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Population density: Iceland vs Italy compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iceland has a population density of 10.2 people per square mile compared to 513 people in Italy. Iceland has 2,868,586 sq ft of land per person vs 55,153 sq ft in Italy. Iceland and Italy rank 194th and 55th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Iceland has 0.005% of the world's population and 0.07% 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 Iceland 98% lower than in Italy.

Population density by year

Iceland
Italy

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Iceland Italy
2026 10.2 513
2025 10.1 515
2024 9.93 516
2023 9.91 517
2022 9.81 517
2021 9.57 518
2020 9.41 521
2019 9.26 523
2018 9.06 527
2017 8.87 526
2016 8.67 527
2015 8.55 528
2014 8.46 528
2013 8.36 528
2012 8.29 527
2011 8.24 526
2010 8.22 524
2009 8.23 522
2008 8.2 519
2007 8.05 515
2006 7.85 511
2005 7.67 509
2004 7.55 506
2003 7.48 503
2002 7.43 500
2001 7.36 499
2000 7.27 499
1999 7.17 501
1998 7.08 501
1997 7 501
1996 6.95 501
1995 6.91 501
1994 6.87 501
1993 6.81 500
1992 6.74 500
1991 6.66 500
1990 6.58 499
1989 6.53 499
1988 6.45 499
1987 6.35 498
1986 6.28 498
1985 6.24 498
1984 6.19 498
1983 6.12 498
1982 6.04 498
1981 5.96 498
1980 5.89 497
1979 5.83 496
1978 5.78 495
1977 5.73 493
1976 5.69 491
1975 5.63 488
1974 5.56 485
1973 5.49 482
1972 5.4 479
1971 5.32 476
1970 5.28 474
1969 5.25 471
1968 5.21 469
1967 5.13 466
1966 5.05 462
1965 4.97 459
1964 4.88 455
1963 4.8 451
1962 4.71 448
1961 4.63 445

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/iceland/italy | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Iceland increased by 29.7%, compared to a 0.28% growth in Italy.

In 2006, Iceland ranked 190th by population density and is 194th now. Italy was 42nd in 2006 and ranks 55th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Iceland
Italy
1x
Year Urban population
Iceland Italy
2024 94.2% 69.6%
2023 94.2% 69.5%
2022 94.2% 69.5%
2021 94.2% 69.5%
2020 94.1% 69.5%
2019 94% 69.5%
2018 93.9% 69.5%
2017 93.8% 69.5%
2016 93.8% 69.6%
2015 93.7% 69.6%
2014 93.6% 69.6%
2013 93.6% 69.3%
2012 93.5% 68.8%
2011 93.4% 68.4%
2010 93.5% 68.2%
2009 93.4% 68%
2008 93.1% 67.9%
2007 92.4% 67.8%
2006 92.2% 67.7%
2005 92.4% 67.6%
2004 92.4% 67.5%
2003 92.3% 67.4%
2002 92.2% 67.4%
2001 92% 67.3%
2000 92% 67.2%
1999 91.8% 67.1%
1998 91.7% 67%
1997 92% 67%
1996 91.8% 66.9%
1995 91.6% 66.8%
1994 91.4% 66.8%
1993 91.3% 66.7%
1992 91.1% 66.7%
1991 90.9% 66.7%
1990 90.6% 66.7%
1989 90.4% 66.7%
1988 90.1% 66.8%
1987 89.8% 66.8%
1986 89.6% 66.8%
1985 89.3% 66.8%
1984 89.1% 66.9%
1983 88.9% 66.9%
1982 88.6% 66.9%
1981 88.3% 66.9%
1980 88.1% 66.8%
1979 87.9% 66.7%
1978 87.7% 66.6%
1977 87.4% 66.4%
1976 87.2% 66.2%
1975 86.9% 65.9%
1974 86.5% 65.7%
1973 86.2% 65.4%
1972 85.7% 65.1%
1971 85.3% 64.8%
1970 85% 64.5%
1969 84.8% 64%
1968 84.4% 63.6%
1967 83.9% 63.1%
1966 83.5% 62.5%
1965 83.2% 62%
1964 82.7% 61.4%
1963 82% 60.9%
1962 81.5% 60.3%
1961 81% 59.8%
1960 80.4% 59.3%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 92.4% to 94.2% in Iceland and from 67.5% to 69.6% in Italy.

Densely populated cities

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/iceland/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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2019–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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