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Population density: Ethiopia vs Italy compared

Updated on by Georank team

Ethiopia has a population density of 319 people per square mile compared to 513 people in Italy. Ethiopia has 90,009 sq ft of land per person vs 55,153 sq ft in Italy. Ethiopia and Italy rank 78th and 55th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Ethiopia has 1.62% of the world's population and 0.76% 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 Ethiopia 37.8% lower than in Italy.

Population density by year

Ethiopia
Italy

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Ethiopia Italy
2026 319 513
2025 311 515
2024 303 516
2023 295.4 517
2022 287.8 517
2021 280.3 518
2020 272.9 521
2019 265.6 523
2018 258.6 527
2017 251.7 526
2016 244.9 527
2015 238.4 528
2014 232.1 528
2013 225.9 528
2012 219.8 527
2011 213.8 526
2010 207.8 524
2009 202 522
2008 196.3 519
2007 190.7 515
2006 185.2 511
2005 179.8 509
2004 174.6 506
2003 191.2 503
2002 185.5 500
2001 180 499
2000 174.6 499
1999 169.3 501
1998 164.1 501
1997 159 501
1996 154 501
1995 149 501
1994 144 501
1993 139.1 500
1992 - 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/ethiopia/italy | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Ethiopia increased by 72.2%, compared to a 0.28% growth in Italy.

In 2006, Ethiopia ranked 101st by population density and is 78th now. Italy was 42nd in 2006 and ranks 55th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Ethiopia
Italy
1x
Year Urban population
Ethiopia Italy
2024 23.6% 69.6%
2023 23.1% 69.5%
2022 22.7% 69.5%
2021 22.1% 69.5%
2020 21.6% 69.5%
2019 21.2% 69.5%
2018 20.8% 69.5%
2017 20.3% 69.5%
2016 19.9% 69.6%
2015 19.5% 69.6%
2014 19% 69.6%
2013 18.6% 69.3%
2012 18.2% 68.8%
2011 17.9% 68.4%
2010 17.5% 68.2%
2009 17.2% 68%
2008 16.8% 67.9%
2007 16.1% 67.8%
2006 16.2% 67.7%
2005 16% 67.6%
2004 15.8% 67.5%
2003 15.5% 67.4%
2002 15.3% 67.4%
2001 15.1% 67.3%
2000 14.9% 67.2%
1999 14.7% 67.1%
1998 14.5% 67%
1997 14.3% 67%
1996 14.1% 66.9%
1995 13.9% 66.8%
1994 13.7% 66.8%
1993 13.5% 66.7%
1992 13.3% 66.7%
1991 13% 66.7%
1990 12.8% 66.7%
1989 12.5% 66.7%
1988 12.2% 66.8%
1987 11.9% 66.8%
1986 11.7% 66.8%
1985 11.4% 66.8%
1984 11.2% 66.9%
1983 11% 66.9%
1982 10.8% 66.9%
1981 10.6% 66.9%
1980 10.4% 66.8%
1979 10.2% 66.7%
1978 9.98% 66.6%
1977 9.79% 66.4%
1976 9.61% 66.2%
1975 9.42% 65.9%
1974 9.24% 65.7%
1973 9.07% 65.4%
1972 8.9% 65.1%
1971 8.73% 64.8%
1970 8.57% 64.5%
1969 8.41% 64%
1968 8.25% 63.6%
1967 8.1% 63.1%
1966 7.95% 62.5%
1965 7.8% 62%
1964 7.66% 61.4%
1963 7.52% 60.9%
1962 7.38% 60.3%
1961 7.24% 59.8%
1960 7.11% 59.3%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 15.8% to 23.6% in Ethiopia and from 67.5% to 69.6% in Italy.

Densely populated cities

Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K
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/ethiopia/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 (2007–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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