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Population density: Italy vs New Zealand compared

Updated on by Georank team

Italy has a population density of 513 people per square mile compared to 52.8 people in New Zealand. Italy has 55,153 sq ft of land per person vs 545,618 sq ft in New Zealand. Italy and New Zealand rank 55th and 169th 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 0.07% of the population and 0.18% of the land area for New Zealand, making the population density in Italy 872% higher than in New Zealand.

Population density by year

Italy
New Zealand

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Italy New Zealand
2026 513 52.8
2025 515 52.4
2024 516 52
2023 517 51.1
2022 517 50
2021 518 50
2020 521 49.9
2019 523 48.9
2018 527 48.2
2017 526 47.3
2016 527 46.4
2015 528 45.3
2014 528 44.4
2013 528 43.7
2012 527 43.4
2011 526 43.1
2010 524 42.8
2009 522 42.3
2008 519 41.9
2007 515 41.5
2006 511 41.2
2005 509 40.7
2004 506 40.2
2003 503 39.6
2002 500 38.8
2001 499 38.2
2000 499 37.9
1999 501 37.7
1998 501 37.5
1997 501 37.2
1996 501 36.7
1995 501 36.1
1994 501 35.6
1993 500 35.1
1992 500 34.7
1991 500 34.4
1990 499 32.8
1989 499 32.5
1988 499 32.3
1987 498 32.2
1986 498 31.9
1985 498 31.9
1984 498 31.7
1983 498 31.5
1982 498 31
1981 498 30.7
1980 497 30.6
1979 496 30.6
1978 495 30.7
1977 493 30.7
1976 491 30.6
1975 488 30.3
1974 485 29.7
1973 482 29.1
1972 479 28.6
1971 476 28.1
1970 474 27.6
1969 471 27.3
1968 469 27
1967 466 26.8
1966 462 26.3
1965 459 25.9
1964 455 25.4
1963 451 24.9
1962 448 24.4
1961 445 23.8

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/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Italy increased by 0.28%, compared to a 28.2% growth in New Zealand.

In 2006, Italy ranked 42nd by population density and is 55th now. New Zealand was 166th in 2006 and ranks 169th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Italy
New Zealand
1x
Year Urban population
Italy New Zealand
2024 69.6% 83.9%
2023 69.5% 83.9%
2022 69.5% 83.9%
2021 69.5% 83.8%
2020 69.5% 83.8%
2019 69.5% 83.8%
2018 69.5% 83.8%
2017 69.5% 84.2%
2016 69.6% 84.7%
2015 69.6% 85.2%
2014 69.6% 85.5%
2013 69.3% 85.7%
2012 68.8% 85.8%
2011 68.4% 85.8%
2010 68.2% 85.9%
2009 68% 85.9%
2008 67.9% 85.9%
2007 67.8% 85.9%
2006 67.7% 85.9%
2005 67.6% 85.9%
2004 67.5% 85.9%
2003 67.4% 85.9%
2002 67.4% 85.8%
2001 67.3% 85.8%
2000 67.2% 85.7%
1999 67.1% 85.7%
1998 67% 85.6%
1997 67% 85.5%
1996 66.9% 85.5%
1995 66.8% 85.4%
1994 66.8% 85.3%
1993 66.7% 85.2%
1992 66.7% 85.1%
1991 66.7% 85%
1990 66.7% 84.8%
1989 66.7% 84.6%
1988 66.8% 84.3%
1987 66.8% 84.1%
1986 66.8% 83.9%
1985 66.8% 83.8%
1984 66.9% 83.7%
1983 66.9% 83.6%
1982 66.9% 83.6%
1981 66.9% 83.5%
1980 66.8% 83.4%
1979 66.7% 83.3%
1978 66.6% 83.2%
1977 66.4% 83.1%
1976 66.2% 82.9%
1975 65.9% 82.7%
1974 65.7% 82.5%
1973 65.4% 82.3%
1972 65.1% 81.9%
1971 64.8% 81.5%
1970 64.5% 80.4%
1969 64% 77.9%
1968 63.6% 74.6%
1967 63.1% 71.3%
1966 62.5% 68.8%
1965 62% 67.4%
1964 61.4% 66.5%
1963 60.9% 65.7%
1962 60.3% 64.9%
1961 59.8% 63.9%
1960 59.3% 62.4%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/italy/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 67.5% to 69.6% in Italy and from 85.9% to 83.9% in New Zealand.

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
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

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/new-zealand | 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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