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Population density: Iran vs Italy compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iran has a population density of 148.9 people per square mile compared to 513 people in Italy. Iran has 193,748 sq ft of land per person vs 55,153 sq ft in Italy. Iran and Italy rank 134th and 55th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Iran has 1.13% of the world's population and 1.09% 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 Iran 71% lower than in Italy.

Population density by year

Iran
Italy

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Iran Italy
2026 148.9 513
2025 147.6 515
2024 146.2 516
2023 144.6 517
2022 142.9 517
2021 141.2 518
2020 140 521
2019 139 523
2018 137.5 527
2017 135.7 526
2016 133.3 527
2015 131.4 528
2014 129.6 528
2013 127.9 528
2012 126.2 527
2011 124.6 526
2010 123.1 524
2009 121.6 522
2008 120.1 519
2007 118.6 515
2006 116.7 511
2005 114.2 509
2004 111.7 506
2003 109.4 503
2002 108.1 500
2001 107.3 499
2000 105.6 499
1999 104.1 501
1998 102.6 501
1997 101.2 501
1996 100 501
1995 98.9 501
1994 97.8 501
1993 97.6 500
1992 97.3 500
1991 95.4 500
1990 92.8 499
1989 90.2 499
1988 87.6 499
1987 84.8 498
1986 81.8 498
1985 78.8 498
1984 76 498
1983 73.2 498
1982 70.4 498
1981 66.8 498
1980 63.4 497
1979 61.1 496
1978 59 495
1977 57.1 493
1976 55.4 491
1975 53.8 488
1974 52.2 485
1973 50.6 482
1972 49.2 479
1971 47.8 476
1970 46.3 474
1969 45 471
1968 43.6 469
1967 42.3 466
1966 41.1 462
1965 39.8 459
1964 38.6 455
1963 37.4 451
1962 36.3 448
1961 35.2 445

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/iran/italy | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Iran increased by 27.6%, compared to a 0.28% growth in Italy.

In 2006, Iran ranked 130th by population density and is 134th now. Italy was 42nd in 2006 and ranks 55th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Iran
Italy
1x
Year Urban population
Iran Italy
2024 77% 69.6%
2023 76.7% 69.5%
2022 76.3% 69.5%
2021 76% 69.5%
2020 75.6% 69.5%
2019 75.2% 69.5%
2018 74.8% 69.5%
2017 74.4% 69.5%
2016 73.9% 69.6%
2015 73.4% 69.6%
2014 72.8% 69.6%
2013 72.3% 69.3%
2012 71.8% 68.8%
2011 71.2% 68.4%
2010 70.6% 68.2%
2009 70% 68%
2008 69.4% 67.9%
2007 68.8% 67.8%
2006 68.3% 67.7%
2005 67.9% 67.6%
2004 67.3% 67.5%
2003 66.6% 67.4%
2002 65.9% 67.4%
2001 65.2% 67.3%
2000 64.5% 67.2%
1999 63.7% 67.1%
1998 62.9% 67%
1997 62.1% 67%
1996 61.1% 66.9%
1995 60.4% 66.8%
1994 59.6% 66.8%
1993 58.7% 66.7%
1992 57.9% 66.7%
1991 56.9% 66.7%
1990 56.5% 66.7%
1989 55.9% 66.7%
1988 55.4% 66.8%
1987 54.8% 66.8%
1986 54.2% 66.8%
1985 53.6% 66.8%
1984 52.8% 66.9%
1983 52.1% 66.9%
1982 51.4% 66.9%
1981 50.7% 66.9%
1980 49.9% 66.8%
1979 49.2% 66.7%
1978 48.5% 66.6%
1977 47.8% 66.4%
1976 46.8% 66.2%
1975 46.1% 65.9%
1974 45.2% 65.7%
1973 44.3% 65.4%
1972 43.3% 65.1%
1971 42.4% 64.8%
1970 41.5% 64.5%
1969 40.6% 64%
1968 39.7% 63.6%
1967 38.9% 63.1%
1966 37.7% 62.5%
1965 37.1% 62%
1964 36.6% 61.4%
1963 35.9% 60.9%
1962 35.3% 60.3%
1961 34.6% 59.8%
1960 34% 59.3%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 67.3% to 77% in Iran and from 67.5% to 69.6% in Italy.

Densely populated cities

Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K
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/iran/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 (2016–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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