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Population density: Croatia vs Italy compared

Updated on by Georank team

Croatia has a population density of 176.4 people per square mile compared to 513 people in Italy. Croatia has 157,564 sq ft of land per person vs 55,153 sq ft in Italy. Croatia and Italy rank 125th and 55th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Croatia has 0.05% of the world's population and 0.04% 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 Croatia 65.6% lower than in Italy.

Population density by year

Croatia
Italy

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Croatia Italy
2026 176.4 513
2025 177.6 515
2024 178.9 516
2023 178.6 517
2022 178.5 517
2021 179.5 518
2020 181.2 521
2019 182.8 523
2018 184.6 527
2017 187 526
2016 190.1 527
2015 192.1 528
2014 194.4 528
2013 195.9 528
2012 197.2 527
2011 198.1 526
2010 198.8 524
2009 199.2 522
2008 199.5 519
2007 199.5 515
2006 199.5 511
2005 199.5 509
2004 199.2 506
2003 199.2 503
2002 199.3 500
2001 199.2 499
2000 207 499
1999 209 501
1998 209.9 501
1997 209.8 501
1996 210.8 501
1995 214 501
1994 215.5 501
1993 213.1 500
1992 212 500
1991 - 500
1990 - 499
1989 - 499
1988 - 499
1987 - 498
1986 - 498
1985 - 498
1984 - 498
1983 - 498
1982 - 498
1981 - 498
1980 - 497
1979 - 496
1978 - 495
1977 - 493
1976 - 491
1975 - 488
1974 - 485
1973 - 482
1972 - 479
1971 - 476
1970 - 474
1969 - 471
1968 - 469
1967 - 466
1966 - 462
1965 - 459
1964 - 455
1963 - 451
1962 - 448
1961 - 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/croatia/italy | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Croatia decreased by 11.6%, compared to a 0.28% growth in Italy.

In 2006, Croatia ranked 98th by population density and is 125th now. Italy was 42nd in 2006 and ranks 55th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Croatia
Italy
1x
Year Urban population
Croatia Italy
2024 57.5% 69.6%
2023 57.2% 69.5%
2022 57% 69.5%
2021 56.8% 69.5%
2020 56.5% 69.5%
2019 56.3% 69.5%
2018 56.1% 69.5%
2017 55.9% 69.5%
2016 55.7% 69.6%
2015 55.6% 69.6%
2014 55.5% 69.6%
2013 55.4% 69.3%
2012 55.3% 68.8%
2011 55.3% 68.4%
2010 55.3% 68.2%
2009 55.3% 68%
2008 55.4% 67.9%
2007 55.4% 67.8%
2006 55.5% 67.7%
2005 55.5% 67.6%
2004 55.6% 67.5%
2003 55.6% 67.4%
2002 55.7% 67.4%
2001 55.7% 67.3%
2000 55.7% 67.2%
1999 55.6% 67.1%
1998 55.6% 67%
1997 55.5% 67%
1996 55.3% 66.9%
1995 55.2% 66.8%
1994 55% 66.8%
1993 54.8% 66.7%
1992 54.6% 66.7%
1991 54.3% 66.7%
1990 54.1% 66.7%
1989 53.7% 66.7%
1988 53.1% 66.8%
1987 52.5% 66.8%
1986 51.8% 66.8%
1985 51% 66.8%
1984 50.2% 66.9%
1983 49.4% 66.9%
1982 48.7% 66.9%
1981 48% 66.9%
1980 47.3% 66.8%
1979 46.7% 66.7%
1978 46% 66.6%
1977 45.4% 66.4%
1976 44.8% 66.2%
1975 44.1% 65.9%
1974 43.4% 65.7%
1973 42.7% 65.4%
1972 42% 65.1%
1971 41.2% 64.8%
1970 40.4% 64.5%
1969 39.4% 64%
1968 38.4% 63.6%
1967 37.4% 63.1%
1966 36.3% 62.5%
1965 35.2% 62%
1964 34.1% 61.4%
1963 33% 60.9%
1962 32% 60.3%
1961 31% 59.8%
1960 30.1% 59.3%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 55.6% to 57.5% in Croatia and from 67.5% to 69.6% in Italy.

Densely populated cities

Croatia
City Population
Zagreb 767K
Split 161K
Rijeka 108K
Osijek 96.3K
Zadar 70.8K
Velika Gorica 61.1K
Pula 52.2K
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/croatia/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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