 498
1986 7.54 498
1985 7.47 498
1984 7.4 498
1983 7.33 498
1982 7.26 498
1981 7.17 498
1980 7.08 497
1979 6.99 496
1978 6.92 495
1977 6.85 493
1976 6.77 491
1975 6.69 488
1974 6.59 485
1973 6.5 482
1972 6.42 479
1971 6.34 476
1970 6.16 474
1969 6.07 471
1968 5.99 469
1967 5.9 466
1966 5.79 462
1965 5.68 459
1964 5.58 455
1963 5.48 451
1962 5.38 448
1961 5.28 445

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/canada/italy | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Canada increased by 31.8%, compared to a 0.28% growth in Italy.

In 2006, Canada ranked 186th by population density and is 189th now. Italy was 42nd in 2006 and ranks 55th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Canada
Italy
1x
Year Urban population
Canada Italy
2024 82.7% 69.6%
2023 82.5% 69.5%
2022 82.4% 69.5%
2021 82.2% 69.5%
2020 82% 69.5%
2019 81.7% 69.5%
2018 81.6% 69.5%
2017 81.4% 69.5%
2016 81.3% 69.6%
2015 81.2% 69.6%
2014 81.2% 69.6%
2013 81.2% 69.3%
2012 81.2% 68.8%
2011 81.1% 68.4%
2010 81% 68.2%
2009 80.9% 68%
2008 80.7% 67.9%
2007 80.4% 67.8%
2006 80.2% 67.7%
2005 80% 67.6%
2004 79.7% 67.5%
2003 79.4% 67.4%
2002 79.1% 67.4%
2001 78.8% 67.3%
2000 78.6% 67.2%
1999 78.4% 67.1%
1998 78.3% 67%
1997 78.1% 67%
1996 77.9% 66.9%
1995 77.6% 66.8%
1994 77.3% 66.8%
1993 77% 66.7%
1992 76.7% 66.7%
1991 76.6% 66.7%
1990 76.6% 66.7%
1989 76.5% 66.7%
1988 76.5% 66.8%
1987 76.5% 66.8%
1986 76.5% 66.8%
1985 76.4% 66.8%
1984 76.2% 66.9%
1983 76% 66.9%
1982 75.9% 66.9%
1981 75.7% 66.9%
1980 75.7% 66.8%
1979 75.6% 66.7%
1978 75.6% 66.6%
1977 75.5% 66.4%
1976 75.5% 66.2%
1975 75.6% 65.9%
1974 75.7% 65.7%
1973 75.9% 65.4%
1972 76% 65.1%
1971 76.1% 64.8%
1970 75.9% 64.5%
1969 75.5% 64%
1968 75% 63.6%
1967 74.3% 63.1%
1966 73.6% 62.5%
1965 72.9% 62%
1964 72.1% 61.4%
1963 71.3% 60.9%
1962 70.4% 60.3%
1961 69.7% 59.8%
1960 69% 59.3%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population-density/canada/italy | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 79.7% to 82.7% in Canada and from 67.5% to 69.6% in Italy.

Densely populated cities

Canada
City Population
Toronto 2.79M
Montreal 1.8M
Calgary 1.31M
Ottawa 1.02M
Edmonton 1.01M
Winnipeg 750K
Mississauga 718K
Vancouver 662K
Brampton 656K
Hamilton 569K
Italy
City Population
Rome 2.75M
Milan 1.35M
Naples 913K
Turin 842K
Palermo 630K
Genoa 559K
Bologna 388K
Florence 361K
Bari 315K
Catania 312K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/canada/italy | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2019–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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