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Population density: Iraq vs Italy compared

Updated on by Georank team

Iraq has a population density of 286.5 people per square mile compared to 513 people in Italy. Iraq has 102,181 sq ft of land per person vs 55,153 sq ft in Italy. Iraq and Italy rank 86th and 55th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Iraq has 0.57% of the world's population and 0.29% 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 Iraq 44.1% lower than in Italy.

Population density by year

Iraq
Italy

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Iraq Italy
2026 286.5 513
2025 280.5 515
2024 274.7 516
2023 268.9 517
2022 262.9 517
2021 257 518
2020 251.3 521
2019 245.7 523
2018 240.2 527
2017 234.7 526
2016 229.5 527
2015 224.1 528
2014 218.1 528
2013 210.5 528
2012 200.7 527
2011 191.8 526
2010 185.1 524
2009 179.2 522
2008 171.6 519
2007 168.1 515
2006 169.5 511
2005 168.2 509
2004 163.3 506
2003 158.7 503
2002 154 500
2001 149.2 499
2000 144.6 499
1999 140 501
1998 135.5 501
1997 131.3 501
1996 127.3 501
1995 123.3 501
1994 119.3 501
1993 113.7 500
1992 108.4 500
1991 105.2 500
1990 104.1 499
1989 102.8 499
1988 100.1 499
1987 97.8 498
1986 95.2 498
1985 92.9 498
1984 90.7 498
1983 87.9 498
1982 85.3 498
1981 82.9 498
1980 80.5 497
1979 78 496
1978 75.5 495
1977 73 493
1976 70.6 491
1975 68.4 488
1974 66.1 485
1973 63.9 482
1972 61.8 479
1971 59.7 476
1970 57.7 474
1969 55.7 471
1968 53.8 469
1967 52 466
1966 50.2 462
1965 48.6 459
1964 47 455
1963 45.4 451
1962 43.9 448
1961 42.6 445

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/iraq/italy | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Iraq increased by 69.1%, compared to a 0.28% growth in Italy.

In 2006, Iraq ranked 110th by population density and is 86th now. Italy was 42nd in 2006 and ranks 55th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Iraq
Italy
1x
Year Urban population
Iraq Italy
2024 69.9% 69.6%
2023 69.9% 69.5%
2022 69.9% 69.5%
2021 69.9% 69.5%
2020 69.9% 69.5%
2019 69.9% 69.5%
2018 69.9% 69.5%
2017 69.9% 69.5%
2016 69.9% 69.6%
2015 69.9% 69.6%
2014 69.7% 69.6%
2013 69.4% 69.3%
2012 69.2% 68.8%
2011 69.1% 68.4%
2010 69.1% 68.2%
2009 69% 68%
2008 68.9% 67.9%
2007 68.7% 67.8%
2006 68.6% 67.7%
2005 68.4% 67.6%
2004 68.2% 67.5%
2003 68.1% 67.4%
2002 67.9% 67.4%
2001 67.8% 67.3%
2000 67.6% 67.2%
1999 67.5% 67.1%
1998 67.5% 67%
1997 67.5% 67%
1996 67.6% 66.9%
1995 67.8% 66.8%
1994 68.2% 66.8%
1993 68.6% 66.7%
1992 69% 66.7%
1991 69.4% 66.7%
1990 69.7% 66.7%
1989 70% 66.7%
1988 70.2% 66.8%
1987 70.2% 66.8%
1986 70% 66.8%
1985 69.7% 66.8%
1984 69.1% 66.9%
1983 68.5% 66.9%
1982 67.7% 66.9%
1981 66.9% 66.9%
1980 66% 66.8%
1979 65.1% 66.7%
1978 64.3% 66.6%
1977 63.5% 66.4%
1976 62.7% 66.2%
1975 61.8% 65.9%
1974 60.9% 65.7%
1973 60% 65.4%
1972 59% 65.1%
1971 58% 64.8%
1970 57% 64.5%
1969 55.9% 64%
1968 54.8% 63.6%
1967 53.7% 63.1%
1966 52.5% 62.5%
1965 51.4% 62%
1964 50% 61.4%
1963 48.6% 60.9%
1962 47% 60.3%
1961 45.5% 59.8%
1960 44% 59.3%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 68.2% to 69.9% in Iraq and from 67.5% to 69.6% in Italy.

Densely populated cities

Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K
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/iraq/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 (2005–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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