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Population density: Italy vs Malaysia compared

Updated on by Georank team

Italy has a population density of 513 people per square mile compared to 287 people in Malaysia. Italy has 55,153 sq ft of land per person vs 100,140 sq ft in Malaysia. Italy and Malaysia rank 55th and 85th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Italy has 0.73% of the world's population and 0.2% of all countries' land area, compared to 0.44% of the population and 0.22% of the land area for Malaysia, making the population density in Italy 78.7% higher than in Malaysia.

Population density by year

Italy
Malaysia

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Italy Malaysia
2026 513 287
2025 515 283.7
2024 516 280.3
2023 517 276.9
2022 517 273.5
2021 518 270.3
2020 521 267.2
2019 523 263.6
2018 527 259.4
2017 526 255.1
2016 527 250.6
2015 528 246.2
2014 528 242
2013 528 237.9
2012 527 233.8
2011 526 229.9
2010 524 225.9
2009 522 221.7
2008 519 217.3
2007 515 212.8
2006 511 208.3
2005 509 203.7
2004 506 199.1
2003 503 194.6
2002 500 190
2001 499 185.5
2000 499 181.1
1999 501 176.9
1998 501 172.7
1997 501 168.5
1996 501 164.4
1995 501 160.3
1994 501 156.2
1993 500 152.3
1992 500 148.5
1991 500 144.6
1990 499 140.6
1989 499 136.5
1988 499 132.4
1987 498 128.3
1986 498 124.2
1985 498 120.2
1984 498 116.3
1983 498 112.6
1982 498 109
1981 498 105.6
1980 497 102.3
1979 496 99.5
1978 495 97.2
1977 493 94.9
1976 491 92.6
1975 488 90.4
1974 485 88.3
1973 482 86.2
1972 479 84.2
1971 476 82.2
1970 474 80.2
1969 471 78.4
1968 469 76.7
1967 466 74.9
1966 462 73.2
1965 459 71.4
1964 455 69.6
1963 451 67.8
1962 448 66.1
1961 445 64.4

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/italy/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Italy increased by 0.28%, compared to a 37.8% growth in Malaysia.

In 2006, Italy ranked 42nd by population density and is 55th now. Malaysia was 92nd in 2006 and ranks 85th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Italy
Malaysia
1x
Year Urban population
Italy Malaysia
2024 69.6% 76.9%
2023 69.5% 76.4%
2022 69.5% 76%
2021 69.5% 75.5%
2020 69.5% 75.1%
2019 69.5% 74.8%
2018 69.5% 74.6%
2017 69.5% 74.2%
2016 69.6% 73.9%
2015 69.6% 73.4%
2014 69.6% 73%
2013 69.3% 72.5%
2012 68.8% 72%
2011 68.4% 71.4%
2010 68.2% 70.9%
2009 68% 70.2%
2008 67.9% 69.5%
2007 67.8% 68.8%
2006 67.7% 67.9%
2005 67.6% 67%
2004 67.5% 66.1%
2003 67.4% 65.1%
2002 67.4% 64.1%
2001 67.3% 63%
2000 67.2% 62%
1999 67.1% 60.9%
1998 67% 59.7%
1997 67% 58.5%
1996 66.9% 57.2%
1995 66.8% 55.9%
1994 66.8% 54.6%
1993 66.7% 53.2%
1992 66.7% 51.9%
1991 66.7% 50.5%
1990 66.7% 49%
1989 66.7% 47.4%
1988 66.8% 45.8%
1987 66.8% 44%
1986 66.8% 42.3%
1985 66.8% 40.6%
1984 66.9% 39%
1983 66.9% 37.5%
1982 66.9% 36.2%
1981 66.9% 35.1%
1980 66.8% 34.2%
1979 66.7% 33.6%
1978 66.6% 33%
1977 66.4% 32.4%
1976 66.2% 31.9%
1975 65.9% 31.4%
1974 65.7% 30.9%
1973 65.4% 30.5%
1972 65.1% 30.1%
1971 64.8% 29.8%
1970 64.5% 29.4%
1969 64% 29.1%
1968 63.6% 28.8%
1967 63.1% 28.5%
1966 62.5% 28.1%
1965 62% 27.8%
1964 61.4% 27.5%
1963 60.9% 27.2%
1962 60.3% 26.8%
1961 59.8% 26.5%
1960 59.3% 26.1%

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

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

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 67.5% to 69.6% in Italy and from 66.1% to 76.9% in Malaysia.

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
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/italy/malaysia | 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 (2010–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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