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Population density: Ireland vs Italy compared

Updated on by Georank team

Ireland has a population density of 207 people per square mile compared to 513 people in Italy. Ireland has 139,236 sq ft of land per person vs 55,153 sq ft in Italy. Ireland and Italy rank 111th and 55th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Ireland has 0.07% of the world's population and 0.05% 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 Ireland 59.6% lower than in Italy.

Population density by year

Ireland
Italy

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Ireland Italy
2026 207 513
2025 205 515
2024 202.9 516
2023 199.7 517
2022 196 517
2021 192.1 518
2020 189.5 521
2019 187.1 523
2018 184.1 527
2017 181.5 526
2016 179.1 527
2015 176.8 528
2014 175.1 528
2013 173.8 528
2012 172.9 527
2011 172.2 526
2010 171.4 524
2009 170.5 522
2008 168.8 519
2007 165.4 515
2006 160.7 511
2005 156.4 509
2004 153 506
2003 150.3 503
2002 147.8 500
2001 145.4 499
2000 143.1 499
1999 141.2 501
1998 139.6 501
1997 138.1 501
1996 136.8 501
1995 135.7 501
1994 135 501
1993 134.5 500
1992 133.8 500
1991 132.9 500
1990 132.1 499
1989 132 499
1988 132.5 499
1987 133.1 498
1986 133.1 498
1985 133 498
1984 132.8 498
1983 132 498
1982 131.1 498
1981 129.8 498
1980 128.3 497
1979 126.8 496
1978 125.2 495
1977 123.4 493
1976 121.7 491
1975 119.9 488
1974 118 485
1973 116 482
1972 114.2 479
1971 112.5 476
1970 111.2 474
1969 110.3 471
1968 109.6 469
1967 109.1 466
1966 108.6 462
1965 108.2 459
1964 107.8 455
1963 107.2 451
1962 106.6 448
1961 106.2 445

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/ireland/italy | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Ireland increased by 28.8%, compared to a 0.28% growth in Italy.

In 2006, Ireland ranked 115th by population density and is 111th now. Italy was 42nd in 2006 and ranks 55th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Ireland
Italy
1x
Year Urban population
Ireland Italy
2024 64.3% 69.6%
2023 64.1% 69.5%
2022 63.9% 69.5%
2021 63.7% 69.5%
2020 63.5% 69.5%
2019 63.3% 69.5%
2018 63.1% 69.5%
2017 62.9% 69.5%
2016 62.7% 69.6%
2015 62.6% 69.6%
2014 62.5% 69.6%
2013 62.4% 69.3%
2012 62.3% 68.8%
2011 62.1% 68.4%
2010 61.9% 68.2%
2009 61.6% 68%
2008 61.4% 67.9%
2007 61.1% 67.8%
2006 60.8% 67.7%
2005 60.5% 67.6%
2004 60.2% 67.5%
2003 59.9% 67.4%
2002 59.6% 67.4%
2001 59.4% 67.3%
2000 59.1% 67.2%
1999 58.9% 67.1%
1998 58.6% 67%
1997 58.4% 67%
1996 58.2% 66.9%
1995 57.9% 66.8%
1994 57.7% 66.8%
1993 57.5% 66.7%
1992 57.2% 66.7%
1991 57.1% 66.7%
1990 56.9% 66.7%
1989 56.8% 66.7%
1988 56.7% 66.8%
1987 56.6% 66.8%
1986 56.4% 66.8%
1985 56.3% 66.8%
1984 56.1% 66.9%
1983 56% 66.9%
1982 55.8% 66.9%
1981 55.7% 66.9%
1980 55.4% 66.8%
1979 55.2% 66.7%
1978 54.9% 66.6%
1977 54.6% 66.4%
1976 54.3% 66.2%
1975 53.9% 65.9%
1974 53.6% 65.7%
1973 53.2% 65.4%
1972 52.8% 65.1%
1971 52.3% 64.8%
1970 51.8% 64.5%
1969 51.3% 64%
1968 50.7% 63.6%
1967 50% 63.1%
1966 49.3% 62.5%
1965 48.6% 62%
1964 47.8% 61.4%
1963 46.9% 60.9%
1962 46.1% 60.3%
1961 45.4% 59.8%
1960 44.9% 59.3%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 60.2% to 64.3% in Ireland and from 67.5% to 69.6% in Italy.

Densely populated cities

Ireland
City Population
Dublin 593K
Cork 222K
Galway 83.5K
Limerick 62.7K
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/ireland/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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